WHO’S IN & WHO’S OUT

JOHN JOHN FLORENCE-OUT

Just about a week before the Lexus Pipe Pro and the start of the 2025 season, John John Florence shocked both his social media followers and the surfing community by announcing that he would be stepping away from the Championship Tour (CT) for the year. In his statement, Florence shared that he wants to focus on free surfing, exploring new locations, and pushing the limits of his style. This news came as a surprise to many, especially after his third world title win in 2024. However, he also mentioned plans to return to the CT in 2026.

Given his incredible form and recent success, it’s certainly unexpected, but it seems Florence is taking time to pursue other avenues in the sport before his much-anticipated return. When healthy, JJF has proven to be a major threat, and we hope to see that version of him back on the competitive field in the near future.

FILIPE TOLEDO-IN

In the 2024 CT season, fans, athletes, and organizers were stunned when Filipe Toledo withdrew from the Lexus Pipe Pro after his loss in the opening round and just before his elimination round heat. Shortly after, he announced that he was stepping away for the rest of the season due to health issues. This was particularly surprising given his exceptional form and dominance in the 2023 season, where he secured his second consecutive world title.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, we expect a healthier, more confident Filipe Toledo. After taking time to focus on himself and with a schedule that suits his style of surfing, there’s every reason to believe he will once again be a top contender. With another world title in his sights, a top five finish should be well within his reach. Aside from his appearance in the 2024 Paris Olympics, there has been little word from Filipe as he quietly prepares for his return to the tour.

GABRIEL MEDINA-OUT FOR NOW

Over the past two years, Gabriel Medina has come close to the chance of surfing for another world title, but each time has fallen just short. It now seems unlikely that 2025 will be the year he once again gets that chance. On January 11th, Medina revealed that he had undergone surgery to address a pectoral injury and is currently in recovery. As a result, the three-time world champion will miss the first three events of the season, with the likelihood of an even longer absence.

The surf community is wishing Medina a speedy and full recovery, but it remains unclear whether we will see him compete in the 2025 CT season.

CROSBY COLAPINTO-OUT FOR NOW

Crosby Colapinto, the 2024 CT Rookie of the Year, revealed on January 18th that he had suffered a broken elbow while surfing Backdoor at Pipeline. In an Instagram post, Crosby explained the incident: “I jumped forward off my board after the back split because I was too deep, fell into the vortex of the lip, and the lip ended up going straight to the bottom, breaking the flat water. I didn’t touch any water and went straight elbow to reef.”

Crosby, the younger brother of Griffin Colapinto, was expected to make a strong impact in the 2025 season after an impressive debut year in 2024, where he finished ninth in the world. We hope to see him back in competition soon and wish him a smooth recovery.

KELLY SLATER-?

It would be silly to say we’ve seen the last of Kelly Slater, "The GOAT" of professional surfing. As the 2025 season kicks off at two venues that hold significant meaning for him, there’s still room for surprises. Could we see Kelly return as a wildcard? Perhaps another Pipeline final on the horizon? Or could we see him riding some artificially generated waves in Abu Dhabi?

Slater was invited to surf in the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational and the 2024 Pipe Masters, both of which took place in December. However, he did not compete in either event. Given that both of these competitions are particularly well-suited and important to him, it's unusual that we didn’t see him participate.

STEPHANIE GILMORE-OUT

Stephanie Gilmore, who has dominated women’s surfing with eight world titles, took a break from the tour about a year after her 2022 world championship win. On January 23, 2024, she announced that she would be taking a year off from competitive surfing to explore other interests.

As the 2025 season rolled around, many expected Gilmore to return to wearing a jersey, but on January 21, 2025, she shared that she would be stepping away for another year. In her Instagram post, she explained, “I’ve decided to take another season away from the WSL tour. This time will allow me to focus on healing some lingering injuries and redirect my energy toward continuing my adventures of surfing around the globe.”

Having been on the tour since 2007, it raises the question: will her much-anticipated return in 2026 be enough to keep up with the younger generation on tour?

CARISSA MOORE-OUT

After thirteen remarkable years on the CT, Carissa Moore retired at the start of the 2024 season. With five world titles to her name, Moore expressed deep gratitude for her time in competitive surfing, but felt it was time to explore new chapters in life outside of the tour.

As of now, Moore is expecting her first child and is spending time traveling and contributing to the surfing community. Her last competitive appearances were at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she reached the quarterfinals, and the 2024 Pipe Pro, where she was eliminated in the early rounds.

Though 2025 may not be her return year, could we see Carissa Moore come back as a wildcard or even a full time competitor in the future?