Surprise Swell Provides Barrel Showcase at Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro

Tahitian Duo Enrique Ariitu and Mihimana Braye Thrive in Debut
Kalanoweo DeSoto sets the Standard Early in Pulsing Conditions at Rangiroa
Oliver Zietz Starts Strong in Rangiroa, Keeps his Challenger Series Bid Thriving

Pictured: Finn McGill (HAW) entered this event on the cusp of Challenger Series and found his form under pressure in a solid Round of 32 debut. Credit: © WSL / Kotaha

RANGIROA, Tahiti, French Polynesia (Tuesday, 4 March, 2025) – The World Surf League (WSL) Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro, a men’s Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000, got underway in solid four-to-six-foot conditions at the pristine reef of Avatoru. A surprise uptick in swell treated competitors to an array of barrel opportunities throughout the Round of 40 and top-seeded Round of 32. Heavy implications unfolded in the Round of 32 with Challenger Series qualification hopefuls having to surmount Round of 40 standouts and underdog contenders.

Pictured: Enrique Ariitu (PYF) shined once more in home waters and surged into the Round of 16. Credit: WSL/ Kotaha

Tahitian Duo Enrique Ariitu and Mihimana Braye Thrive in Debut

The local supporters had plenty to cheer for with Enrique Ariitu (PYF) and Mihimana Braye (PYF) both advancing from their Round of 32, Heat 5, bout. Ariitu’s form looked incredible, navigating an Avatoru curtain call to post an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10). Braye, 2023 event runner-up, held firm to advance behind Ariitu in the all-Tahitian battle. Now, both look to earn their place into the Quarterfinals with Round of 16 heats coming up.

“I’m really happy to be able to surf a contest at home, and I hope next year we can hold a couple more,” Ariitu said. “It’s great to make it with Mihi [Braye]. The locals are always happy when one of us gets past our heat. I’m super happy with my 8-point wave after I waited a while for the wave. But it paid off and hopefully I can pack a couple more tomorrow.”

Pictured: Adding his name to the DeSoto competitive surfing excellence, Kalanoweo DeSoto (HAW) found his form early. Credit: WSL/ Kotaha

Kalanoweo DeSoto sets the Standard Early in Pulsing Conditions at Rangiroa

A brilliant debut by Kalanoweo DeSoto (HAW) upped the ante in the Round of 32 during Heat 1 with an excellent 8.75 and 13.75 (out of a possible 20) heat total. DeSoto’s forehand power and ability to control his time in the barrel pushed current No. 1 Shion Crawford (HAW), Memphis Brown (HAW) and Round of 40 standout Legend Chandler (HAW) to answer. Crawford found a 7.35 of his own, but DeSoto’s 5.00 responded to regain the lead and take a decisive heat win.

“It felt really good to get a good wave and I was super stoked to come out,” DeSoto said. “I feel so blessed to be in such a beautiful place and I’m so grateful to see the beautiful waves and get to surf them. I learned a lot about this wave and the reef and currents the practice really helped with my lineups.”

Pictured: Holding firm at No. 4 on the rankings, Oliver Zietz (NDL) showed his prowess in the Avatoru lineup. Credit: WSL/ Kotaha

Oliver Zietz Starts Strong in Rangiroa, Keeps his Challenger Series Bid Alive

One of the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS newcomers, Oliver Zietz (NDL), made his presence known once more in the jersey and posted an excellent 8.00 of his own – and matched DeSoto’s Round of 32 best 13.75 heat total. Zietz’s career-best performance earlier this year earned him a runner-up behind former Championship Tour (CT) competitor Ezekiel Lau (HAW). Now, the emerging talent looks to add another Zietz to the list of CT hopefuls.

“It feels really good to start off with a heat win, especially at such an important and special event. Rangiroa is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been before,” Zietz said. “The barrel-riding aspect is a pretty easy thing to adapt to for me coming from Kauai, but figuring out my position in the lineup was tricky at first and I honestly think I finally figured it out during my heat. That heat was super fun and there were probably about 30 good barrels that came through.

“The 8-point ride was nice solid set wave. I locked in a little late and pulled up, then kinda had to readjust mid-barrel, then came out and put the cherry on top with a nice grab rail carve. I feel really great and confident in my ability not only to qualify for the challenger series but, also to take out the whole event.”

Zeitz holds place firm within the Top 5 qualification spot for now alongside Crawford and No. 2 Luke Swanson (HAW). But, an early exit from Joshua Moniz (HAW) left the door open for the likes of Braye, Finn McGill (HAW), Rylan Beavers (HAW), and Luke Tema (HAW) – who posted an excellent 8.35 – to strike after earning their place into the Round of 16.

