The opening day of the 2025 Lexus WSL Finals Fiji Presented by Corona Cero passed without action yesterday, as poor surf conditions at Cloudbreak kept the world’s top surfers on standby. Despite anticipation around the one-day, winner-takes-all showdown, strong onshore winds, rain, and a flat ocean forced organisers to wait for an incoming swell expected early next week.
The competition window runs until September 4, with event officials tasked with selecting the single best day to crown the men’s and women’s world champions. According to WSL Vice President of Tours and Competition Renato Hickel, the first possible competition call is September 1, when a new swell in the four-to-seven foot range is forecast. A stronger system projected to arrive on September 2 could also shift the event to the famed Restaurants reef off Tavarua Island, long regarded as one of the most perfect waves on the planet.
While competitors held back from official heats, they will have practice sessions, with the first broadcast scheduled for Friday, August 29. Fans worldwide will be able to watch live on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app.
For Fiji, hosting the season-ending Finals underscores its reputation as a premier surfing destination. Resorts in the Mamanuca Islands are abuzz as international athletes, media, and fans gather, eager for the action to begin.
The stage is set. Now, all eyes are on the Pacific as Fiji awaits the swell that will decide surfing’s world titles.