The World Surf League (WSL) 2025 Championship Tour (CT) officially launched its season on January 27 at the iconic Banzai Pipeline with the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by YETI. However, the event’s much-anticipated start has been delayed, as the WSL called off the first two days of the event window due to unfavourable conditions. Competition is now expected to get underway later this week when Mother Nature delivers Pipeline’s signature barrels.
This year’s tour promises high stakes and unparalleled drama, as the world’s best surfers return alongside fresh faces eager to leave their mark on the sport. The season introduces a revamped schedule, featuring legendary venues like Pipe, Snapper Rocks, and Jeffreys Bay, while debuting an all-new stop in Abu Dhabi. The ultimate finale at Cloudbreak in Fiji will crown the 2025 World Champions.
Women’s CT: Stars, Rookies, and a Champion Defending Her Crown
The women’s field is headlined by reigning WSL Champion Caity Simmers (USA), who dominated the 2024 season with a historic victory at last year’s Lexus Pipe Pro. Simmers will aim to replicate her triumph this week as a star-studded line-up of contenders, including Molly Picklum (AUS) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), seek to dethrone her.
Joining the tour this year are rookie sensations Erin Brooks (CAN), Bella Kenworthy (USA), and Vahine Fierro (FRA). All three bring impressive credentials, with Brooks and Kenworthy representing the sport’s bright future, while Fierro looks to draw from her extensive experience in powerful waves.
Wildcards bring added firepower to the women’s event. 2022 Lexus Pipe Pro champion Moana Jones Wong (HAW) enters her fourth appearance at Pipeline, determined to reclaim the glory of her victory. Nadia Erostarbe (ESP), making her CT debut after a standout Challenger Series season, will also bring her barrel-riding expertise to the fore.
Men’s CT: Legends, Wildcards, and the Brazilian Storm
Kelly Slater (USA), the undisputed king of Pipeline, returns as a wildcard for his 33rd CT appearance at the venue. At 52, the 11-time World Champion and eight-time Pipe Pro winner continues to prove that age is no barrier, especially in the critical waves of Pipeline. He’ll face fierce competition from fellow wildcard and 2025 WSL Season Wildcard Filipe Toledo (BRA), among other tour standouts.
John John Florence (HAW), a two-time World Champion and hometown hero, also enters as a local wildcard. Although Florence has withdrawn from the 2025 season due to personal reasons, he’s set to make a splash at Pipeline as he chases a second CT victory at the event.
Injuries have reshaped the men’s draw, with Gabriel Medina (BRA), Crosby Colapinto (USA), and Johanne Defay (FRA) sitting out the start of the season. Replacement surfers Ian Gentil (HAW), Nadia Erostarbe (ESP), and rookie Eli Hanneman (HAW) are seizing the opportunity to compete. For Gentil and Hanneman, both from Maui, Pipeline is an ideal setting to showcase their skills.
What’s at Stake in 2025
The 2025 CT season features 36 men and 18 women battling it out across the globe. Competitors accumulate points in the first seven events, vying for a spot in the Mid-season Cut, where the field is reduced to 24 men and 12 women. The ultimate goal is to earn a place in the WSL Final 5 and secure a chance to compete at the grand finale at Cloudbreak.
Adding to the excitement, the “Brazilian Storm” has re-emerged in full force. Filipe Toledo, Italo Ferreira, and Yago Dora are joined by returning veterans Ian Gouveia, Miguel Pupo, and Alejo Muniz, along with rising stars like Samuel Pupo and Edgard Groggia. This collective talent will push the boundaries of progressive surfing on tour.
Meanwhile, Pipeline also sets the stage for rookies like Joel Vaughan (AUS), George Pittar (AUS), and Alan Cleland Jr. (MEX) to shake up the rankings.
Looking Ahead
The Lexus Pipe Pro presented by YETI is poised to deliver drama, skill, and high stakes as soon as competition begins. With a two-day delay already in the books, anticipation continues to build as fans wait for Pipeline’s iconic waves to take centre stage. Whether it’s a veteran like Kelly Slater, a rising rookie, or reigning champion Caity Simmers, all eyes are on Banzai Pipeline to set the tone for the 2025 season.