The Surfing World Tour is set to kick off in Hawaii, a location considered the spiritual homeland of the sport, amidst significant changes and setbacks. The absence of several top surfers, including reigning men’s champion John John Florence and other notable figures, will undoubtedly impact the competition.
Florence, who claimed his third world title last year, has decided to take the current season off to pursue personal endeavors. In a post on Instagram, he expressed his desire to create time for exploration and to discover new waves. Florence has indicated that he will compete as a wildcard in the season opener at Pipeline in his backyard, but he has no plans to compete full-time until 2026.
Another prominent absence is that of Gabriel Medina, a three-time world champion from Brazil, who will be missing from the early part of the season due to a chest injury. Medina’s presence on the tour is usually a significant factor, and his absence will provide opportunities for other surfers to step up and make a name for themselves.
The retirement of 11-time world champion Kelly Slater, often regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time, is another major loss for the tour. While Slater will compete as a wildcard at Pipeline, his absence will be deeply felt, and his influence will be missed. Slater’s retirement marks the end of an era, and his legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire and motivate the next generation of surfers.
On the women’s side, the absences of Carissa Moore and Stephanie Gilmore will be felt, as they have both retired or taken a sabbatical from the tour. Moore and Gilmore have combined to win 30 world titles, and their absence will leave a significant gap in the ranks.
Despite the numerous absences, the race for the 2025 world title remains wide open. A number of talented surfers have emerged as strong contenders, and the competition is likely to be fierce. Australians Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing will likely be among those vying for the top spot, alongside Brazilian Italo Ferreira and Filipe Toledo, who is returning to the tour after a one-year break due to mental health issues.
Ferreira, who has been in fine form in recent seasons, will be looking to continue his success and push for another top finish. Meanwhile, Toledo’s return to the tour will be closely monitored, as he looks to regain his form and challenge for the title.
In the women’s division, a new generation of surfers is emerging, and the competition is shaping up to be particularly fierce. Erin Brooks, a 17-year-old Canadian rookie sensation, will be looking to make a statement and push for a top finish against more experienced opponents. Caitlin Simmers, the 19-year-old reigning champion from California, will also be a strong contender, as will Olympic gold medalist Caroline Marks and Australia’s Molly Picklum.
Surfing pundit Tom Carroll, a two-time world champion from Australia, has been following the development of the new generation of surfers with great interest. Carroll believes that these young surfers are bringing a fresh and creative energy to the sport, and he is excited to see them compete at the highest level.
“I love watching these young girls coming up,” Carroll said. “They’re really fiery, they’re creative…we’ve seen this big change of the guard.”
Among the changes to the tour this year is the return of events on Australia’s Gold Coast and South Africa’s Jeffreys Bay. The inclusion of a new event at a wave pool in Abu Dhabi is also a significant development, as it marks the first time that the tour will have featured an event at an artificially generated wave pool.
The one-day finals event will also be relocating to Fiji’s powerful Cloudbreak reef, where it will provide a challenging and demanding environment for the surfers. This change has been widely welcomed by surfers and fans, who believe that it will add an extra layer of excitement and competitiveness to the event.
“Ending up at Cloudbreak for the final is a relief for me, to move it away from Trestles is a really good call,” Carroll said. “We want a final for the world tour in really challenging conditions…It puts the surfers on edge, they need to be at that edge to deliver their best, and when they shine, it’s just spectacular.”
The Surfing World Tour is poised for an exciting and unpredictable season, with a new generation of surfers emerging and the absence of several top surfers creating opportunities for others to step up. As the tour gets underway in Hawaii, fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see how the competition unfolds and which surfers will rise to the top.
