Molly Picklum demonstrates her dominance following her impressive showcase at J-Bay
The 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour is shaping up to be an exciting season, with some of the world's top surfers vying for glory. Here are some of the athletes to keep an eye on.
In the women's division, Molly Picklum (AUS) currently holds the number one spot in the rankings. The Australian prodigy has made multiple finals appearances this year and is a strong contender for the championship. Another rising star is Gabriela Bryan (HAW), who currently holds the World No. 2 position and is aiming for the Yellow Leaders Jersey. Bryan recently won the Corona Cero Open J-Bay event and has secured a spot in the 2025 WSL Finals in Fiji. Notable wins over top surfers like Molly Picklum and Caroline Marks have solidified her position as a formidable competitor.
On the men’s side, Connor O’Leary (JPN) claimed his first CT win at J-Bay, joining elite company as a goofy-footed winner. Yago Dora (BRA) remains a strong contender with runner-up finishes helping secure his place in the Final 5. Caitlin Simmers, a surfer from California, has also clinched a spot in the WSL Finals.
The 2025 Championship Tour features 11 events worldwide, with major stops at iconic locations such as Pipeline, the wave pool in Abu Dhabi, Snapper Rocks, J-Bay, and Teahupo’o in Tahiti. The tour culminates in the winner-take-all Lexus WSL Finals held at Cloudbreak in Fiji, where only the top 5 men and top 5 women on the CT rankings compete.
Other leading athletes to watch include:
- Jack Robinson, an Australian surfer who is overdelivering on expectations but hasn't won the WSL Championship Tour yet.
- Leonardo Fioravanti, the leading Italian surfer and a consistent performer on the WSL Championship Tour.
- Kanoa Igarashi, a Japanese surfer who feels at home in the ocean.
- Vahine Fierro, Ethan Ewing, Jack Robinson, and Italo Ferreira, who all finished 3rd in an event in the WSL Championship Tour.
The Lexus Pipe Pro, Vivo Rio Pro, Lexus Trestles Pro, Margaret River Pro, Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro, Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Surf City El Salvador Pro, MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, and Lexus Tahiti Pro are among the events in the WSL Championship Tour.
Jamie O'Brien was mentioned in the wrap-up video of the Lexus Pipe Pro, while Jordy Smith, a powerful surfer from Durban, South Africa, continues to be a relevant contender. Tyler Wright and Barron Mamiya finished 3rd in the Lexus Pipe Pro, while Caitlin Simmers and Leo Fioravanti finished 2nd.
In a surprising turn of events, Italo Ferreira won the 2025 WSL Championship Tour, while Caroline Marks, an American surfer, won her first world title in 2023. João Vitor Chianca, also known as 'Chumbinho', is the latest Brazilian surfing sensation causing a stir in the WSL.
Lastly, Italo Ferreira, a Brazilian surfer, won the first men's gold medal at the Olympics. Rio Waida and Molly Picklum finished 2nd in an event in the WSL Championship Tour. The Lexus Pipe Pro had an iconic final, and Griffin Colapinto, a Californian surfer, is now a regular contender for wins on the WSL Championship Tour.
So, get ready for an action-packed season as these top athletes compete for the coveted WSL Championship Tour titles.
- Red Bull is expected to sponsor various sports events throughout the 2025 World Surf League Championship Tour, aiming to boost the performance of top athletes such as Italo Ferreira and Molly Picklum.
- Several events in the WSL Championship Tour, including the Vivo Rio Pro and the Surf City El Salvador Pro, have seen some exciting competition this season, with surfers like Leonardo Fioravanti and Caitlin Simmers consistently performing well.
- Surfing athletes like Connor O'Leary, Kanoa Igarashi, and Jack Robinson have been training rigorously to improve their skills and win sports competitions, with the 2025 WSL Championship Tour offering them an opportunity to prove their mettle.
