BettyLou Sakura-Johnson's BIG December

When BettyLou Sakura-Johnson failed to make the WSL’s controversial mid-year cut, we told you that she’d be back soon. That she had determination. Grit. Staying power. 

Love to say we told you so.

After falling off the Championship Tour, BettyLou got busy on the Challenger Series, finishing fifth in Ballito, third on the Gold Coast and in Ericeira, and with a big win at the US Open. She was so dominating that coming into Hawaii, nobody could touch her No. 1 standing on the Challenger Series. Still, she turned up.

The girl from Haleiwa took to her local break with poise and passion, surfing all the way to the finals where she gracefully allowed Australia’s Sophie McColloch to finish her fairytail run to qualify for the CT. (Guess it’s just her Hawaiian hospitality.)

Then, just a couple of weeks after her runner up finish at Haleiwa, BettyLou traveled a few miles northeast, to Pipeline, to compete in the Vans Pipe Masters. Again, BLSJ put her local knowledge on display in the challenging conditions, the highlight being a Backdoor bomb that had announcers and beachgoers grasping in disbelief. So confident. So stylish. BettyLou would finish finals day in second place, with a $60k check for her effort.

After BettyLou’s commanding showing in the second half of 2022, she’ll take that momentum into the new year and back onto surfing’s main stage. First stop? Pipeline. 

Oh, this is going to be good.