West Aussie powerhouse Jack Robinson has delivered one of the standout performances of the event at the Lexus Trestles Pro, locking in a blistering 17.07 heat total to advance to the Quarterfinals. With conditions firing at the famed Californian point, Robinson unleashed a powerful mix of speed, flow and aerial flair to eliminate Italy’s Leonardo Fioravanti. He will now face in-form Californian Cole Houshmand (USA) when competition resumes at Lower Trestles.
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Big Clashes Disrupt World Title Race Heading into Finals Day at Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown
The cobblestone break of Lower Trestles continued to deliver today at Stop No. 8 of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown. Four-to-six-foot pristine conditions provided incredible moments of high-performance showdowns, as the second day of competition witnessed the conclusion to the men’s Elimination Round before completing the women’s Elimination Round, the men’s Round of 16, and first two heats of the women’s Quarterfinals. World Title implications unraveled with upsets shaking up the men’s and women’s rankings.
Competition will be OFF Thursday, June 12, and Friday, June 13. The next call will be Saturday, June 14, at 7:45 a.m. PDT for a possible start to Finals Day.
Aussies Joel Vaughan and Jack Robinson Go Next Level in Pumping Lowers
The event’s best performance so far was delivered courtesy of Jack Robinson (AUS) in a masterclass of aerial antics and power to post a 17.07 (out of a possible 20) heat total. The battle of CT mainstays witnessed Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) punch his way to an excellent 8.50 (out of a possible 10) before Robinson found his form to best Fioravanti with a massive 8.87. Then, with an impressive lead already built, Robinson delivered a stunning blowtail before finding multiple maneuvers to finish the wave and post an 8.20. The 27-year-old secured a major win over Fioravanti to send him to the Quarterfinals for the first time since his victory at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy.
“I knew it was going to be a good one, a real fiery one. We grew up together and have been doing this since. It’s always a good battle and they always bring out the best,” said Robinson. “I see the rankings pop up on the screen and don’t pay any attention. It’s more about being focused on the event and having a good time down here. I’m just fighting for it, we’re at that point of the year so important events and just keep going.”
In a Heat of the Year nominee, current World No. 2 Italo Ferreira (BRA) faced Rookie Joel Vaughan (AUS) in a wave-for-wave clash with both competitors showing their aerial prowess. Ferreira’s 7.83 kickstarted the heat before Vaughan answered back with a combination of power hacks leading into an off-axis air-reverse to post an excellent 8.57. But, 2019 World Champion Ferreira wasn’t done and took to the air again before a searing cutback that set him up to finish with another air-reverse to regain the lead with an 8.37. In the dying moments, Vaughan found himself on one last opportunity and punted a huge straight air before finishing the wave off to score an 8.30 and to win the heat. The 21-year-old earned a heat total of 16.87 to advance over Ferreira.
“I know Italo’s such a great competitor, and can never really tell what he’s going to do, so I thought I might as well try to go big and risk it, and yeah, a great performance,” said Vaughan. “I’d fallen on a straight air a few ways before it and I was a bit bummed, so I just wanted to just make it. I kind of missed the grab and bobbled a little bit, but then made it and got around and got another turn. I think because I caught the wave and paddle back out it was just kind of instincts and gave it a good crack.”
San Clemente’s Hometown Heroes Storm into Quarterfinals
Immediately following that incredible showcase, San Clemente’s own perennial World Title contender Griffin Colapinto (USA) faced off with 2022 and 2023 World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA) in another impeccable showdown. Toledo’s no stranger to Lower Trestles earning both of his World Titles here. The 30-year-old’s lightning-fast start accrued a 15.50 heat total over Colapinto. Later, Colapinto found a response with 7.90 and put himself back in the heat. He made another attempt with a combination of an air-reverse with multiple on-the-face maneuvers that fell .04 short of the requirement. A dramatic finish witnessed Toledo launch himself to the flats on massive full rotation, while Colapinto found the wave behind him with just thirty seconds left. The 26-year-old Colapinto unleashed a variety of three major turns on the wave face to finish the heat and posted an 8.93 to advance over Toledo and move onto the Quarterfinals. San Clemente supporters erupted around Colapinto for his 100th CT heat win.
