Presented by Outerknown 

• Australian Women Escape Elimination on Opening Day
• Carissa Moore, Tyler Wright, and John John Florence Provisionally Qualify for Olympic Games Paris
• Filipe Toledo Locks No. 1 Seed for the Rip Curl WSL Finals
• Mixed Results for Tahitian Wildcards: Fierro and Braye Advance, While Vaast and Drollet Relegated to Elimination Round

TEAHUPO’O, Tahiti, French Polynesia (Friday, August 11, 2023) – The Shiseido Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown, the penultimate stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2023 Championship Tour (CT) season, saw a big day of competition with the completion of both the women’s and men’s Opening Rounds, and the women’s Elimination Round. Teahupo’o showed glimpses of what it’s known for but challenged the world’s best with strong winds affecting the semi-clean four-to-five foot waves.

Australians Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright have solidified their spots inside the Top 5 with Quarterfinal berths at the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro. Both competitors showed commitment both on the face and in the barrel to recover from Opening Round losses and keep their campaigns alive in Tahiti.

“Teahupo’o is so hard and there are so many emotions,” Wright said. “From my first heat until now, I’ve had to be honest with how scared I am out here. Today is not massive but there is still an aspect of risk. Once I was able to accept and admit that I’m scared of this place but I can still be committed and calculated I was able to move through it all.”

With her heat win, Wright has provisionally qualified for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

“A lot of work has gone into that,” Wright said after learning the news of her provisional qualification. “It’s one of those events where, yeah, as I would say, keeping my hands on the steering wheel in that particular situation is going to be key, especially because I think had so many emotions around here. So yeah, that’s cool. A lot of hard work. And thanks to my beautiful wife and my team here and at home. It’s cool!”

Picklum will take on 2023 CT rookie Caitlin Simmers (USA), who is hoping to hold onto her spot inside the Final 5, while Wright will take on Teahupo’o standout Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), who took a convincing win in the Opening Round earlier today.

The last heat of the day was a massive one in terms of WSL Final 5 qualification as World No. 6 Lakey Peterson (USA) took on World No. 7 Stephanie Gilmore (AUS). Both surfers need to overtake rookie Caitlin Simmers (USA), so this was a must-win heat for each competitor. It was a low-scoring affair between the two natural footers but in the end, it was the reigning seven-time World Champion Gilmore who got the win and kept her Final 5 aspirations alive.

With their progression through the draw today, Hawaii’s John John Florence and Carissa Moore have provisionally qualified to represent the United States once again at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The pair will return to Tahiti for the Games, where Moore and Florence are some of the favorites for medal contention.

Surfing will return to the Olympic Games after making its 2020 Olympic debut in Tokyo. The competition will be held at this same wave, Teahupo’o. The CT is surfing’s tier-one qualifier for the 2024 Olympic Games. The WSL will provisionally qualify the first ten men and eight women for Paris 2024. Learn more about Surfing’s Olympic Qualification process. 

Three-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) has fired a warning shot across the bow of his opponents. He posted the second-highest two-wave total of the event so far with an excellent 16.10 combination for an impressive display of deep tube rides. Medina comes into Tahiti sitting in 6th on the rankings and is in need of a Quarterfinal finish or better to move into the Final 5. After today’s performance, it’s safe to say Medina has the Rip Curl WSL Finals in his focus.

“I’m really happy to be back in Tahiti, it’s my favorite stop on Tour,” Medina said. “It feels good to be back after four years and get a few waves, and I hope to get a few more in the next round. I just want to surf and get waves here, Teahupo’o is my kind of wave, and I love to get barreled, so I just want to enjoy it and not think about results. I know what I need to do, so I’m just going to focus on doing my job.”

Current World No. 7 John John Florence (HAW) was another standout in the Opening Round, taking an easy win over Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and Rio Waida (IDN) to progress into the Round of 16. Like Medina, Florence still has a chance of making the Final 5 with a decent result here in Tahiti as he searches for a maiden win at Teahupo’o.

“That was a dream start and it doesn’t happen very often that we get those starts,” Fioravanti said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself, though. There is still a lot of work to do. I love Tahiti – good surf, amazing food, and fresh fish – It’s amazing here. I’ve been here for a while and have been getting some fun waves. We will be back here for the Olympics next year, so I want to spend as much time here as possible. Right now, I’m just outside the Top 5, but I’m really happy with the year I’ve had, and whatever happens, happens, and I’m just happy with how I’ve surfed this year.”

Yago Dora (BRA) and Joao Chianca (BRA) both sit inside the Top 5 but have yet to clinch their spots at the Rip Curl WSL Finals. Dora moved closer to locking himself in with a heat win this morning, while Chianca finds himself in the Elimination Round and will have to overcome Kauli Vaast to progress into the Round of 16 and clinch his spot.

