The World Surf League (WSL) today announces the cancellation of the Tahiti Pro, following the French Government's declared state of emergency for French Polynesia due to COVID-19 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) moving French Polynesia into a Level 4 zone and advising people not to travel.
Navigating the Championship Tour through a global pandemic has been an extraordinary challenge for the WSL and our primary concern has always been the health and safety of our Surfers, staff, and local communities.
The WSL will not be replacing the Tahiti event on short notice, given the global health and safety conditions at the moment. The Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver will be the last regular-season event of the 2021 WSL Championship Tour season, determining the WSL Final 5 who will qualify for the World Title-deciding Rip Curl WSL Finals at Lower Trestles next month.
Surfers were notified last night that there was an increasing possibility of this cancellation following the High Commissioner and President's press conference where the new protocols were announced, including the suspension of all sporting events in Tahiti. Prior to competition starting today, surfers were informed that the event has been cancelled.
The WSL will continue to work with our athletes and partners on safely completing the remainder of the Championship Tour and Challenger Series seasons and we will adapt as needed moving forward.
The WSL appreciates the ongoing support of our surfers, staff, partners, fans and the communities we visit around the world.