• 11X World Champion Kelly Slater Gets Honorable Chair-up After Loss in Margaret River and Shares Emotional Message Following His Elimination
• Mid-Season Cut Relegates Eight Surfers from the 2024 CT Season
• World Champions Gabriel Medina and John Florence To Face Off in Round of 16
• Bubble Surfers Survive Another Chance to Make the Cut at Main Break, Plus Nine Surfers Confirmed

Celebrated as the greatest surfer of all time, Slater has 56 event wins over his incredible 32-year career on the Championship Tour. With 11 World Titles, he holds the record for the most World Championships of any surfer and is both the youngest and oldest World Champion in men’s history. 

Although the surfing GOAT hinted that he doesn’t plan to hang up his jersey at the moment, he’s missed the Mid-season Cut, meaning that he has not requalified for the remainder of the 2024 WSL CT nor the start of the 2025 WSL CT.

The 52-year-old shared that he plans to compete in events as they come, and the WSL Commissioner’s Office will release updates to the event wildcards for the back half of the season as those event windows draw closer.

After being chaired up at Margaret River, Slater shared an emotional message following his loss:

“As far as emotions, it’s almost hitting me. It’s right there bubbling. I couldn’t quite pull a miracle off this week. I’ve pulled a few off over the years and I still had that hope out there. Even with a minute to go, I thought, ‘One might pop up.’ But to lose to the world number one. Griff is the number one guy and I’ve been close with him for a long time. It’s been fun to be over 50 and still mixing it up with the guys and still feeling like I’m there with them. Seeing this new crop of guys and to finish with Griffin, as a full-time competitor that’s cool.

“I’ve had a fight with this wave my whole career, so it’s not necessarily the wave I want to end on. I have put in for a wildcard for Fiji so I’ll see how that goes. But I do feel like, if I get a wildcard into Fiji, I could end up against Griffin again so I’ll get to pay him back.

“But yeah, it is what it is, everything comes to an end and if you don’t adapt you don’t survive and my motivation just hasn’t been there to really put in that one-hundred percent that everyone else is now.

“I’ve got a couple weeks here, Renato asked me if I want to surf on the Goldy [Challenger Series Event]. If Snapper looks good, we’ll see. Just for some fun.”

Colapinto is one of the next generation’s promising hopes to be the World Champion and his current World No. 1 standing has put the surfing world on notice. His win over Slater signals a changing of the guard and continues to solidify his presence as one of the world’s best surfers. Colapinto will continue his charge through this event and the season to the WSL Finals, as well as representing the United States in the upcoming Olympic Games at Teahupo’o, Tahiti. 

“It’s pretty mind-blowing – when I saw him getting chaired up the stairs I was like whoa, is that for real? That’s a sign in surfing that someone is retiring and the fact that he did that after a heat with me, I was pretty blown away and was just trying to take it all in,” Colapinto said. “It’s crazy, he’s given me and everyone on this tour so much, we owe him so much, we make a living because of how far he has taken surfing. It’s pretty incredible. I used to watch his video parts and imagine myself being like him.”

Mid-Season Cut Relegates Eight Surfers from the 2024 CT Season

Alongside Slater, eight surfers were unable to progress through the Round of 32 and were eliminated from the competition, falling below the Mid-season Cut line: Ian Gentil (HAW), Eli Hanneman (HAW), Frederico Morais (POR), Kate Matson (USA), Callum Robson (AUS), Deivid Silva (BRA), and Jacob Willcox (AUS). 

Margaret River local and 2024 CT Rookie Willcox was unable to back up his 8.50 and went down to good friend Liam O’Brien (AUS). Another CT Rookie who lost in the Round of 32 and was relegated to the Challenger Series was Hanneman, who narrowly lost his heat against Jake Marshall (USA). San Clemente’s Matson was the last rookie of the day to experience the heartbreak of missing the Cut, after his loss to Italo Ferreira (BRA). Matson, with this equal 17th-place finish, was unable to move above the Cut line and will return to the Challenger Series for the remainder of 2024. 

