Fierro and Ferreira win the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown, Stop No. 6 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Championship Tour (CT). It was an incredible last two days of competition in Tahiti with some of the biggest performances of the year coming from the world’s best, posting 27 excellent rides in only 15 heats.
Teahupo’o displayed its true power and beauty during this memorable event with the world’s best surfers. These competitors have put the world on notice ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 when competitive surfing will return to this location in late July.
Italo Ferreira Claims Victory at ‘The End of The Road,’ Overcomes John John Florence in Final
Coming into the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro, Italo Ferreira (BRA) had only made Finals Day once in 2024 and was sitting at 16th on the rankings. The 2019 World Champion was in desperate need of a big result if he was to be any chance of booking a spot in this year’s Lexus WSL Finals. He started the day with huge wins in his Round of 16 and Quarterfinal heats and built unstoppable momentum on his way to his first Final in Tahiti. The win today propelled Ferreira 11 spots up the rankings into the 5th spot with three events remaining on the schedule before the one-day, winner-take-all Championship event.
“I have really been waiting for this moment,” Ferreira said. “I have won in different types of waves, not barrels, and that is what I’ve been looking for. I missed this event last year and I have finally got my win here. I’m really really stoked. I want to thank God, and my family and friends. That’s it, job done. Now it’s time to prepare for El Salvador, which is next.”
In the Final, Ferreira came up against the momentum surfer of the men’s Finals Day, John John Florence (HAW) in a classic goofy, versus natural-footer matchup in perfect pits at Teahupo’o. Ferreira got started early, posting back-to-back excellent scores to earn a heat total of 17.70 (out of a possible 20) in the first 12 minutes. Florence struggled to counter early, taking a solid wipeout on his first wave and needing time to recover and get himself out of a combination situation. Eventually, Florence found a super critical late drop and tube make to post a 9.33 (out of a possible 10) but as time wound down, he was unable to find a backup, leaving the 2019 World Champion Ferreira to claim his first win since the Surf Ranch Pro in 2023.
“That was a really special heat against John [Florence], I’m so inspired by him,” continued Ferreira. “That was a great heat. We started early today and it was a long day, and I’m so happy to make the Final and win this comp. I always knew it was a possibility for me and it was no my moment and I’m really happy for that.”
Wildcard Vahine Fierro Wins with Groundbreaking Performances at Teahupo’o
Vahine Fierro (FRA) became the first Tahitian local to win the Tahiti Pro as a wildcard. Not only was Fierro’s win impressive from her performances throughout the day, but she also faced incredibly tough competition on a day that saw the bar raised by a number of women. Hailing from the outer island Huahine, Fierro and her family relocated to Teahupo’o as she and her sisters began to focus on their competitive surfing careers. Fierro’s time and experience at Teahupo’o shows, with the 24-year-old putting on some of the most incredible performances at the wave and showing what is possible for women in the world’s heaviest waves. In her third wildcard appearance at her home break, the former WSL World Junior Champion claimed the biggest win of her career on a proud day for Tahiti and France.
“I mean, I knew and believed that at some point I would win this event,” Fierro said. “My body is sore everywhere I gave it my all. I wiped out so many times and broke my board. It was like madness. I was calm. It’s insane. I just want to thank everybody because all their energy is what motivates me, what inspires me. I wanted to thank Jeremy Flores for coaching me through all of this. He was telling me, ‘It’s the semi now. You just need to go. There’s no pulling back, and there’s no holding back. You just gotta go.’ Jessi [Miley-Dyer] made the amazing call to throw us out there today, and that’s what women need. Thank you to Jessi for trusting the women because we were more than capable out there. Thank you, Teahupo’o, so special and thank you for sending me the best waves of my life in that heat.”
Ramzi Boukhiam Bests Kelly Slater, Earns Career-Best Result
It was a big day for Taghazout Bay’s Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) who defeated Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) in the Round of 16 at the start of the day’s competition. Igarashi struggled to find a rhythm with the wave, while Boukhiam didn’t waste time to wait for the bigger sets. He build on his score to comfortably book his spot in the Quarters where he matched up with 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) who came into the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro as an event wildcard.
Slater then went on to dominate the majority of his Quarterfinal matchup with Boukhiam, holding an excellent heat total of 16.66 and looking destined for the Final until Boukhiam found a critical, deep tube ride on a bomb to earn a near-perfect 9.80 and knock the GOAT out of the event. The Morrocan went down to eventual event winner Ferreira in the Semifinals.
Slater earned his best result since 2022 (3rd place at the Tahiti Pro). The five-time Tahiti Pro event winner showed his form as Teahupo’o turned on and reminded us of the Slater magic, particularly in his Round of 16 matchup with Ethan Ewing (AUS). Ewing had an impressive start, earning a two-wave total of 14.17 (out of a possible 20), leaving Slater needing two solid scores. Eventually, a bomb set rolled in, and the 52-year-old dropped in late, pulled up high, flew over the foamball and into the channel to earn a near-perfect 9.73 (out of a possible 10) and get himself back in the heat. Then, needing a low mid-range score with seconds left, Slater found a small set and rode the tube for as long as possible to come out and take the win.
It was a solid event for Ewing, who is returning to Teahupo’o to compete for the first time since breaking his back at this wave less than 12 months ago. Ewing will take confidence out of his performance ahead of his return to this location in July for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
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