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Japan Times
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Kauli Vaast shines in Teahupo'o's huge tubes at WSL's Tahiti Pro
Tahiti's Olympic surfing gold medalist Kauli Vaast was among the standouts on Thursday as the Lexus Tahiti Pro got underway in huge, perfect waves at his home break of Teahupo'o, with California's Griffin Colapinto also starring in the heavy tubes. Teahupo'o, the venue for the Paris 2024 Olympics, again delivered stellar conditions for the world's top surfers in the final event of the regular season. The top five men and women surfers at season's end win a spot in the World Surf League's one-day, winner-take-all Finals in Fiji later this month. Vaast, who competes on the second-tier challenger series, was given a wild card and consistently found himself on the heaviest waves, racking up a two-wave total of 16.30 out of a possible 20 points. "I really want to win here," said Vaast, who made the final of the championship tour event in 2022. "I have a second place to better. I'm surrounded by great people ... they cheer for me, and I'm really proud they are here and I want to do good for them again." Brazil's Tokyo Olympic gold medalist and reigning Tahiti Pro champion Italo Ferreira was another standout in the first heat of the morning, but it was Colapinto who finished with the highest heat score of the day with 18 points for two long, deep tubes. The 27-year-old from San Clemente had been relishing the even bigger surf in the lead-up to the event, charging waves he said were some of the best he had ever ridden. "That's why I started surfing, was to have the potential wave in my life," he said. "This is so satisfying for the soul. "And I love competition and competing, but when it comes to the opportunity to get the wave of your life, that's just as important to me. "Now we're competing, and I'm still healthy, my body's intact, and I won my first heat, so I'm psyched." South Africa's Jordy Smith, ranked No. 2 in the world, narrowly avoided a loss in the elimination round with a late, near perfect 9.5 against trials winner Teiva Tairoa of Tahiti. But Japan's Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Kanoa Igarashi, ranked fourth in the world going into Tahiti, went down to local wildcard Mihimana Braye in the elimination round, jeopardizing his chances of making the Finals in Fiji. Two-time world champion Filipe Toledo of Brazil also lost in the elimination round, putting an end to his hopes of making the top five. When the women's competition gets underway, probably on Friday, 12-year-old Kelia Gallina will make history by becoming the youngest ever competitor in a world championship tour event. Gallina, who started surfing Teahupo'o before she was five years old, won the trials event and will face Australia's world No. 1 Molly Picklum and California's Lakey Peterson in the first round.
CNA
08-08-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Surfing-Vaast shines as Tahiti Pro starts in huge Teahupo'o tubes
Tahiti's Olympic surfing gold medallist Kauli Vaast was among the standouts on Thursday as the Lexus Tahiti Pro got underway in huge, perfect waves at his home break of Teahupo'o, with California's Griffin Colapinto also starring in the heavy tubes. The venue for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Teahupo'o again delivered stellar conditions for the world's top surfers in the final event of the regular season. The top five men and women surfers at season's end win a spot in the World Surf League's one-day, winner-takes-all Finals in Fiji later this month. Vaast, who competes on the second-tier challenger series, was given a wildcard and consistently found himself on the heaviest waves, racking up a two-wave total of 16.30 out of a possible 20. "I really want to win here," said Vaast, who made the final of the championship tour event in 2022. "I have a second place to better. I'm surrounded by great people ... they cheer for me and I'm really proud they are here and I want to do good for them again." Brazil's Tokyo Olympic gold medallist and reigning Tahiti Pro champion Italo Ferreira was another standout in the first heat of the morning, but it was Colapinto who finished with the highest heat score of the day with 18 points for two long, deep tubes. The 27-year-old from San Clemente had been relishing the even bigger surf in the lead-up to the event, charging waves he said were some of the best he had ever ridden. "That's why I started surfing, was to have the potential wave in my life. This is so satisfying for the soul. "And I love competition and competing, but when it comes to the opportunity to get the wave of your life, that's just as important to me," he said. "Now we're competing and I'm still healthy, my body's intact, and I won my first heat, so I'm psyched." South Africa's Jordy Smith, ranked No. 2 in the world, narrowly avoided a loss in the elimination round with a late, near perfect 9.5 against trials winner Teiva Tairoa of Tahiti. But Japan's Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Kanoa Igarashi, ranked fourth in the world going into Tahiti, went down to local wildcard Mihimana Braye in the elimination round, jeopardising his chance of making the Finals in Fiji. Two-time world champion Filipe Toledo of Brazil also lost in the elimination round, putting an end to his hopes of making the top five. When the women's competition gets underway, probably on Friday, 12-year-old Kelia Gallina will make history by becoming the youngest ever competitor in a world championship tour event.