Silva put everything he could into his matchup with Florence, posting his best heat total of the 2024 season. Unfortunately for Silva, it wasn’t enough to overcome Florence who posted the highest two-wave total of the event so far and will be sent to the Challenger Series to once again battle to regain his spot at the elite level. 

Morais fell victim to the Mid-season Cut for the second consecutive season after he lost his Round of 32 matchup with Jordy Smith (RSA), while Robson suffered the same result with his loss to hometown favorite Jack Robinson (AUS) in the last heat of the day. 

Nine More Surfers Confirmed To Make the Cut

Coming into the round of 32, Rio Waida (INA), Ramzi Boukhiam (MOR), Imaikalani DeVault (HAW), and Italo Ferriera (BRA) needed to progress through their heats to make the Mid-season Cut. All except for Waida were able to get the job done, progressing into the Round of 16 and securing their spots on the CT for the second half of the season. Fortunately for Waida, with other results going his way, he was able to also secure his spot beyond the Mid-season Cut. 

Other surfers to clear the Cut line after further eliminations today included Gabriel Medina (BRA), Ryan Callinan (AUS), Leonardo Fioravanti (BRA), Matthew McGillivray (RSA), and Liam O’Brien (AUS). 

Pupo V. Pupo Matchup to Come, Bubble Surfers Survive Another Chance to Make the Cut at Main Break 

The men’s Round of 16 will be a battle of the Pupo brothers, Miguel and Samuel, as they face each other in a critical heat for both of their CT careers. The loser of that heat will be relegated to the Challenger Series, while the winner will have the opportunity to continue to fight to save their spot on the Tour for the remainder of the year and into the next season. 

Also claiming critical wins to improve their qualification hopes include Seth Moniz (HAW) and Caio Ibelli (BRA). Their CT fates will depend on the results from the upcoming Round of 16 and the Final Series. 

For highlights from today’s competition at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Elimination Round Results: 
HEAT 1: Callum Robson (AUS) 12.84 DEF. John John Florence (HAW) 11.37, Otis North (AUS) 10.73
HEAT 2: Reef Heazlewood (AUS) 14.93 DEF. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.63, Barron Mamiya (HAW) 11.43
HEAT 3: Cole Houshmand (USA) 13.10 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 12.50, Yago Dora (BRA) 10.20
HEAT 4: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 14.00 DEF. Deivid Silva (BRA) 12.54, Rio Waida (INA) 7.13

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Round of 32 Results: 
HEAT 1: John John Florence (HAW) 17.13 DEF. Deivid Silva (BRA) 16.70
HEAT 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.66 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 12.40
HEAT 3: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 15.27 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.77
HEAT 4: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 12.77 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 11.50
HEAT 5: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 11.87 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 6.17
HEAT 6: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 13.06 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 12.43
HEAT 7: George Pittar (AUS) 13.26 DEF. Cole Houshmand (USA) 12.87
HEAT 8: Liam O’Brien (AUS) 15.00 DEF. Jacob Willcox (AUS) 14.17
HEAT 9: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.33 DEF. Reef Heazlewood (AUS) 11.37
HEAT 10: Seth Moniz (HAW) 10.60 DEF. Connor O’Leary (JPN) 10.10
HEAT 11: Jordy Smith (RSA) 13.77 DEF. Frederico Morais (POR) 12.83
HEAT 12: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 13.50 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 10.97
HEAT 13: Jake Marshall (USA) 11.84 DEF. Eli Hanneman (HAW) 11.33
HEAT 14: Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 13.73 DEF. Ian Gentil (HAW) 13.70
HEAT 15: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 10.93 DEF. Kade Matson (USA) 10.33
HEAT 16: Jack Robinson (AUS) 13.83 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 10.77

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Round of 16 Matchups: 
HEAT 1: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
HEAT 2: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
HEAT 4: George Pittar (AUS) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS)
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
HEAT 6: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Caio Ibelli (BRA)
HEAT 7: Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
HEAT 8: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS)