“I would say it’s a good omen, 100th heat win against Filipe [Toledo], I’ll take that all day,” said Colapinto. “I don’t know, I kind of had some PTSD from last year in the Finals. Standing on the beach and it didn’t go my way. So for some reason, I felt like because of that, I wasn’t going to get it. It was hard to tell because I didn’t watch Filipe’s wave and wasn’t sure what my score was going to be. It felt surreal to get the score. All the effort, all the hard work leading to that moment is beautiful with all my friends and family.”
San Clemente support remained strong with another upset courtesy of local hero Cole Houshmand (USA) taking down World No. 1 Jordy Smith (RSA) on his phenomenal forehand power. Houshmand took an impressive advantage over Smith early on, posting a 6.17 before honing in his signature power to post an excellent 8.70 over Smith’s 8.00. The 24-year-old Houshmand then dished out another blow to the CT veteran and posted a 7.73 to solidify his place in the Quarterfinals.
“Jordy [Smith] got me in El Salvador, and we were 1-to-1 for head to head wins, so I was like whoever gets this one is on top. I grew up watching and I look up to Jordy [Smith],” said Houshmand. “I watched them when I was a kid. The opportunity to surf and see them in my backyard at home, like World No. 1 is what the Tour is about. I’m just living my dream. I started coming down here watching it before I even started surfing. Now to be in it, it’s like you aspire to be in it and then you kind of lose sight of it, but it’s why you work really hard. I worked my butt off my whole life for this. It’s pretty emotional. You see those photos and then now you’re living the dream. If I could give advice to any of the groms, it’s just invest in yourself. I just went all in on myself and with the support of sponsors, friends, family, parents. Chase your dreams.”
A brilliant showing for local wildcard Sawyer Lindblad (USA) pushed the scale to an excellent 8.00 on her signature backhand attack to disrupt current World No. 4 Isabella Nichols’ (AUS) recent streak of Finals Day showings. Lindblad narrowly missed the Mid-season Cut, but will rejoin the world’s best full-time in 2026 with the expanded women’s field as she looks to further dismantle proceedings at home heading into the Quarterfinals.
Crosby Colapinto (USA) nearly joined his fellow San Clemente competitors into Finals Day after posting a 9.33 over Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), but Igarashi’s last effort tipped the scale to an 8.93 to eliminate Colapinto.
Current World No. 6 Ethan Ewing (AUS) made his intentions clear at Lowers with another excellent showing over San Diego’s leading man Jake Marshall (USA). Current World No. 3 Yago Dora (BRA) and João Chianca (BRA) provided an all-Brazilian battle. Dora took a massive win toward his World Title campaign to advance onto the Quarterfinals. After besting 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) in the Elimination Round, Barron Mamiya’s (HAW) injury hindered him from competing in the Round of 16 and Connor O’Leary (AUS) advanced into the Quarterfinals.
First Women’s Semifinalists Emerge After Elimination Round and Quarterfinal Battles
Reigning World Champion and Oceanside phenom, Caity Simmers (USA), battled with fellow Elimination Round standout Erin Brooks (CAN). Brooks’ 8.83 (out of a possible 10) in her Elimination Round clash with Tyler Wright (AUS) set her up for more success heading into the Quarterfinals. A slow start had Simmers with a slim lead before Brooks found her opportunity to strike and took the lead heading into the final minutes. Simmers then showed her clutch form and delivered a 6.83 to secure the heat win and return to a Finals Day at Lower Trestles.
