RANGIROA, Tahiti, French Polynesia (Monday, 3 March, 2025) - Opening day of the World Surf League (WSL) Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro, a men's Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000, has been called OFF. Two-to-three-foot swell is on the forecast throughout the window for competition to likely get underway Tuesday, March 4. This event will determine who qualifies for the 2025 Challenger Series and represent the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui region toward 2026 Championship Tour qualification.
2023 Event Runner-up Mihimana Braye Returns for More
For many of the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui athletes entering this event, a big result is needed to shake up the rankings and showed he's up to the task after earning runner-up in 2023. Mihimana Braye's (FRA) backhand attack and ability to navigate the barrel make him one to watch alongside his fellow Tahitians in Rangiroa. This event marks a momentous return for the island of Tahiti and its regional athletes as they look to reinstate themselves among Hawaii's high-level contenders.
"Rangiroa is such a unique and perfect wave. It's one of the most perfect QS events we can have in the year," Braye said. "We didn't have a lot of competitions here just for us and now the Federation start doing more and more. It's getting bigger and all the upcoming surfers, and my generation of surfers, are getting more motivated. This event is really special for me. The only WSL event I've won was the Pro Junior here in 2015 and in [2023] I got runner-up so this place has a special place in my heart."
Final Challenger Series Spots on the Line in Paradise
After the women's season concluded at The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro, Eweleiula Wong (HAW), Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW) and Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) earned their place among the Challenger Series contenders. Now, the last opportunity for men's contenders to vie for the Top 5 spots is set to unfold with no one mathematically out of the hunt up to No. 24 on the rankings. Rangiroa's righthand perfection of Avatoru will be the deciding factor and, with a smaller forecast on offer, it will push these athletes to their best under pressure.
Current rankings leader Shion Crawford (HAW) looks to earn back-to-back Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional wins and will face off against fellow Challenger Series qualification hopefuls along with Tahiti's proven contenders.
Joining Crawford in the current Top 5, Luke Swanson (HAW), Joshua Moniz (HAW), Oliver Zietz (HAW), and Ezekiel Lau (HAW) hold the current qualification spots. But, with the best three out of four results counting there is still plenty of shuffling that can take place as less than 1,000 points separate No. 2 from No. 13.
Current No. 2 Luke Swanson has his eyes set on a big result in Rangiroa and is no stranger to its pristine reef. - WSL / Abraham
"Last year I made it my goal to qualify for the Challenger Series and then barely managed to finish in the Top 30 of our regional regional rankings. I guess that was the fire I needed to make some changes to my mental preparation," Swanson said. "One of my favorite surfing memories ever was actually from a barrel I got in a heat out at Rangiroa, it was perfect. It's really important to just let the results flow. Whether I'm dead last on the rankings or on the cusp of qualification, my goal is to be all in with every performance and win. I think it's a privilege to have some pressure to perform in an event like this and I look forward to seeing what happens."
Opening Day Called Off, Next Call Tuesday, March 4
Event organizers will look to start the competition on Tuesday, March 4, after calling the opening day of the window OFF. Two-to-three-foot, wind swell conditions are on the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday to get proceedings underway at Avatoru's pristine reef. As the largest atoll island surrounding Tahiti's main island, Rangiroa is open to prominent north swell and wind swell that focus on the break of Avatoru.
The Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro QS 1,000 holds a competition window beginning March 3 through 7 at Avatoru, Rangiroa, Tahiti. Once called on, live scoring and updates will be on www.WorldSurfLeague.com, the free WSL App, and the WSL Youtube channel.