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. India Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 2: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS)
HEAT 3: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)
HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
HEAT 5: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Sophie McCulloch (AUS)
HEAT 6: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
HEAT 7: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
HEAT 8: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

My 1st official surf edit. I filmed PRE-KERRSOR in the last 6 months of 2023. This edit is very special to me. I have always wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps by filming a few edits. We scored some amazing waves and it was fun having a few of my friends apart of it. I hope you all like it! @sierrakerr

Let ‘The Fun Boys Second Summer of Love’ transport you back to a simpler time, a time when the surf pumped almost non stop for about 6 months, a time Creed was experimenting with comically large Dahlberg’s and making them look weirdly functional a time when the session of all sessions went down which you’ll see for yourself if you make it to the end.

This wave was said to be the biggest wave paddled into in Indonesia. After a moment of glory I was violently sent up and planted on top of the coral rock ledge that was raised out of the water in the 2004 earth quake.

I was left shaking, bloody and feeling lucky to be in one piece @mattbromleysurf

California’s Caitlin Simmers (USA) and Cole Houshmand (USA) have claimed victory at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 4 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Championship Tour (CT). The two first-time Bells winners were the ones to beat on Finals Day as the Bowl dished up semi-clean surf in the three-to-four-foot range. It was a historical day of competition, with a number of firsts taking place on the 61st Finals Day at Bells and the 50th with Rip Curl as the title partner.

California’s Houshmand and Simmers Add Names to Illustrious List of Bell Ringers

San Clemente locals and childhood friends Cole Houshmand (USA) and Griffin Colapinto (USA) came into the Final of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach guaranteed to make history. With either of them winning, they’d be the first Californian male to hoist the Bell since Richie Collins (USA) in 1992, and with the form they displayed, it was either surfer that could take it. Houshmand started strong, posting a 7.00 (out of a possible 10) point ride on his opener and finally backing it up with a 6.50 for a 13.50 (out of a possible 20) two-wave total. Colapinto, who was the form surfer of the event, struggled to get going until the last few minutes of the match-up, and although he started to build, it wasn’t enough to overcome Houshmand. Houshmand got the win, becoming only the seventh goofy-footer to win the event in 61 years, joining names like Occhilupo, Carrol, Hardman, Lynch, Wilkinson and Ferreira.

“I’m speechless, and this is unreal,” said Houshmand. “I honestly don’t think it’s gonna sink in for a while. I’ve been visualizing this every day for the last two weeks, ringing that Bell, and I guess it works. I’m excited for the whole year. My biggest goal was to make it to Fiji as a Rookie, and now I have my sights set on a bigger goal. The Cut is out of my vision and there are bigger things for me to achieve now. The year really starts now. I told Griffin, ‘This is what we’ve dreamed of since we were kids competing,’ and I really wanted to enjoy it. It’s not often you get a Final with your best friend and mentor, but then again, there’s no one I want to beat more and no one I’d rather lose to. This is probably the best day of my life.”

Houshmand came into the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach sitting below the Mid-season Cut Line with an equal ninth as his best result in his rookie season. His maiden CT victory has rocketed him 18 spots up to eighth on the rankings within aim of the WSL Final 5 heading into the second half of the season.

Coming into the Final sitting in first and second on the rankings, whoever claimed the win between Caitlin Simmers (USA) and Johanne Defay (FRA) would leave Bells Beach wearing the yellow Leader Jersey as World No. 1. CT veteran Dafay came into the Final with the most momentum, and it showed as she took control early. With two mid-range scores, Defay held the lead for almost the entire Final. With just three minutes remaining, Simmers took a set wave with priority, scoring a 6.10 to get herself back into contention. With less than one minute remaining, Simmers forced Defay into a closeout, leaving Simmers out the back with sets rolling in. Taking her last chance with seconds remaining, Simmers put together a range of critical maneuvers to score a 6.67, receiving the last-minute news that she had won her maiden Bell on the sand after the buzzer.

