• Prodigious Talents to Take on the World’s Best Women at Stop No. 9 of 2024 CT
• Kelly Slater to Compete in Fiji as WSL Wildcard
• Local Trials to Decide Final Men’s Spot at Cloudbreak
• Front page Eric Brooks GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND: Brooks of Canada after surfing in Heat 2 of the Round of 32 at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro on April 29, Photo by Cait Miers/World Surf League

Currently leading the 2024 Challenger Series rankings, 16-year-old Erin Brooks (CAN) is only a couple of solid results away from securing a full-time spot at the elite level. Having spent weeks training in Fiji earlier this year, along with her incredible performances in hollow left-handers all over Indonesia, Brooks will look to play spoiler at Cloudbreak as the Top 10 women are all vying for a spot in the WSL Final 5.

2024 WSL World Junior Champion Sierra Kerr (AUS) has spent the last few years chasing hollow, left-hand barrels from Indonesia to Tahiti and has shown the world she is setting the bar when it comes to backside tube-riding. The 17-year-old accepts the event Wildcard as the reigning WSL World Junior Champion and is fresh off some incredible performances at the regional level, most notably her 10-point ride at the recent Nias Pro.

Announced earlier this year, 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) accepted the event wildcard for Fiji, a location where he has claimed four CT victories (2005, 2008, 2011, 2012) and even posted a perfect heat total, one of only ten in CT history. Always a standout at one of his favorite locations on the planet, Slater will be looking for a fairytale in what could be one of his last competitive appearances at the elite level.

The second men’s Wildcard spot will go to the winner of the Fiji Trials, which will be held on the best day at Cloudbreak between July 1 and 31.

WSL Rising Tides, in partnership with the Fiji Surfing Association, will host an expanded activation in Fiji during the competition window. Through this unique set of workshops, WSL Rising Tides aims to provide new development opportunities and insights to the next generation of young women and girls in the region. Chelsea Hedges, World Champion and esteemed Surf Coach, will lead the three-day program, which will include surf coaching, water safety, and of course, a special surf session with women on the CT.

“We can’t wait to bring WSL Rising Tides to Fiji for the first time next month,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL Commissioner. “When working with the Fiji Surfing Association, we were excited by the opportunity to host an expanded program for this event that includes a few more workshops and sessions to help develop the next generation of female athletes in Fiji. When thinking about who would make the most sense to lead this charge, I immediately thought of Chelsea Hedges. When we were on Tour together, she was the clear standout. We’re planning to bring a full-day experience of workshops, surf coaching, confidence in the water training with our safety teams, as well as the key component of surfing with our Championship Tour athletes.”