• Attention Shifts to South Pacific’s Teahupo’o from August 7 – 16
• WSL Final 5 to Be Decided at the ‘End of The Road’
• Tahiti Pro Wildcards and Trials Winners Announced
• 12-year-old Kelia Gallina Will Compete in First CT Event

It will be the first international surfing event to run at Teahupo’o in Tahiti since the 2024 Paris Olympic Games were contested there last August. This event brings a massive opportunity for surfers inside the top 10 on the rankings to make their move and book a spot inside the Final 5. To do this, they’ll need to bring plenty of grit and determination to put their head down, and send it over the ledge at the ‘End of The Road’.

Regarded as the heaviest wave on the Championship Tour, Teahupo’o in Tahiti is as beautiful as it is brutal. Playing host to the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the world got a glimpse at the raw power and perfect pits this shallow reef pass offers up. Only a few of the world’s best and local standouts look to have truly mastered this miracle of nature, and even they would admit to being terrified of this wave and the power it wields. Sitting at the base of a spectacular volcanic mountain range, the fishing village of Teahupo’o serves as the backdrop to this awe-inspiring wave and adds to the unique and special feeling around what has become one of surfing’s most coveted events.

With a shot at a World Title on the line, the best surfers in the world will be forced to commit, paddling over the ledge and standing in one of the thickest tubes on the planet. This event not only offers competitors the chance to achieve their professional goals and dreams, but also the opportunity to ride the wave of their lives. The Lexus Tahiti Pro is truly a sporting spectacle that can’t be missed.

After an incredible end to the Corona Open J-Bay, with South Africa’s world-class right-hand point break at Jeffreys Bay turning on unforgettable conditions on Finals Day, World No. 1s Yago Dora (BRA) and Molly Picklum (AUS) clinched their spots in the WSL Final 5 for 2025. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Caity Simmers (USA) sit at second and third on the rankings, respectively and have each booked their spot at the Lexus WSL Finals Fiji. Apart from these four surfers, the last four spots on the men’s side and two spots on the women’s side are up for grabs, meaning the storylines coming into Tahiti are endless.

There are plenty of scenarios on the line with anyone inside the top 10 are in with a shot. There will also be a massive focus on rankings heading into the Lexus WSL Finals, with the recently announced Final 5 format changes giving a huge advantage to the higher-seeded surfers, in particular the rankings leaders. With all of this at play, competitors will need to commit when competition commences if they’re to get their shot at claiming the World Title for 2025.

The best surfers in the world will have their work cut out for them with a handful of Teahupo’o specialists being added to the draw for this year’s event. Olympic Gold Medalist and former CT runner-up Kauli Vaast (FRA) and reigning event winner and Tahitian favorite Vahine Fierro (FRA) will compete as event wildcards.

The Tahiti Pro Trials were run over the weekend at Teahupo’o and taken out by competitive veteran Mihimana Braye (PYF) in the men’s, along with 12-year-old Teahupo’o standout Kelia Gallina (PYF), who will become the youngest surfer to ever compete in a CT event. Gallina, a WSL Rising Tides participant, will wear a CT jersey for the first time to compete against her heroes, just across the channel from her home. Already a regular out at Teahupo’o, Gallina’s incredible backside tube riding technique could do some serious damage when the waves turn on at her local during the event.

Alejo Muniz (BRA) has withdrawn due to injury and will not compete in the Lexus Tahiti Pro. Muniz will be replaced by Firmin Teiva Tairoa (PYF), who placed second in the Tahiti Pro Trials. Gabriel Medina (BRA) was offered the injury replacement wildcard; however, he was unable to accept due to previously scheduled commitments.

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

About the WSL
The World Surf League (WSL) is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world’s best surfing. The WSL oversees surfing’s global competitive landscape and sets the standard for elite performance in the most dynamic playing field in all of sports. With a firm commitment to its values, the WSL prioritizes the protection of the ocean, equality, and the sport’s rich heritage, while championing progression and innovation.