CLOUDBREAK, Fiji (Thursday, August 22, 2024) – Cloudbreak came to life today with the Opening Rounds of the Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 9 of the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Championship Tour (CT). Competitors in the men’s and women’s Opening Rounds, as well as the men’s Elimination Round, put on a show in clean four-to-six-foot surf at Cloudbreak, one of the best lefthanders in the world. With the majority of top seeds progressing into the Round of 16 and only a couple of surfers clinching their spots, the race for the WSL Final 5 is wide open, making for an exciting few days of competition to come.
Medina and Dora Steal the Show to Keep Final 5 Hopes Alive
Fresh from claiming a Bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Tahiti, three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) stole the show on Day 1 of competition at Cloudbreak. He posted a 17.67 two-wave total (out of a possible 20) that included a 9.17 (out of a possible 10) for a super deep, long tube ride. Medina needs a massive result at this event, as he currently sits in 8th place on the rankings. With only three places left in the Lexus WSL Finals, the Brazilian is mathematically still in the mix.
“Yeah, that was a fun heat. The waves are just coming on my way. So it feels good to just surf, you know,” said Medina. “It’s a good feeling when you go through a wave, and then this one just comes like a perfect wave. So it’s good.”
Yago Dora (BRA) had the tough task of taking on Cloudbreak specialist and event Wildcard Kelly Slater (USA) in the Elimination Round. Slater, a four-time winner in Fiji, was looking to do damage to the Final 5 race, but Dora had other ideas. Dora found a solid rhythm with the lineup and put himself on a number of perfect set waves, earning a 16.83, which included a 9.33, the highest single wave score of the event so far.
“I feel like I grew into a really good surfer now, and back then, I was learning the ropes. I was really good in the air, but I had a lot to improve. Now I feel like I’m more of a complete surfer,” said Dora. “I would never expect something like that to happen, beating Kelly at Cloudbreak, the greatest of all time, overall, but also out here, and yeah, it’s an honor.”
Florence and Simmers Secure Top Seeds for the Lexus WSL Finals
World No. 1 John John Florence (HAW) claimed an impressive heat win this morning to progress into the Round of 16. Florence used turns and tubes to earn an impressive two-wave total of 15.57. His highest single-wave score of 7.40 came from a super long, technical backhand tube ride.
“The plan at the beginning of the year is to try to be at Lowers with the No. 1 seed,” said Florence. “So to have it this early on and just be able to enjoy this event now and start thinking about Lowers is pretty cool.”
Caitlin Simmers (USA) came into today wearing the yellow Leader jersey and needing a heat win to progress into the Round of 16 to secure the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Lexus WSL Finals. Her Opening Round heat didn’t get off to the best start as she was left trailing young gun and event Wildcard Sierra Kerr (AUS). Late in the heat, Simmers found a double-up set wave and pulled into the barrel, travelling long and deep before disappearing into the foam. Then, miraculously, she reappeared, making the barrel and earning a mid-range score to take the lead and the heat win. With the win, she has guaranteed the No. 1 seed at Trestles next month as she looks to earn her maiden World Title. This means that Simmers could win the World Title in a best-of-three match in the one-day Lexus WSL Finals.
“Lowers is a super fun wave and it’s kind of a ridiculous life situation to be in,” said Simmers. “So I just try not to think about it at all. I’ll just think about my next heat, and hopefully, we get fun waves.”
Colapinto and Marks Clinch Their Spots in The WSL Final 5
San Clemente local Griffin Colapinto (USA) will once again compete for a World Title on home soil after clinching a spot at the Lexus WSL Finals with his Elimination Round win today. Colapinto had a shaky start to his heat against Fiji Trails winner Tevita Gukilau (FJI) but eventually found his feet, posting an impressive 8.17 for a series of huge critical turns, winning the heat with a total of 14.94.
“It means everything. I just put so much into the sport, and my whole life has been, you know, going towards what I’m doing now. So just soaking it in,” said Colapinto. “Now I can just be free and really, really enjoy this time on Tavy [Tavarua] and take that weight off my shoulders.”
Caroline Marks (USA) has been incredibly successful over the last 12 months. The 22-year-old claimed her maiden World Title and then backed it up with an Olympic Gold Medal in Tahiti just a few weeks ago. Marks now has the opportunity to add more silverware to the list as she clinched her spot in the Final 5 and will now contest for back-to-back World Championship Trophies at her home break of Lower Trestles next month.
