Surfing-Absent champions, fresh venues in focus as surfing's world tour begins

Surfing's world tour is set to get underway in the sport's spiritual homeland of Hawaii this week, but without its reigning men's champion and some of the tour's other biggest names due to retirements and injuries.

Hawaii's John John Florence, who won his third world title last year, is taking the year off tour but will compete as a wildcard at the season-opener in his backyard at the infamous Pipeline.

"I want to create the time to explore, find new waves, and draw different lines," Florence said on Instagram last week. "I intend to compete full on for another world title in 2026, but right now this idea of adventure and creatively pushing my surfing as far as possible is really exciting!"

Florence's big rival, Brazil's three-time world champion Gabriel Medina, is also out for the early part of the season after a chest injury.

The retirement of 11-times champion Kelly Slater, the greatest professional surfer of all time, is another big loss, although he too will feature at Pipeline as a wildcard.

On the women's side, the retirement of Hawaii's Carissa Moore and the ongoing sabbatical of Australia's Stephanie Gilmore take to 30 the number of world titles won by surfers missing from the tour this year.

Still, the absences throw the race for the 2025 title wide open.

Australians Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing are likely to be in the running against Brazilian Italo Ferreira and countryman Filipe Toledo, who is returning from a one-year mental health break.

Canada's 17-year-old rookie sensation Erin Brooks will be looking to challenge 19-year-old reigning champion Caitlin Simmers of California, Olympic gold medallist Caroline Marks and Australia's Molly Picklum, who together led a surge in women's surfing performances last year.

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