The world’s best surfers are about to descend on Cloudbreak, Fiji, for the 2025 WSL Finals (August 27 – September 4). The anticipation is sky-high—this is the first time the one-day showdown that crowns surfing’s world champions has landed in the South Pacific. But as the clock ticks down, one question is on everyone’s mind: will the waves show up?
A Quiet Ocean
Right now, Fiji is in a flat spell. Cloudbreak, normally a heaving reef pass famous for 20-foot caverns and perfect barrels, has been reduced to long lulls and patchy trade-swell runners. Swell forecasters point to a tricky setup in the Southern Ocean: a long-wave trough that has been sending most storm energy away from Fiji. Without well-aligned southwest swells crossing the Coral and Tasman Seas, the reef simply doesn’t come alive.
Glimmers of Hope
There are some bright spots on the horizon. A south-southwest pulse arriving around August 21 could light up Cloudbreak with six to eight-foot sets. Another long-period swell around August 23 might bring inconsistent six-foot surf, though the angle is less than ideal. The trouble is, these pulses come before the official Finals window.
Once the waiting period kicks off on August 27, the models show a dip. Expect small, inconsistent southeast trade swells—the kind of energy that rarely excites Fiji’s reefs. Beyond August 30, there are whispers of new southern energy, but confidence is low.
What Happens If the Ocean Stays Quiet?
Unlike the regular tour stops, the Finals are a one-day shootout. The WSL needs just a single day of good waves to crown the world champions. If the surf is flat, organizers will wait it out—the window runs through September 4.
Could the event move to another break? In theory, Fiji has plenty of quality reefs, but Cloudbreak is the spiritual centerpiece. Unless conditions are dire, expect the show to stay put.
The Waiting Game
For surfers, fans, and Fiji itself, the stakes are huge. The country’s most iconic wave will be beamed around the globe, showcasing not only the world title race but also a nation with a deep surfing history—once locked out of Cloudbreak, now producing its first pro surfer, James Kusitino.
But as ever in surfing, Mother Ocean makes the final call. If the swells arrive, we could see one of the most spectacular Finals in history. If they don’t, it could be a tense week of waiting, watching, and hoping that Cloudbreak delivers when it matters most.
