Who Will Win in Tahiti and Make the Final 5?

Only one event remains in the search for the final 5 men and women surfers to round out the 2023 WSL Championship Tour. With 3 men's spots and 4 women's spots already secured, there are only 3 spots left to fill in the race for the 2023 championship.

Continue reading fr your official event preview and be sure to set your FantasySurfer teams now!

WHO: The Men's WSL Championship Tour Top 22 + 2 wildcards, and the Women's WSL Championship Tour Top 10 + 2 wildcards

WHAT: Event no. 10 of 11 on the 2023 World Championship Tour

WHEN: Event will run between August 11-20, 2023

WHERE: Teahupoʻo, Tahiti, French Polynesia

HOW TO WATCH: Tune in to WorldSurfLeague.com for live event coverage and return to Surfer.com for daily event wrap-ups.

PAST EVENT WINNERS:

Men's (2) - Kelly Slater (2000, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2016), Gabriel Medina (2014, 2018).

Women's (0) - There are no former event winners competing in this year's event.

INJURY UPDATE: As of today (August 7) the only injury to report is Italo Ferreira, who will miss the event due to a knee injury.

WILDCARDS: Kelly Slater and Johanne Defay are season wildcards for the remainder of 2023. Vahine Fierro has been given the women's wildcard, and Kauli Vaast has replaced the injured Italo Ferreira on the men's side. The final men's spot will go to the winner of the trials event held prior to the main event.

ROUND 1 HEAT DRAW:

Shiseido Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown Women's Opening Round Matchups:
Heat 1: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Gabriela Bryan (HAW)
Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Vahine Fierro (FRA)
Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Johanne Defay (FRA)
Heat 4: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)

Shiseido Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown Men's Opening Round Matchups:
Heat 1: Joao Chianca (BRA) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
Heat 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 3: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Kauli Vaast (FRA)
Heat 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. winner of Local Trials
Heat 5: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Rio Waida (INA)
Heat 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Connor O'Leary (AUS) vs. Callum Robson (AUS)
Heat 7: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS) vs. Matthew McGillivray (RSA)
Heat 8: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Liam O'Brien (AUS)

* - Wildcard / Injury replacement