The SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro, the sixth stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Championship Tour (CT), kicked off with a bang at the legendary Teahupo’o in Tahiti. Competitors faced solid conditions in the six-to-eight-foot range, showcasing their skills in both the women’s and men’s Opening Rounds, with some surprising exits in the women’s Elimination Round.
The day’s top scores saw Tahiti’s own Vahine Fierro, 2024 CT rookie Sawyer Lindblad, and Australia’s Ryan Callinan, all commanding the line-up with impressive performances. Their exceptional control in the critical sections of these thick, challenging waves set the tone for the competition, leaving spectators and competitors alike eagerly anticipating the upcoming rounds.
Local wildcard, Vahine Fierro, set a high standard in the Opening Round, achieving a near-perfect 9.33 out of a possible 10. Despite a strong performance from current World No. 1, Caity Simmers, Fierro’s dominant display saw Simmers relegated to the elimination round alongside two-time World Champion, Tyler Wright.
“The conditions today were amazing,” said Fierro. “This is the first time in this event that I’ve ever had such good waves. Caitlin [Simmers] started with a good score, and I just waited for the right one.”
Meanwhile, 2024 CT Rookie, Sawyer Lindblad, made a significant impact, scoring the highest wave of the event so far. Despite this impressive performance, Lindblad found herself in the Elimination Round, where she faced best friend and current World No. 1, Caity Simmers.
In a significant upset, Lindblad managed to narrowly beat Simmers, who struggled to find a backup wave. Lindblad claimed the win by less than 0.50 of a point, leaving Simmers to exit the competition with a 9th-place result.
The wildcard entrants also made their experience count. Kelly Slater, the 11-time World Champion, secured his second heat win of the 2024 season, showing his extensive knowledge of this notoriously challenging break.
“There’s a lot of technical aspects to the waves right now,” said Slater. “I’m looking forward to a couple of days off and getting in the groove with Tahiti and then just sending it mid-week.”
Five-time World Champion, Carissa Moore, also advanced to the Quarterfinals after her first heat of the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro, despite facing strong competition from World No. 2, Johanne Defay, and Bettylou Sakura Johnson.
With a promising forecast for the coming days of the Tahiti Pro, competitors are preparing for the potential of towering waves this week.
