Event Wildcards and Injury Replacements Announced

First Call: Monday, February 13, at 7:45 AM HST

Pictured: Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong leads the Opening Ceremony and Blessing ahead of the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach. Credit: © WSL / Heff

Sunset Beach has played a large role in competitive surfing throughout the sport’s history. Entering the third season of its current iteration as a combined men’s and women’s CT, the iconic location will once again determine the fates of the world’s best surfers. Many big names fell early in the draw at the Lexus Pipe Pro and will need to start gaining ground at Sunset Beach to avoid falling victim to the Mid-Season Cut.

Caitlin Simmers (USA) and Barron Mamiya (HAW) currently sit atop the rankings after claiming victory at the Lexus Pipe Pro. Right behind them in No. 2 are Molly Picklum (AUS) and John John Florence (HAW), who placed runners-up in the first event of the season.

Next Challenge: The Power and Scale of Sunset Beach

Situated just a stone’s throw from the season’s opener at Pipe, Sunset Beach offers a completely different challenge for the world’s best surfers. As a deep-water reef break, Sunset both delivers and requires power. Big take-offs, large carves, and the occasional barrel define high-scoring rides in the infamous lineup. Featuring one of the largest playing fields in surfing, it is a location that rewards experience.

Last year’s Hurley Pro Sunset Beach victory was the very first CT event win for Molly Picklum (AUS), and the 21-year-old’s powerful open-face carves will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with yet again as she attempts to go one better than her runner-up finish at this week’s Lexus Pipe Pro. Two other notable names to look out for are Brisa Hennessy (CRC) and two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS), both of whom have previously found success in Sunset’s large walls.

Entering the draw in the yellow jersey, Barron Mamiya (HAW) will bring the sharp forehand attack that earned him a CT event win in the 2022 Hurley Pro Sunset Beach as a wildcard. Born and raised right here on the North Shore, Mamiya backed up that inaugural victory this week at Pipeline, rising to claim the coveted Lexus Pipe Pro trophy, and he’ll be looking to continue that winning feeling at home.

The event wildcards have been announced and each will go to Hawaiian surfers. Oahu’s Zoe McDougall (HAW) and Keanu Asing (HAW), along with Maui’s Kai Lenny (HAW), will enter the event with a wealth of knowledge garnered from the lineup at Sunset.

McDougall, the highest-ranked Challenger Series surfer from the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui region, will enter her third CT, hoping to progress further than her Round of 16 finish in 2023. The 24-year-old will undoubtedly draw on the competitive experience gained during her 2017 Sunset Pro Junior win. It will be the second CT for Lenny, the all-around waterman internationally renowned for his big-wave abilities while Asing returns as a former Tour stalwart with a CT event win under his belt.

Additionally, North Shore’s Brodi Sale (HAW) will take the place of João Chianca (BRA) while the 2023 World No. 4 continues to recover from injury. Though it will be Sale’s very first CT event, it will not be the 2020 Sunset Pro Junior champion’s first time in the jersey at Sunset Beach. Asing and Sale both receive their wildcards through their Challenger Series rankings as representatives of the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui region.

As a result of Filipe Toledo (BRA) taking time away from the 2024 season and Carissa Moore (HAW) stepping away from competitive surfing, Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) and Sophie McCulloch (AUS) have the opportunity to surf in each of the remaining events before the Mid-Season Cut.

Boukhiam can draw from his extensive competitive history at Sunset as he continues his rhythm from the Lexus Pipe Pro, while McCulloch’s season will begin at the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach. It will be McCulloch’s first event at Sunset after she withdrew in 2023 due to injury, but the Australian has proven herself as one to watch on the North Shore thanks to an impressive victory at the 2022 Haleiwa Challenger.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Hurley Pro Sunset Beach Men’s Opening Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Connor O’Leary (JPN), Imaikalani deVault (HAW), Kade Matson (USA)
HEAT 2: Jack Robinson (AUS), Crosby Colapinto (USA), Deivid Silva (BRA)
HEAT 3: Barron Mamiya (HAW), Caio Ibelli (BRA), Kelly Slater (USA)
HEAT 4: John John Florence (HAW), Jake Marshall (USA), Keanu Asing (HAW)
HEAT 5: Griffin Colapinto (USA), Seth Moniz (HAW), Brodi Sale (HAW)
HEAT 6: Ethan Ewing (AUS), Rio Waida (INA), Kai Lenny (HAW)
HEAT 7: Yago Dora (BRA), Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Frederico Morais (POR)
HEAT 8: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Callum Robson (AUS), Cole Houshmand (USA)
HEAT 9: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Matthew McGillivray (RSA), Eli Hanneman (HAW)
HEAT 10: Ian Gentil (HAW), Italo Ferreira (BRA), Jacob Willcox (AUS)
HEAT 11: Jordy Smith (RSA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Samuel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 12: Ryan Callinan (AUS), Liam O’Brien (AUS), Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.