“I was just thinking on my last wave, ‘This could be it,'” said Simmers. “In this sport, you always have to believe in yourself because that stuff happens. I still don’t believe it, and it doesn’t feel real. At this high of a level, you have to figure out ways to have an edge. There’s so much for me to think about, and it feels amazing to get the win. This wave is really difficult to work out, so it feels awesome. Yeah, wow, No. 1 in the world sounds great.”

Simmers made history today, becoming the youngest woman to ever win at Bells. Simmers took out her maiden Final at Bells Beach and her second Final of the year after winning stop No. 1 at Pipeline. Simmers rings the Bell as World No. 1 and wears the yellow Leader Jersey heading into the Western Australia Margaret River Pro.

Johanne Defay and Griffin Colapinto Continue Stellar Run With Runner-Up Finishes

Fresh off a win at the Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Johanne Defay (FRA) came into CT Stop No. 4 full of confidence and with her sights on grabbing the Yellow Jersey for the first time in her career. Defay looked to be the woman to beat, posting some of the highest scores in each round to become the first European competitor to contest the Bells Final. With her back-to-back Finals appearances, Defay will now head to the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, sitting solidly in second place on the rankings.

“It feels amazing to make the finals, and I felt good out there. Too bad I made that mistake at the end,” said Defay. “I guess this is what surfing is, you’re out in the ocean, and there’s no certainty. It is what it is, and I have to swallow it, but I’m also happy to place second too. Knowing I’ve made history as the first French person to make the final at Bells feels special.”

Similar to Defay, Griffin Colapinto (USA) arrived at Bells fresh of a win in Portugal and carried plenty of that momentum into Stop 4, posting the highest heat total of the Semifinals, Quarterfinals and the event. Although disappointed, he wasn’t able to clinch his maiden win at Bells. Griffin was over the moon to share the Final with a good friend after seeing his Brother and CT Rookie Crosby Make the Cut and good friend Kade Matson (USA) earn the best result of his Rookie season, ending a great week of results for the San Clemente and Southern Californian contingent of CT surfers. Colapinto will hold onto the World No. 1 position and the yellow Leaders Jersey as he heads into Stop No. 5 at Margaret River.

“That was bittersweet for sure,” Colapinto said. “You always want to win it, especially when you’re in the final. I don’t want to ruin this moment, though – I’m so happy for Cole. We have surfed together since we were ten, so it’s crazy to be standing up here at Bells after going at it in the final. I feel like all of the crew from San Clemente are building momentum and finding their feet on tour, which is so good. We’re all staying together in West Aus, so it will be cool to have the two Bells there next to each other.”

Semifinalists Get Season Back on Track at Bells

Rio Waida (INA) earned his career-best CT result, finishing equal third at Bells Beach. Sitting right on the Cut-line coming into this event, a Semifinal finish at Bells jumps Waida up ten spots on the rankings to World No. 11. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) equaled his career-best CT result with a Semifinal finish at Bells. An equal third moves McGillivray up to World No. 14. Both surfers now head to Margaret River with a lot less pressure on them and their spot on tour ahead of the Mid-season Cut.

Brisa Hennessy (CRC) and Caroline Marks (USA) both earned equal third-place finishes this year at Bells. This is Hennessy’s third and Mark’s second Semifinal finish of this year.

For highlights from the 2024 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Final Results:
1 – Caitlin Simmers (USA) 12.77
2 – Johanne Defay (FRA) 11.60

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Final Results:
1 – Cole Houshmand (USA) 13.50
2- Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.80

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) 13.53 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 12.10
HEAT 2: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 13.93 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 9.24

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Cole Houshmand (USA) 13.14 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 7.77
HEAT 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 16.83 DEF. Rio Waida (INA) 14.53

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

A surprise huge swell offered up big barrels in Hossegor last Saturday, a few hopefuls tried to score paddling but the playing field was so big that only the surfers with jet ski assistance could get in the right spot to experience the visions we all dream of…
Judge for yourself by checking out this sick edit.

Surfers: Joan Duru, Miky Picon, Marc Lacomare, Aritz Aranburu, Jerome Sahyoun, Marco Mignot, William Aliotti, Mathias Maallem, arnaud Darrigade,

@ripitup.fr