Opening Rounds Called OFF at VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero

Minimum swell on Saturday, upcoming modest pulse
Training Session and Fan Engagement Confirmed
New call set for tomorrow at 7:15 AM (GMT-3) (7 hours ahead of Hawaii)

Pictured: A bird’s-eye view of the VIVO Rio Pro presented by Corona Cero. Credit: WSL / Thiago Diz

PRAIA DE ITAÚNA, Saquarema, Brazil (Saturday, June 21, 2025) – The VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero, Stop No. 9 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2025 Championship Tour (CT), has been called OFF for the day with a current lack of swell at Praia de Itaúna, in Saquarema, Brazil.

“Conditions are very small today with only 1-2 foot waves. It’s a beautiful day, but not enough swell to start the competition, so we’re going to call the competition OFF for the day,” said Renato Hickel, WSL Deputy Commissioner. “We’re going to have a special practice session for the CT athletes in front of the big holiday crowd in Brazil and hopefully we can see a small bump in the forecast tomorrow for a 7:15 am call to see if we can put the opening rounds in the water.”

When competition resumes, the women will open up with No. 4 ranked surfer Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), who is coming in hot after securing a win at the Lexus Trestles Pro. Johnson hopes to improve her status in the Top 5 with another strong result at Praia de Itaúna. She will be matched up against Australian Isabella Nichols (AUS) and rookie Erin Brooks (CAN), who has already seen success in Saquarema with an event win on the Challenger Series during the 2024 Corona Saquarema Pro.

Pictured: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) arrives in Brazil ranked No. 1 on the 2025 Championship Tour rankings. Credit: WSL / Thiago Diz

Heat 2 will be intense with current World No. 1 Gabriel Bryan (HAW) facing up against Lakey Peterson (USA) and event wildcard, young Peruvian Arena Rodriguez (PER) in front of a raucous crowd.

Pictured: Caitlin Simmers (USA) from 2024 at the VIVO Rio Pro. Credit: WSL / Thiago Diz

Heat 3 will see world No. 2 and defending VIVO Rio Pro event winner Caitlin Simmers (USA) face Tyler Wright (AUS) and home crowd favorite Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), who comes in as the event wildcard. And to finalize the Opening Round for the women, the No. 3 ranked surfer Molly Picklum (AUS) will battle Caroline Marks (USA) and local surfer Luana Silva (BRA) in Heat 4.

Pictured: Defending event winner Italo Ferreira (BRA). Credit: WSL / Thiago Diz

The Men’s Opening Round will see defending event winner Italo Ferreira (BRA) face up against Conner O’Leary (JPN) and Seth Moniz (HAW) in Heat 1. Jordy Smith (RSA), the No. 1 ranked surfer in the world, will have a heated matchup against Cole Houshmand (USA) and event wildcard, Gabriel Klaussner (BRA) in Heat 4.

Heat 7 will provide international flair with the likes of Jack Robinson (AUS), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) and Rio Waida (INA) in the Opening Round. Later on, two-time WSL World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA) will seek to outduel Griffin Colapinto (USA) and super-local João Chianca (BRA) in Heat 8 of the men’s Opening Round.

Training Session and Fan Engagement Confirmed

Despite insufficient swell for the opening day of the event window, even without competition, it’s never a day off at the VIVO Rio Pro. The holiday weekend is set with an exciting schedule on the sand that includes the largest Sponsor Village in event history and a special athlete training session from 11am to 1pm in front of an energetic audience on the beach.

Furthermore, similar to other of the world’s largest sporting events, a fighter jet fly-by is scheduled in the afternoon and a water rescue simulation with a helicopter provided by the Brazilian Navy. In addition, activation collabs with NBA Brasil and the LA Lakers, aerial acrobatics with Esquadrilha CEU, athlete meet and greets and daily sunset live music at the Banco do Brasil Sound and Surf area are all scheduled to open the 2025 VIVO Rio Pro.

VIVO RIO PRO PRESENTED BY CORONA CERO MEN’S OPENING ROUND MATCHUPS:
HEAT 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Connor O’Leary (JPN) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
HEAT 2: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Joel Vaughan (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
HEAT 3: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. Peterson Crisanto (BRA)
HEAT 4: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Gabriel Klaussner (BRA)
HEAT 5: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Alan Cleland (MEX)
HEAT 6: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA)
HEAT 7: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Rio Waida (INA)
HEAT 8: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)VIVO RIO PRO PRESENTED BY CORONA CERO WOMEN’S OPENING ROUND MATCHUPS:
HEAT 1: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN)
HEAT 2: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Arena Rodriguez (PER)
HEAT 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
HEAT 4: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Luana Silva (BRA)