Reuters
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Vaast shines as Tahiti Pro starts in huge Teahupo'o tubes
Aug 7 (Reuters) - Tahiti's Olympic surfing gold medallist Kauli Vaast was among the standouts on Thursday as the Lexus Tahiti Pro got underway in huge, perfect waves at his home break of Teahupo'o, with California's Griffin Colapinto also starring in the heavy tubes. The venue for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Teahupo'o again delivered stellar conditions for the world's top surfers in the final event of the regular season. The top five men and women surfers at season's end win a spot in the World Surf League's one-day, winner-takes-all Finals in Fiji later this month. Vaast, who competes on the second-tier challenger series, was given a wildcard and consistently found himself on the heaviest waves, racking up a two-wave total of 16.30 out of a possible 20. "I really want to win here," said Vaast, who made the final of the championship tour event in 2022. "I have a second place to better. I'm surrounded by great people ... they cheer for me and I'm really proud they are here and I want to do good for them again." Brazil's Tokyo Olympic gold medallist and reigning Tahiti Pro champion Italo Ferreira was another standout in the first heat of the morning, but it was Colapinto who finished with the highest heat score of the day with 18 points for two long, deep tubes. The 27-year-old from San Clemente had been relishing the even bigger surf in the lead-up to the event, charging waves he said were some of the best he had ever ridden. "That's why I started surfing, was to have the potential wave in my life. This is so satisfying for the soul. "And I love competition and competing, but when it comes to the opportunity to get the wave of your life, that's just as important to me," he said. "Now we're competing and I'm still healthy, my body's intact, and I won my first heat, so I'm psyched." South Africa's Jordy Smith, ranked No. 2 in the world, narrowly avoided a loss in the elimination round with a late, near perfect 9.5 against trials winner Teiva Tairoa of Tahiti. But Japan's Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Kanoa Igarashi, ranked fourth in the world going into Tahiti, went down to local wildcard Mihimana Braye in the elimination round, jeopardising his chance of making the Finals in Fiji. Two-time world champion Filipe Toledo of Brazil also lost in the elimination round, putting an end to his hopes of making the top five. When the women's competition gets underway, probably on Friday, 12-year-old Kelia Gallina will make history by becoming the youngest ever competitor in a world championship tour event. Gallina, who started surfing Teahupo'o before she was five years old, won the trials event and will face Australia's world No. 1 Molly Picklum and California's Lakey Peterson in the first round.
Bloomberg
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Bloomberg
Will Wave Pools Turn Surfing Into the Next Golf?
In January, as the 2025 World Surf League Championship Tour kicked off on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Brazilian Italo Ferreira waited for what felt like an eternity to ride a single wave. After a two-day weather delay, the area's signature big barrels remained elusive, forcing surfers to compete in subpar conditions. A few weeks later, Ferreira, the sport's first Olympic gold medalist, paddled into lake-flat water at the tour's second stop, but here the waves turned on in seconds with the press of a button. His decisive victory and dizzying aerials were stunning, but so was the setting: under stadium lights in the desert of Abu Dhabi. With technology that cost some $90 million to install, this 80 million-gallon surfing oasis—the most advanced wave pool in the Middle East—unleashes consistent, customizable waves that unfurl for 500 meters (1,640 feet) both left and right every three minutes. Imagine Dubai's Burj Khalifa skyscraper laid on its side: It would be roughly the same size as this human-made basin, which produces waves for surfers of different abilities, just like ski resorts have slopes for beginners and experts.
The South African
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
The RISE of South Africa's Jordy Smith to No 1 in the world in 2025
When South Africa's Jordy Smith paddles out at Lower Trestles in California next week, he will be wearing the WSL no. 1 rank yellow jersey. With two event wins in 2025 – the only time he's achieved the feat in a single season – the 37-year old is surfing the best he's ever done. And he even snagged himself a brand-new SUV for winning the 'Aussie Treble' last month. In fact, the last time he wore the coveted no. 1 yellow jersey was way back in 2017. The Durban-born surfer currently sits on 36 130 Championship Tour points. With the next best competitor, Brazil's Italo Ferreira, on 31 290. South Africa's Jordy Smith is a two-time WSL tour Runner-Up, never a world champion. Is this the year the big bru converts? All you need to know about Jordy's record-breaking run so far in 2025. Video: WSL on YouTube Nevertheless, if you haven't been following South Africa's Jordy Smith in 2025, don't worry, we'll catch you up. The WSL crafted a brilliant recap of his record-breaking season so far, that's taken him to the yellow jersey (watch above) in 2025. Included are his best waves surfed in key heats. And his all-important victories in Punta Roca, El Salvador, and Margaret River, Western Australia, of course. The event window for the Trestles Pro next week, on Monday 9 June 2025. Not only has South Africa's Jordy Smith won at this high-performance wave before, but he even relocated to San Clemente for a period of time. As such, he considers it a home away from home and will hope to bank another good haul of points in yellow. You can watch all the action live on the WSL YouTube channel. It's been eight years since South Africa'a Jordy Smith donned the yellow jersey. Can he convert his no. 1 position into a world title in 2025? Image: WSL on Facebook From California, the tour goes to Brazil in late June, before the circus pulls into J-Bay from 11-20 July 2025. A two-time winner, the world-class right-hand point-break is unarguably Smith's favourite event (and many other competitors'). At the end the Tahiti Pro in August, the top five competitors on the world rankings will battle it out for a world title in man-on-man heats at the WSL Finals in Fiji. Be sure to diarise the last five events of the 2025 season to keep track of South Africa's Jordy Smith as he strives for his first world title: June 9-17 – Trestles Pro (USA) June 21-29 – Vivo Rio Pro (Brazil) July 11-20 – J-Bay Open (SA) August 7-16 – Tahiti Pro (Tahiti) August 27-September 4 – WSL Finals Fiji (Fiji) Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
