12-year-old Kelia Mehani Gallina to make history as youngest WSL competitor, faces off against Australian Molly Picklum

Kelia Mehani Gallina, 12, will become the youngest competitor in World Surf League history when she competes in the Tahiti Pro against Australian surfer Molly Picklum and American rider Lakey Peterson. Gallina won event trials in Tahiti and earned a wildcard spot into the final event of the season. Despite being 10 years younger, Gallina's technique and barrel skills have impressed Picklum, who is riding a wave of momentum in 2025 and seeking her fifth Champions Tour event victory.

Kelia Mehani Gallina, a 12-year-old Tahitian surfer, is set to make history as the youngest competitor in World Surf League (WSL) history. Gallina will compete in the Tahiti Pro against Australian surfer Molly Picklum and American rider Lakey Peterson, two of the sport's top performers.

Gallina secured her spot in the event by winning the event trials in Tahiti, earning a wildcard entry into the final leg of the 2025 WSL regular season. Despite her youth, Gallina's technique and barrel skills have impressed Picklum, who is currently riding a wave of momentum in 2025 and seeking her fifth Champions Tour event victory.

The contest site, Teahupo’o, is renowned for its heavy waves, but Gallina is a local and has been surfing the site since she was four-and-a-half years old. Her father, Ryan, who is also a surfer, has been instrumental in her development. "We can see the wave from our bedroom," Ryan says, highlighting the close proximity of their home to the surf spot.

Gallina's inclusion in the event is a significant milestone for the WSL, which had not featured a leg in Tahiti since 2006 due to injury concerns. The decision to reintegrate the event into the calendar was reversed in 2022, and last year's event saw top women surfers thriving in the heaving waves of Teahupo’o.

Despite her young age, Gallina is determined to qualify for the WSL in the future. "That's definitely the goal, to make it on tour," she says. However, her family is trying to manage expectations, emphasizing that surfing is a lifestyle for them rather than a means to an end.

The upcoming event will be Gallina's first taste of competition against the world's best surfers. While her age and relative inexperience might seem like a disadvantage, Ryan believes that the lack of pressure could work in her favor. "There is really no pressure on her to do anything," he says. "She is the biggest underdog ever – the pressure is on the other surfers in the heat."

As the buzzer sounds to begin her heat, Gallina will make history, even before she surfs a wave. The young surfer is excited about the opportunity to compete against the likes of Picklum and Peterson. "I'm just going to wait until the moment," Gallina says, showcasing her maturity and composure.

The WSL's decision to include Gallina in the Tahiti Pro highlights the league's commitment to promoting young talent and encouraging diversity. As Gallina takes on the fearsome waves of Teahupo’o, the world will be watching to see if a 12-year-old can upset the established order.

References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/05/kelia-mehani-gallina-12-year-old-girl-world-surf-league-tahiti-teahupoo