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Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA Set To Start in Epic Conditions at Teahupo’o

World’s Best Surfers Warm Up in Monstrous Waves in Tahiti…same time as HI Time.

WSL Final 5 To Be Decided This Week at Teahupo’o

Local Threats Set Sights on Success at Home Break

Tahiti Pro CT Locked In Through 2027

World’s Best Warm Up in Monstrous Waves in Tahiti 

An amazing run of waves for the last week in Tahiti has seen CT surfers joined by local standouts and some of the world’s best big-wave surfers to warm up in huge waves at Teahupo’o. With some waves too big to paddle, a handful of the world’s elite opted to tow into some of the biggest waves seen in Tahiti this season. Jack Robinson (AUS), João Chianca (BRA), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Italo Ferreira (BRA), Griffin Colapinto (USA), Marco Mignot (FRA) and event wildcard Kauli Vaast (FRA) were just some of the names that threw their hat in the ring and ended up catching some of the rides of their life.

As the last event of the 2025 regular season, the Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA will decide the WSL Final 5 men and women who will head to Fiji later this month to battle it out for this year’s World Title. Molly Picklum (AUS), Gabriela Bryan (HAW), and Caity Simmers (USA) have all clinched their spots, leaving the last two spots up for grabs, while on the men’s side, current World No. 1 Yago Dora (BRA) is the only competitor to have clinched a spot. With all surfers inside the Top 10 having a mathematical chance to qualify by the end of this event, there will be plenty on the line when the competition gets underway this week.

Competing in his seventh season on Tour, Dora will paddle out at Teahupo’o wearing the Yellow Leader Jersey for the first time in his career. Although he has clinched a spot in the Final 5 already, the 29-year-old will need a big result here to ensure he hangs onto the all-important No. 1 seed ahead of the Finals. Having finished in the Quarterfinals in his last three appearances in Tahiti, Dora will be feeling confident in himself to end the regular season on a high note.

“This is definitely one of my favorite waves on Tour,” Dora said. “It’s so perfect that you know it’s going to give you the barrel of your life if you commit. I’ve always had good results here, but would love to win it for sure. It’s one of those ones that is so important in our sport, so to win here would be special. I’m excited to be in the yellow jersey, and I’m really going to try and keep it before Fiji.”

Molly Picklum’s (AUS) consistency throughout the season sees the 22-year-old coming into Tahiti wearing yellow as she eyes her maiden World Title in 2025. Picklum is renowned for her ability in backhand barrels, and with a solid forecast for the days ahead, she is excited to push herself and her competitors as she looks to claim her first win at Teahupo’o.

“I’ve been here for a little while now, so I’m feeling in the groove,” Picklum said. “It was nice to have some days of smaller, fun surf to get re-acquainted before it went super massive. It looks like we will have more good days coming, so I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I love how much this wave challenges you and how awesome the reward is if you commit. I am keen to fix any strategic mistakes I’ve made because I know when I’m surfing my best, my opponents will have to surf their absolute best to beat me.”

Defending event winner and local standout Vahine Fierro (FRA) comes into the event as a wildcard with hopes of playing spoiler. Known as one of the best at Teahupo’o when it’s heavy, Fierro is looking forward to the waves that are expected in the coming days.

“It’s looking really good for the next few days, so I’m excited,” Fierro said. “It’s been massive the last two days, and I haven’t been surfing, but I think what we will get in the opening days will be the Teahupo’o I love to surf. I’ve got nothing to lose so I am excited to see what the week brings, and I can’t wait to see the other women push it. The level seriously goes up every year, and every woman on Tour can put on a crazy performance in these types of waves.”

The last time an event ran at Teahupo’o, local favorite Kauli Vaast (FRA) became an Olympic Gold Medalist. The young Tahitian superstar has an affinity with this wave like few others and finished as a runner-up here at the CT level in 2022. Today, Vaast rode one of the waves of his life at Teahupo’o, and he hopes this is a sign of things to come with an amazing-looking forecast on hand for the opening days of competition.

“Yesterday was one year to the day since I won gold and it was again one of the best days of my life,” Vaast said. “I towed my little brother and sister into the best, biggest waves of their lives and then today I got one of the best waves I’ve had at Teahupo’o. Winning here meant a lot to me, my family and my community and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to represent them again in the CT event. Tomorrow looks like it is going to be insane, with incredible waves, so I can’t wait to keep it going.”

When 12-year-old Kelia Gallina (PYF) won the Tahiti Trials to book a spot in the main event at her home break, she grabbed the attention of the world. This week, she will make history, becoming the youngest ever surfer to compete in a CT event. In her Opening Round heat, she will take on two of her heroes, Molly Picklum (AUS) and Lakey Peterson (USA), as the youngster looks to earn experience ahead of what is sure to be a long and successful professional career.

“Molly [Picklum] is one of my heroes, and I love Lakey [Peterson]’s surfing, so it’s so cool to be competing with them in my first heat,” Gallina said. “The surf looks solid, so it will be a challenge, but I surf here most days, so I feel comfortable a lot of the time. I’m just excited every time the event comes and all of the best come to Teahupo’o, so it’s crazy to be a part of it.”

At today’s opening ceremony for the 2025 Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA, Tahiti’s Minister for Sport, Kainuu Temauri, announced that the Tahitian Government and the WSL will continue their long and strong partnership for at least another three years, securing Teahupo’o as a stop on the Championship Tour through to 2027. The event, which is one of the most exciting on the WSL calendar, has been running since 1998 and will continue to help decide surfing World Champions within the season for years to come.

For more information about the Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.