“It’s Lower Trestles. It’s so perfect and always fun. It’s one of the funnest waves in the world for me,” said Simmers. “It’s pretty special to even be here and be in this position to inspire people. It can be a lot of pressure but I just tell myself it’s all for a good reason and just try to do what I would do and follow my heart.”
Current World No. 3 Molly Picklum (AUS) kept the pace following her Opening Round win and matched with CT and Lower Trestles veteran Lakey Peterson (USA). Picklum’s 6.17 held as the standard before an exchange at the 10-minute mark showcased a pivotal moment as Peterson dropped a 6.30 to get the edge back. But, Picklum’s 6.33 kept her in the lead and avoided an early elimination scare in her World Title race.
“I felt like I was watching it all day and getting so inspired by the boys and they were ripping. I definitely felt we’d get more waves but I know at Lowers it can get slow,” said Picklum. “Unfortunately we had a long lull in the middle and then nothing toward the end to really fight it out. But, obviously happy I got on the better waves. I’d be stoked to beat Caity. It’s really fun when it’s her and I and it’s always more fun when there’s waves. I know what she’s capable of and know what I’m capable of and I really think I have a chance against her.”
Also heading into the Quarterfinals will be 2023 World Champion Caroline Marks (USA), who held her ground in the Elimination Round. The 23-year-old showcased some of her world-class backhand attack to post a 7.83 over 2024 World Junior Champion Luana Silva (BRA).
Now, World No. 1 Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and wildcard Sawyer Lindblad (USA) await their Quarterfinal, Heat 3 matchup before Marks prepares to take on an in-form Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW).
The competition will be OFF on Thursday, June 12, and Friday, June 13. The next call will be on Saturday, June 14, at 7:45 a.m. for a possible 8:00 a.m. PDT start to Finals Day.
For more information and highlights from today’s competition at the Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Lexus Trestles Pro Men’s Remaining Elimination Round Results (Heats 6-8):
HEAT 6: Connor O’Leary (JPN) 13.90 DEF. Alan Cleland (MEX) 8.77
HEAT 7: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 12.57 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 12.50
HEAT 8: Crosby Colapinto (USA) 12.90 DEF. Marco Mignot (FRA) 11.77
Lexus Trestles Pro Men’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Joel Vaughan (AUS) 16.87 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.20
HEAT 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 16.83 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 16.30
HEAT 3: Yago Dora (BRA) 11.66 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 9.33
HEAT 4: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.67 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 12.70
HEAT 5: Cole Houshmand (USA) 16.43 DEF. Jordy Smith (RSA) 14.23
HEAT 6: Jack Robinson (AUS) 17.07 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 14.00
HEAT 7: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 15.93 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 15.00
HEAT 8: Connor O’Leary (JPN) DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW)
Lexus Trestles Pro Upcoming Men’s Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Joel Vaughan (AUS) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Ethan Ewing (AUS)
HEAT 3: Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 4: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Connor O’Leary (JPN)
Lexus Trestles Pro Women’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 14.87 DEF. Kirra Pinkerton (USA) 13.96
HEAT 2: Erin Brooks (CAN) 16.33 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 6.84
HEAT 3: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 14.17 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 13.20
HEAT 4: Caroline Marks (USA) 15.20 DEF. Luana Silva (BRA) 13.44
Lexus Trestles Pro Women’s Quarterfinal Results (Heats 1-2):
HEAT 1: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 12.10 DEF. Erin Brooks (CAN) 11.66
HEAT 2: Molly Picklum (AUS) 12.50 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.47
Lexus Trestles Pro Remaining Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups (Heats 3-4):
HEAT 3: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA)
Heat 4: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
Watch LIVE
The Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown will hold a competition window through June 17, 2025. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, and the free WSL App. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
This event is proudly sponsored by Lexus, Outerknown, Red Bull, YETI, Apple Watch Neutrogena, Surfline, True Surf, I-SEA, Dakine, 805 Beer, Pacifico, Suncruiser, Hoag, Flexfit, Eero, Open Water, and John Wayne Airport.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
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