“It’s amazing. I have the chills. Wow. I’m really stoked. That was a huge goal of mine to be able to defend my title,” said Marks. “I feel like I’m coming off a really big high after winning the Gold at the Olympics, but I still feel like there’s work to be done this year. So, two really massive goals this year. I got one done and one more to go. I’m just really honored to have the chance again in front of my hometown.”
Smith Bows Out as Final 5 Race Heats Up
It was a clutch day for most competitors in Final 5 contention, with all but Jordy Smith (RSA) progressing into the Round of 16 on the men’s side. CT veteran Smith struggled to find a rhythm in the afternoon shifting conditions, going down to Imaikalani de Vault (HAW) in Heat 5 of the Elimination Round.
Earlier in the day, Top 5 surfers Italo Ferreira (BRA), Jack Robinson (AUS) and Ethan Ewing (AUS) all progressed into the Round of 16 with heat wins during the Opening Round. With all 5 competitors in the Top 5 progressing, the race is becoming tighter for the likes of Gabriel Medina (BRA), Yago Dora (BRA), Jake Marshall (USA), Rio Waida (INA) and Crosby Colapinto (USA), who all sit outside the Top 5 but are still in contention if they advance past the Round of 16 when competition resumes.
Australians Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright Shine on Day 1 at Cloudbreak
After a strong start to the season, Molly Picklum (AUS) has struggled to progress past the Quarterfinals in the back half of the year, meaning she needs a solid result here to guarantee her spot at the Lexus WSL Finals early next month. Picklum got her campaign off to a great start today, claiming a heat win with a single wave score of 6.67 that she earned for a massive, committed backside snap on a huge critical section.
Although she is out of Final 5 contention, two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) put on one of the best performances of the day, posting the highest two-wave total of the women’s Opening Round with a 12.00. Wright’s performance was even more impressive as she took down Cloudbreak standouts Brisa Hennessy (CRC) and Johanne Defay (FRA). Hennessy will take on Sierra Kerr (AUS) in the Elimination Round, while Defay comes up against Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW).
For highlights and more information about the Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Opening Round Results:
HEAT 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 10.07 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 8.56, Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 3.66
HEAT 2: Jack Robinson (AUS) 11.00 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 10.83, Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 7.90
HEAT 3: Barron Mamiya (HAW) 10.20 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 9.83, Kelly Slater (USA) 7.07
HEAT 4: John John Florence (HAW) 14.57 DEF. Tevita Gukilau (FJI) 6.97, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 6.80
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 12.04 DEF. Cole Houshmand (USA) 11.67, Seth Moniz (HAW) 5.67
HEAT 6: Jake Marshall (USA) 11.93 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 11.03, Liam O’Brien (AUS) 9.00
HEAT 7: Rio Waida (INA) 12.83 DEF. Jordy Smith (RSA) 12.13, Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 7.74
HEAT 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.67 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 9.96, Connor O’Leary (JPN) 8.54
Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Opening Round Results:
HEAT 1: Molly Picklum (AUS) 9.77 DEF. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 8.60, Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 8.27
HEAT 2: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 10.54 DEF. Sierra Kerr (AUS) 9.90, Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 5.33
HEAT 3: Caroline Marks (USA) 9.07 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 8.70, Erin Brooks (CAN) 3.83
HEAT 4: Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.00 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 10.10, Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 8.33
Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 14.94 DEF. Tevita Gukilau (FJI) 10.87
HEAT 2: Seth Moniz (HAW) 13.10 DEF. Cole Houshmand (USA) 12.66
HEAT 3: Yago Dora (BRA) 16.83 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 10.93
HEAT 4: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 7.83 DEF. Liam O’Brien (AUS) 7.03
HEAT 5: Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 12.84 DEF. Jordy Smith (RSA) 10.00
HEAT 6: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 11.34 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 10.60
HEAT 7: Crosby Colapinto (USA) 14.10 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 13.93
HEAT 8: Connor O’Leary (JPN) 11.70 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 10.34
Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Elimination Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Sierra Kerr (AUS)
HEAT 2: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
HEAT 3: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN)
HEAT 4: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA)
Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
HEAT 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Jake Marshall (USA)
HEAT 3: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Connor O’Leary (JPN)
HEAT 4: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
HEAT 5: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
HEAT 6: Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. Rio Waida (INA)
For more information, please visit WorldSurLeague.com.
