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Injuries, breaks and Kelly Slater’s return shake up start of pro surfing season

January 23, 2025

The world’s best competitive surfers are gearing up for the World Surf League’s Lexus Pipe Pro, kicking off at the end of the month.

Well, most of them.

A few won’t be competing in the famed event at Oahu’s Pipeline surf break, which also starts the year’s competitive season, because of injury, while others will be missing not just from the pro, but from the entire world tour schedule.

Local standout Crosby Colapinto, a San Clemente surfer who earned Rookie of the Year after his first year on tour in 2024, will be absent from the Pipe contest following an injury.

Crosby Colapinto, shown here, will be sitting out at the upcoming Lexus Pipe Pro due to breaking his elbow on the reef while surfing. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Colapinto, younger brother of fellow World Tour surfer Griffin Colapinto, posted a few days ago about a broken elbow when a heavy wave sent his body straight onto the reef.

“So grateful that it was my elbow and not something way worse,” he wrote on social media. “What really hurts the most is the timing of it all, with the start of the year just a couple weeks away. But I am excited for this challenge that stands in front of me at this moment, and excited to see what comes out of this.”

He was scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, Jan. 22, and promised to be back soon.

“This is all part of the journey,” he wrote. “I just have to trust it.”

Three-time world champion Gabriel Medina is also out for the first three events of the season due to an injury. The Brazilian had surgery for a pectoral injury.

“I am very sad to have to pull out of the start of the 2025 season,” Medina said in a WSL announcement. “I have spent the past few months training and surfing incredible waves all over the world to be ready to fight for another world title.”

Medina won his third world championship at Lower Trestles, just south of San Diego, in 2021.

He wrote that he is focused on recovering and will return to competition as soon as possible. The league gave him an injury wildcard for the 2026 season.

France’s Johanne Defay is also out for the event due to an injury.

Other big names have announced they won’t be competing at Pipe – or the entire 2025 competitive season.

Hawaii’s John John Florence, who just earned his third championship at Lower Trestles a few months back, announced on Tuesday that he will be pausing his competitive career to pursue travel and films.

John John Florence,of Hawaii, announced he won't be defending his world title in 2025 on Jan. 21, 2025, just days ahead of the Lexus Pipe Pro contest waiting period that kicks off Jan. 27. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG) — John John Florence,of Hawaii, announced he won’t be defending his world title in 2025 on Jan. 21, 2025, just days ahead of the Lexus Pipe Pro contest waiting period that kicks off Jan. 27. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

“I’ll be focusing on surfing in a different way this year,” said Florence in the WSL announcement. “I am looking to explore, find new waves, and push my surfing as far as possible. I’ll be filming some new projects and sharing my adventures along the way – and intend to compete for another world title in 2026.”

Eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore, of Australia, is continuing her break from competition after stepping away last year. Gilmore earned her last world championship in 2022 at Lower Trestles.

“After careful consideration, I’ve decided to take another season away from the WSL Tour,” said Gilmore. “This time will allow me to focus on healing from some lingering injuries and redirect my energy toward continuing my adventures of surfing around the globe. I’m deeply grateful for the unwavering support of my sponsors, and I wish all the athletes on tour the best of luck this season!”

So, who is in?

Eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater, who retired from competitive surfing early last year, says he will put on the jersey once again for the Pipe Pro as a wildcard competitor.

Eleven-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater at the Billabong Pro Pipeline in 2022, an event he won. Now, after retiring last year, he will make a return to competion at the upcoming Lexus Pipe Pro. (Photo by Tony Heff/World Surf League) — Eleven-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater at the Billabong Pro Pipeline in 2022, an event he won. Now, after retiring last year, he will make a return to competition at the upcoming Lexus Pipe Pro. (Photo by Tony Heff/World Surf League)

Even though he is in his mid-50s, Slater is still considered one of the best at navigating the heavy barrels at Pipeline. In 2022, he won the Pipeline event just shy of his 50th birthday.

Another surfer considered a favorite at the famous Bonzai Pipeline is 2022 event winner Moana Jones Wong, also joining as a wildcard. The North Shore charger has earned the nickname “Queen of Pipeline” due to her skill navigating the barreling surf break.

Hawaiian surfer and wildcard Moana Jones Wong won the Billabong Pro Pipeline in 2022 -- can she beat out the world's best at the upcoming Lexus Pipe Pro, which kicks off Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Brent Bielmann/World Surf League) — Hawaiian surfer and wildcard Moana Jones Wong won the Billabong Pro Pipeline in 2022 — can she beat out the world’s best at the upcoming Lexus Pipe Pro, which kicks off Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Brent Bielmann/World Surf League)

There will be several Southern California surfers in the draw to keep an eye on. San Diego’s Caitlin Simmers, who made waves as the youngest-ever WSL shortboard world champion last year at Lower Trestles, has solidified her spot as one of the best in the bombing barrels.

San Clemente newcomer Bella Kenworthy will be competing on the world tour this year, including against friend and last year’s woman Rookie of the Year Sawyer Lindblad, also of San Clemente.

Other San Clemente surfers to watch include Griffin Colapinto and Cole Houshmand. Brazilian Filipe Toledo, who calls San Clemente home, is also expected to make his return to competitive surfing at the Pipeline event. Huntington Beach’s Kanoa Igarashi is also among local surfers to watch.

The pro surfing competitive schedule has major changes this year. Lower Trestles, where the world championships were held for the past four years, will instead be a regular stop on tour in June.

There are 11 regular-season events, including a new stop at a wave pool in Abu Dhabi in mid-February. The new pool uses the same technology as the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch in Lemoore near Fresno.

The surfers then head to Portugal and El Salvador and then to Australia in April for three events. The mid-year cut happens just before the Lower Trestles stop, where surfers will battle for points there and the rest of the season for a chance to make it to the Final 5 and a spot at the finals, held this year at Cloudbreak, Fiji.

The competition window for the Lexus Pipe Pro starts Jan. 27 and runs through Feb. 8. For more information, go to worldsurfleague.com.

Injuries, breaks and Kelly Slater’s return shake up start of pro surfing season Orange County Register

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Injuries, breaks and Kelly Slater’s return shake up start of pro surfing season

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