The World Surf League (WSL) Finals are officially underway in Fiji, with the top five men and women surfers gathered on Tavarua Island. The competition window, running from August 27th to September 4th, will see new world champions crowned in the final iteration of the ‘Final Five’ format. While the iconic Cloudbreak is a potential venue, organizers are closely monitoring a promising swell that could see the competition shift to the equally formidable Restaurants.
Key Takeaways
- The WSL Finals are being held in Fiji from August 27 to September 4, 2025.
- Cloudbreak and Restaurants are the potential venues, with a significant swell predicted for the latter part of the waiting period.
- Format updates for 2025 give the top seed an advantage, including starting heats with priority and the possibility of clinching the title in the first heat of the final match.
- The top five men include Yago Dora, Jordy Smith, Griffin Colapinto, Jack Robinson, and Italo Ferreira. The top five women are Molly Picklum, Gabriela Bryan, Caity Simmers, Caroline Marks, and Bettylou Sakura Johnson.
Awaiting the Swell
The WSL is eagerly anticipating a potential "swell of the year" that could arrive towards the end of the competition window. Deputy Commissioner Renato Hickel indicated that September 1st might see a "Yellow Alert" issued 24 hours before competition, with the event potentially kicking off on September 2nd. While Cloudbreak is the preferred venue, the forecast suggests that Restaurants could offer excellent conditions, described as a "wave machine perfection" with "nice little tubes and rippable lip bash city."
Format Changes for 2025
This year’s WSL Finals introduces significant format updates aimed at rewarding the top seeds. The No. 1 ranked surfer in both the men’s and women’s divisions will now start all heats with priority. Furthermore, if the top seed wins the first heat of the best-of-three final match, they will be crowned World Champion immediately, eliminating the need for subsequent heats. This change adds extra weight to achieving the top ranking throughout the regular season.
The Final Five
Ten elite surfers have qualified for the WSL Finals. The men’s field is led by No. 1 seed Yago Dora, joined by Jordy Smith, Griffin Colapinto, Jack Robinson, and Italo Ferreira. On the women’s side, Molly Picklum enters as the top seed, alongside Gabriela Bryan, Caity Simmers, Caroline Marks, and Bettylou Sakura Johnson. These athletes will battle it out for the ultimate surfing titles in the picturesque Fijian waters.
Sources
- ‘Swell of the Year’ Headed to Fiji for WSL Finals Day (Video), SURFER Magazine.
- WSL Announces Format Updates for 2025 Lexus WSL Finals Fiji, World Surf League.
- No Cloudbreak? The WSL Finals Day May Run at Restaurants, SURFER Magazine.
- Meet the 10 Surfers Going to the WSL Finals at Cloudbreak, SURFER Magazine.
