Encinitas surfer wins big on East Coast, earns top WSL Qualifying Series ranking

Encinitas surfer Ella McCaffray emerged victorious in the 2025 Virginia Beach Pro,  a World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series competition on Aug. 23. The victory marked McCaffray’s third-career win and first-ever win on the East Coast, moving her to number one in the season rankings.

The 22-year-old will next surf the Outer Banks Pro in Nags Head, North Carolina.

“I’m just so, so happy. I’m over the moon right now. It was really nice to have a hurricane swell actually and have waves,” said McCaffray in a news release. “It was nice to surf it out in the heats each day and have waves the whole week. I’m stoked to head back to the Outer Banks. That was my first QS a long time ago. I’m excited to be heading back there and hopefully keep the momentum going.”

This is McCaffray’s sixth year on the Qualifying Series, which she started off with a runner up finish at the Vans Jack’s Surfboards Pro in Huntington Beach. Her goal is to qualify for the Challenger Series, where the top rated surfers can make it onto the Championship Tour, the highest level of competitive surfing.