SUNSET BEACH, Oahu, Hawaii, USA (Thursday, February 9, 2023) - The holding period for the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach, the second stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2023 Championship Tour (CT), is under one week away from opening on Sunday, February 12. Following the season opener, the world's best surfers are now heading down the road to the powerful, open-ocean break of Sunset Beach. With one event completed and the rankings in motion, there are only four events left to fight for a position to make the Mid-season Cut and ultimately clinch a spot in the Final 5 at the end of the season.
Carissa Moore (HAW) and Jack Robinson (AUS) are now at the top of the rankings after winning the Billabong Pro Pipeline. Tyler Wright (AUS) and Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) sit at No. 2 on the rankings after earning runner-up finishes at the Billabong Pro Pipeline.
Five-time World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) enters the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach as the new rankings leader. - WSL / Bielmann
About the North Shore's Famed Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is made up of many sections of reef and offers fun waves in all sizes of swells from waist high to multiple times overhead. Due to its multiple peaks and boils, it is a difficult wave to surf well and tests surfer's wave-reading abilities. The famous break plays host to several other high-level competitions, including the Qualifying Series and Pro Junior events.
Last year's Hurley Pro Sunset Beach was the first time in 13 years a CT event was held at this iconic Hawaiian break. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) and Barron Mamiya (HAW) claimed historic wins here last year as the men's and women's tours competed together for the first time at Sunset Beach. Both competitors will return this year eager to defend their titles. World Champions Wright, Moore, and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) have all won events here in the past, giving them a competitive edge.
Barron Mamiya (HAW) - WSL / Bielmann
Event Wildcards and Injury Replacements Announced
Maui's Kai Lenny and Oahu's Zoe McDougall have been confirmed as the event wildcards for the Sunset Beach Hurley Pro. McDougall is the highest-ranked Hawaii/Tahiti Nui regional surfer on the Challenger Series. Growing up on Oahu's North Shore with Sunset Beach as her backyard, McDougall is sure to be a threat in this event.
Lenny is one of the greatest watermen in the world. From kiteboarding to wing foiling to stand-up paddle racing, he does it all. Although Lenny is most well-known for his big wave surfing, he is also a skilled, competitive surfer, and his knowledge in big waves will certainly help at Sunset Beach.
Hawaii's No. 2 rated surfer on the Challenger Series, Keanu Asing (HAW), will also enter Sunset Beach as an event wildcard. Asing will confront fellow Hawaiian Seth Moniz and 2019 World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) in the Opening Round, Heat 4.
Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), Johanne Defay (FRA), and Sophie McCulloch (AUS) have pulled out of the event due to injuries sustained during the off-season. Carlos Munoz (CRC) and Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) will once again replace Boukhiam and Defay, respectively. McCulloch will be replaced by Brazil's Luana Silva.
Watch LIVE
The Hurley Pro Sunset Beach holds a competition window from February 12 - 23, 2023. Once called on, the competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL's YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL's broadcast partners. For fans watching in Brazil, coverage of the competition's Quarterfinals and beyond will continue exclusively on WorldSurfLeague.com and SporTV.
The Hurley Pro Sunset Beach is proudly supported by Hurley, YETI, 805 Beer, Red Bull, Shiseido, Craft 1861, Turtle Bay, True Surf, Sambazon, Spectrum, Pura Vida, Surfline, and Surfshark.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.