June 18, 2025 — Following the conclusion of the Trestles Pro event in California, the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour rankings have seen major changes, with standout performances shaking up the leaderboard.
South Africa’s Jordy Smith and Hawaii’s Gabriela Bryan now lead the men’s and women’s rankings respectively, solidifying their status as the top surfers on the 2025 Tour.
According to the WSL’s official rules, points are awarded to surfers based on their placement in each event. A first-place finish on the Championship Tour (CT) earns 10,000 points, second place earns 7,800, and the points decrease with lower placements. These points accumulate throughout the season and determine each surfer’s position in the rankings.
One of the most notable moves in the women’s division comes from Bettylou Sakura Johnson of Hawaii. Her powerful run at Trestles Pro lifted her three spots up the rankings to No. 4. Johnson posted the highest women’s heat total of the season, scoring 17.83 points in the quarterfinals. She continued her momentum with a semifinal win over Sawyer Lindblad and a finals victory against Molly Picklum.
Despite her strong performance, Johnson still trails Picklum in the rankings. Picklum remains at No. 3 with 43,345 total points, while Johnson now holds 37,320. The Trestles Pro win gave Johnson the full 10,000 points.
On the men’s side, Brazil’s Italo Ferreira, who previously held the No. 1 spot, has dropped to No. 4 after a disappointing result at Trestles. His slip opened the door for Yago Dora, also of Brazil, to jump ahead. Dora claimed victory at Trestles, earning 10,000 points and rising to No. 2 in the standings, just ahead of Kanoa Igarashi, his opponent in the finals.
With each event causing major shifts in the rankings, the upcoming VIVO Rio Pro, scheduled from June 21 to 29, could further change the leaderboard. Surfers will aim to build on their momentum — or recover lost ground — as the 2025 season continues to unfold.