Event organizers will reconvene at 7:30 a.m. TAHT to determine a possible 8:00 a.m. TAHT start.

The Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro QS 1,000 holds a competition window beginning March 3 through 7 at Avatoru, Rangiroa, Tahiti. Once called on, live scoring and updates will be on www.WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL App.

For more information, please visit www.WorldSurfLeague.com.

PRIOR UPDATES BELOW

Final Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series Stop is ON for Tuesday at Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro

2023 Event Runner-up Mihimana Braye Returns for More

Final Challenger Series Spots on the Line in Paradise

Opening Day Called Off, Next Call Tuesday, March 4

Time is same as Hawaii

Rangiroa on map

Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro 2025 | World Surf League

Pictured: The beautiful backdrop of Rangiroa’s Avatoru reef pass during the opening ceremony for competition now awaits the first call. Credit: © WSL / Kotaha

RANGIROA, Tahiti, French Polynesia (Monday, 3 March, 2025) – Opening day of the World Surf League (WSL) Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro, a men’s Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) 1000, has been called OFF. Two-to-three-foot swell is on the forecast throughout the window for competition to likely get underway Tuesday, March 4. This event will determine who qualifies for the 2025 Challenger Series and represent the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui region toward 2026 Championship Tour qualification.

2023 Event Runner-up Mihimana Braye Returns for More

For many of the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui athletes entering this event, a big result is needed to shake up the rankings andshowed he’s up to the task after earning runner-up in 2023. Braye’s backhand attack and ability to navigate the barrel make him one to watch alongside his fellow Tahitians in Rangiroa. This event marks a momentous return for the island of Tahiti and its regional athletes as they look to reinstate themselves among Hawaii’s high-level contenders.

“Rangiroa is such a unique and perfect wave. It’s one of the most perfect QS events we can have in the year,” Braye said. “We didn’t have a lot of competitions here just for us and now the Federation start doing more and more. It’s getting bigger and all the upcoming surfers, and my generation of surfers, are getting more motivated. This event is really special for me. The only WSL event I’ve won was the Pro Junior here in 2015 and in [2023] I got runner-up so this place has a special place in my heart.”

Final Challenger Series Spots on the Line in Paradise

After the women’s season concluded at The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro, Eweleiula Wong (HAW), Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW) and Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) earned their place among the Challenger Series contenders. Now, the last opportunity for men’s contenders to vie for the Top 5 spots is set to unfold with no one mathematically out of the hunt up to No. 24 on the rankings. Rangiroa’s righthand perfection of Avatoru will be the deciding factor and, with a smaller forecast on offer, it will push these athletes to their best under pressure.

Current rankings leader Shion Crawford (HAW) looks to earn back-to-back Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional wins and will face off against fellow Challenger Series qualification hopefuls along with Tahiti’s proven contenders.

Pictured: Current No. 2 Luke Swanson has his eyes set on a big result in Rangiroa and is no stranger to its pristine reef. Credit: WSL/ Abraham

Crawford is joined in the current regional Top 5 by Luke Swanson (HAW), Joshua Moniz (HAW), Oliver Zietz (HAW), and Ezekiel Lau (HAW), who hold the 2025 Challenger Series qualification spots. But with the best three out of four results counting, there is still plenty of shuffling that can take place as less than 1,000 points separate No. 2 from No. 13.

“Last year I made it my goal to qualify for the Challenger Series and then barely managed to finish in the Top 30 of our regional regional rankings. I guess that was the fire I needed to make some changes to my mental preparation,” Swanson said. “One of my favorite surfing memories ever was actually from a barrel I got in a heat out at Rangiroa, it was perfect. It’s really important to just let the results flow. Whether I’m dead last on the rankings or on the cusp of qualification, my goal is to be all in with every performance and win. I think it’s a privilege to have some pressure to perform in an event like this and I look forward to seeing what happens.”

Pictured: A highlight of the opening ceremony was the cultural “Nāti” ceremony, a deeply symbolic tradition representing the connection between our ancestors and the Pacific Islands. This ritual, embodied by the weaving of a sacred braid, brought together all participants and staff to form one single, united braid, symbolizing unity, respect, and the spirit of togetherness that defines this competition. Credit: © WSL / Kotaha

Opening Day Called Off, Next Call Tuesday, March 4

Event organizers will look to start the competition on Tuesday, March 4, after calling the opening day of the window OFF. Two-to-three-foot, wind swell conditions are on the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday to get proceedings underway at Avatoru’s pristine reef. As the largest atoll island surrounding Tahiti’s main island, Rangiroa is open to prominent north swell and wind swell that focus on the break of Avatoru.