Event Wildcards and Injury Replacements Announced: Macy Callaghan, Kauli Vaast, Bronson Meydi, and Mateus Herdy To Compete in Surf Abu Dhabi Pro

Fresh from the famed North Shore of O’ahu, Hawai’i, where Barron Mamiya (HAW) and Tyler Wright (AUS) claimed heralded victories to start the season sitting on top of the rankings, the consistency of the waves in this event will deliver a totally new challenge to the world’s best. Surf Abu Dhabi, which features the world-leading wave technology from the Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC), offers competitors perfect 500-meter-long lefts and rights. It will test not only their technical prowess, but also their ability to perform under pressure and on demand.

The length and pace of the wave, along with the buoyancy of the featured salt water, make Surf Abu Dhabi a truly unique venue, as does its location on Hudayriyat Island, where it is nestled between the desert and the sea. Across four previous CT events held in the KSWC technology in Lemoore, Calif., a handful of surfers have mastered the skills necessary to repeatedly rise to the top. With the added elements lending to increased high-performance surfing, it is yet to be determined if those same precious few retain their control of the contest.

Previous winners in the technology, Lakey Peterson (USA), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Johanne Defay (FRA), and Griffin Colapinto (USA), have each appeared in the final rounds multiple times, as has Olympic Gold Medalist Caroline Marks (USA), who placed runner-up in the event the same year she won her World Title. A strong selection of the current leaders in progressive surfing has also showcased moments of brilliance on their way to big results, including Italo Ferreira (BRA), Caitlin Simmers (USA), Ethan Ewing (AUS), and Yago Dora (BRA).

Nearly one-third of the combined men’s and women’s fields are yet to compete on a man-made wave at the elite CT level. It remains to be seen if the clinical precision of Rookie Erin Brooks (CAN), the mind-blowing speed of 2024 Challenger Series winner Samuel Pupo (BRA), the aggressive attack of 2024 Rookie of the Year Sawyer Lindblad (USA), or the wild unpredictability of Rookie Marco Mignot (FRA) will challenge the status quo.

The 2025 Surf Abu Dhabi Pro will welcome three event wildcards to the UAE, Bronson Meydi (INA), Kauli Vaast (FRA), and Macy Callaghan (AUS).

Kauli Vaast (FRA) won the Gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games with an incredible performance at his home break of Teahupo’o in Tahiti. Vaast has proven himself at the CT level, with his runner-up finish at the Tahiti Pro as a wildcard in 2022. The man-made waves of Surf Abu Dhabi will provide a new challenge for Vaast, who hopes to qualify for a full-time spot on the CT through the Challenger Series.

“This wildcard spot means a lot to me,” Vaast said. “My aim with the Challenger Series this year, more than ever, is to qualify for the CT. It’s where I want to be, and this will taste good. I’ve unfortunately never surfed there before, but I can’t wait to get there and experience it. This technology will be used a lot for contests in the future, and I want to get more experience surfing these waves. I’m so excited for the opportunity.”

“I’m super excited to be heading to Abu Dhabi and getting this wildcard opportunity,” Callaghan said. “It will be so fun to catch up with a lot of people I haven’t seen for so long, as well as traveling somewhere new and getting such a unique experience. I have competed at Surf Ranch several times, and it is a different experience and way to compete. There is a lot of pressure, so it will be cool to feel those feelings again. I haven’t competed since I won in Brazil last October, so it will be good to get back in the jersey.”

“Getting this wildcard means so much to me,” Meydi said. “This will be my first CT event, so coming up against the world’s best at the wave pool is going to be crazy. I’m excited to see my surfing up against everyone and see if it belongs on the CT. I have surfed in this facility a few times, so I feel like I’ve had some good experiences here and know the wave well. I’m stoked to be going back there. Since this is my first CT event, I’m looking forward to learning a lot, seeing how everyone at that level goes about it, and getting as much experience as I can.”

An elbow injury sustained while training for Stop No. 1 at Pipeline continues to keep Colapinto out of action for Stop No. 2, opening the door for Herdy’s first CT wildcard opportunity since 2022. Herdy, who posted a Perfect 10-point ride during the final event of the 2024 Challenger season, received the spot as the highest-ranked surfer on the Challenger Series not yet in competition and enters Abu Dhabi as a serious threat. Having previously featured as a wildcard four times on the CT, including in the KSWC technology in 2019, the 24-year-old Brazilian has made the Finals Day of his two most recent appearances, peaking with a Semifinal finish in the 2021 Corona Open Mexico.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.