World Title Race Ramps Up Following Mid-season Cut

Sawyer Lindblad Joins Surfing’s GOAT as Wildcard

Following the Mid-season Cut, only 22 men and 10 women remain on Tour, along with event wildcards to round out the fields to 24 men and 12 women for the remainder of the season. All roads lead to the Lexus WSL Finals in Fiji, but the current Final 5 contenders must fend off world-class fields featuring former World Champions, perennial World Title contenders, and 2025 CT Rookies looking to make a name for themselves.

Current World No. 1’s Jordy Smith (RSA) and Gabriela Bryan (HAW) are fresh off victories at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, their second win of the season. More than halfway through his 18th season, Smith prepares for his return to Trestles for the first time since 2017. He will look to strengthen his position as World No. 1 by channeling his previous success at Lower Trestles, including event wins in 2014 and 2016. Following her historical back-to-back Margaret River victory and third CT win of her career, Bryan will compete in her first CT event at Trestles. In the hunt to maintain her Yellow Leader Jersey, the 23-year-old will take on Luana Silva (BRA) and the event wildcard in the Opening Round.

CT heavyweights and 2025 World Title contenders look to continue momentum into Stop No. 8 including, 2019 World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA), current World No. 3 Yago Dora (BRA), and perennial World Title threats Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and Barron Mamiya (HAW). While two-time World Champion and 2016 event winner Tyler Wright (AUS) aims to defend her spot in the Top 5 alongside 2023 and 2024 World Title contender Molly Picklum (AUS) and 2025 standout Isabella Nichols (AUS). Current World No. 2 Caity Simmers (USA) will make a much anticipated return to Lower Trestles following her maiden World Title victory here last season.

Next in line on the women’s rankings for the CT, the 2024 Rookie of the Year Sawyer Lindblad (USA) will rejoin the world’s best at her home break of Lowers as a wildcard after narrowly missing the Mid-season Cut. The 19-year-old is no stranger to her Opening Round opponents, Caity Simmers (USA) and Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), and will look to use her expert knowledge of Trestles to shake things up in her wildcard position. Lindblad will be back on the CT in 2026 with the expanded women’s field.

Plus, 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) is ready to shake up the World Title race at the venue that helped launch him into surfing’s elite. Slater earned his first professional surfing win at Lower Trestles in 1990. He went onto to earn 6 CT wins at Lower Trestles, including three back-to-back victories from 2010-2012. Now the 53-year-old will have to wait for the conclusion of the Burton Automotive SURFEST Newcastle to determine his position in the draw.

The second men’s and women’s wildcard spots will go to the highest-ranked North American competitor on the Challenger Series following the Burton Automotive SURFEST Newcastle.

Lexus Trestles Pro Men’s Opening Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Rio Waida (INA) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA)
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Connor O’Leary (JPN) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
HEAT 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA) vs. TBD
HEAT 4: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. TBD
HEAT 5: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
HEAT 6: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Joel Vaughan (AUS)
HEAT 7: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)
HEAT 8: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Alan Cleland Jr. (MEX)

Watch LIVE

The Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown will hold a competition window of June 9-17, 2025.

The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, and the free WSL App.

Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.