The first day of the first stop on the 2025 WSL Championship Tour is in the books. The Lexus Pipe Pro fired the starter’s gun for the opening round in fun-looking conditions. Not conditions fit for Pipeline, of course, but fingers are crossed the forecast will offer those as the event nears its end.
“In three-to-five-foot conditions at Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oʻahu, the CT field made its return,” the WSL wrote, “joined by the new rookie class, wildcards, and replacements who put on their first performances of the season.”
Speaking of wildcards, it’s worth mentioning here that although three-time world champion John John Florence announced he’d be taking time off tour this year, he was awarded a wildcard into the event. Which he accepted, of course, much to the disappointment of all the other competitors.
If you are a gambler who doesn’t like risk, you’d have done well to bet on the likely winners. On the women’s side, Tyler Wright, Caity Simmers, and Caroline Marks swept their opening round heats. That means they skip the elimination round and go straight to the Round of 16.
With a solid day of competition in the books, attention now turns to the forecast. A major storm system is expected to impact the North Shore, prompting the Commissioner’s Office to call the competition OFF for Thursday, January 30, and Friday, January 31. With improved conditions anticipated after the weather system passes, the next official call will be made Friday afternoon to provide an update on the weekend’s competition schedule.
Tyler Wright surfed particularly well. It’s her 13th season on tour, and she’s getting better with time.
“Honestly, it’s just nice to catch some waves,” Wright said. “I probably think a lot less [now] and enjoy a lot more. I’ve been doing this, what, 14 years now and you’re always critical of yourself. I feel like this year, I’m trying to find that balance of actually enjoying what I’m doing. Last year was rough, I was injured a lot and actually, it sucked. I feel good, and I’m healthy and I’m just enjoying surfing.”
On the men’s side, Jack Robinson and Kelly Slater were able to win their heats, while Italo Ferreira, John John Florence, and Barron Mamiya all hung onto second place while still advancing.
Robinson, who won this event in 2023 and has proven himself in all conditions there, snagged the highest single-wave score of the day with an 8.00.
“Jack’s back,” Robinson said. “It’s been a long time that I’ve been coming here, like 16, 17 years now, and every time you go out there you still just respect it, but that was a beautiful way to start.”
Slater too was happy with his win. It was the first heat he’s come out on top of at Pipeline since 2022, when he won the whole thing. Slater is also a wildcard.
“It’s, to some degree, like riding a bike, but each day is different, conditions are a little different,” Slater said. “You’ve got to remember, not every wave at Pipe and Backdoor is in the same spot. Depending on the swell direction and the size, it moves around a lot. Like, there was a left that came and Italo took it. It was my priority, but I let Italo go. I knew from there they don’t barrel, and I’m out there looking for barrels, but he does the big air on the wave, so you’re looking for different things.”
Full results are below:
HEAT 1: Seth Moniz (HAW) 12.06 DEF. Edgard Groggia (BRA) 8.73, Yago Dora (BRA) 8.53
HEAT 2: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 10.50 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 9.27, Jackson Bunch (HAW) 7.34
HEAT 3: Jack Robinson (AUS) 13.10 DEF. Alan Cleland (MEX) 8.43, Liam O’Brien (AUS) 8.17
HEAT 4: Ian Gentil (HAW) 12.90 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 12.30, Griffin Colapinto (USA) 10.93
HEAT 5: Kelly Slater (USA) 9.90 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 8.00, Samuel Pupo (BRA) 3.90
HEAT 6: Ian Gouveia (BRA) 11.84 DEF. John John Florence (HAW) 11.50, Eli Hanneman (HAW) 11.43
HEAT 7: Jordy Smith (RSA) 11.00 DEF. George Pittar (AUS) 7.17, Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 3.63
HEAT 8: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 10.06 DEF. Rio Waida (INA) 7.83, Joel Vaughan (AUS) 3.06
HEAT 9: Connor O’Leary (JPN) 7.10 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 6.80, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 3.53
HEAT 10: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 7.40 DEF. Cole Houshmand (USA) 6.14, Deivid Silva (BRA) 5.90
HEAT 11: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 8.57 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 6.66, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 6.27
HEAT 12: Marco Mignot (FRA) 13.33 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 8.73, Ryan Callinan (AUS) 8.57
Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI Men’s Elimination Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA) vs. Eli Hanneman (HAW)
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Jackson Bunch (HAW)
HEAT 3: Ryan Callinan (AUS) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA) vs. Joel Vaughan (AUS)
HEAT 4: Imaikalani deVault (HAW) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI Women’s Opening Round Results (Heats 1 – 4):
HEAT 1: Luana Silva (BRA) 12.60 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 9.16, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 6.17
HEAT 2: Caroline Marks (USA) 11.83 DEF. Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) 7.17, Bella Kenworthy (USA) 6.67
HEAT 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 12.67 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 7.93, Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 7.10
HEAT 4: Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.83 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 10.16, Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 9.87
Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI Remaining Women’s Opening Round Matchups (Heats 5 – 6):
HEAT 5: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Vahine Fierro (FRA)
HEAT 6: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN)
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