Filipe Toledo Locks No. 1 Seed for the Rip Curl WSL Finals 

Filipe Toledo (BRA) has guaranteed he will hold onto the No. 1 seed once again heading into the Rip Curl WSL Finals after he booked himself a spot in the Round of 16 with a solid heat win today at Teahupo’o. Toledo utilized both turns and tube rides to edge past Australian Liam O’Brien (AUS) and Local Trials winner Matahi Drollet (PYF), garnering a two-wave total of 11.00.

“That was a tricky heat, especially against Matahi (Drollet),” Toledo said. “He is a good surfer out here and can easily get big scores, so I was kind of rattled about it. I’m staying at his house, so we were having fun about coming up against each other, just trying to keep it fun. I’m not taking any risks; I’ve already qualified for the Finals, so I want to save it and make that heat. Play it smart. You know, there’s no pressure right now, just cruising and just going to try and put a good result here and get barrelled for sure.”

Mixed Results for Tahitian Wildcards: Fierro and Braye Advance, While Vaast and Drollet Relegated to Elimination Round

Local hopeful Vahine Fierro (FRA) lead the way for the Tahitian contingent, posting the highest two-wave total of the women’s event so far. Fierro looked super comfortable, finding multiple set waves to take the win with a 13.43 two-wave combination. She moves into the Quarterfinals, where she will take on current World No. 1 Carissa Moore (HAW).

“I’m so happy to be back competing at home, sleeping in my own bed, eating mom’s food; it’s just the best feeling,” Fierro said. “I’ve been on the road a lot this year and have had some great success. I got second at a Challenger Series event and qualified for the Olympics, so I’m hoping to keep the momentum going. Surfing in this event is a great experience for me for when I do get to the CT, but I also want to just enjoy it and have fun.”

Wildcard Mihimana Braye (PYF) was also able to take a heat win over Griffin Colapinto (USA) and Caio Ibelli (BRA) to skip the Elimination Round and book a spot in the Round of 16. Braye surfed a patient heat, waiting for sets to earn a 12.60 two-wave total.

Event wildcard Kauli Vaast (FRA) and Trials winner Matahi Drollet (PYF) did not find the same success as their fellow Tahitians and will have another opportunity for redemption in the Elimination Round. Vaast, the runner-up in Tahiti last year, was unable to find scoring opportunities against Jordy Smith (RSA) and current World No. 4 Joao Chianca (BRA). Vaast will now await a rematch with Chianca, and Drollet will be up against World No. 3 Griffin Colapinto (USA).

For more of today’s highlights and features from the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups: 
HEAT 1: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 7.00 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 5.27, Molly Picklum (AUS) 4.50
HEAT 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 8.50 DEF. Carissa Moore (HAW) 5.86, Aelan Vaast (FRA) 2.96
HEAT 3: Vahine Fierro (FRA) 13.43 DEF. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 4.73, Tyler Wright (AUS) 0.97
HEAT 4: Caroline Marks (USA) 6.33 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 6.13, Lakey Peterson (USA) 4.46

SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown Men’s Opening Round Results: 
HEAT 1: Yago Dora (BRA) 10.50 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 9.34, Ian Gentil (HAW) 9.06
HEAT 2: Jordy Smith (RSA) 11.93 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 6.80, Kauli Vaast (FRA) 4.07
HEAT 3: Mihimana Braye (PYF) 12.60 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 10.67, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 7.67
HEAT 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 11.00 DEF. Liam O’Brien (AUS) 8.96, Matahi Drollet (PYF) 7.07
HEAT 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.10 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 12.50, Barron Mamiya (HAW) 11.94
HEAT 6: John John Florence (HAW) 14.00 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 7.66, Rio Waida (INA) 0.97
HEAT 7: Jack Robinson (AUS) 15.57 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 11.70, Connor O’Leary (AUS) 11.33
HEAT 8: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 16.93 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 10.17, Ryan Callinan (AUS) 8.66

SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown Men’s Elimination Round Matchups: 
HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Matahi Drollet (PYF)
HEAT 2: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Rio Waida (INA)
HEAT 3: Joao Chianca (BRA) vs. Kauli Vaast (FRA)
HEAT 4: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Callum Robson (AUS)
HEAT 5: Ryan Callinan (AUS) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
HEAT 6: Ian Gentil (HAW) vs. Matthew McGillivray (RSA)
HEAT 7: Connor O’Leary (AUS) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
HEAT 8: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS)

Watch LIVE: SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown
The Shiseido Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown holds a competition window through Sunday, August 20, 2023. Once called on, the competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL’s YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

The SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown is proudly supported by Outerknown, Tahiti Government, Red Bull, YETI, Oakberry, Mophie, Surfline, True Surf, Air Tahiti, Vini, Polynesie 1, Chery, Fédération Tahitienne De Surf, and Sports de la Polynésie Française.