World Surf League – Women’s Finalists Decided at Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA: Kelia Gallina Makes History as Youngest CT Competitor 

Molly Picklum Asserts Authority To Clinch No. 1 Seed 

Kelia Gallina Makes History as Youngest CT Competitor

TEAHUPO’O, Tahiti, French Polynesia (Friday, August 8, 2025)  – It’s been another massive day of action at the Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA, Stop No. 11 of 12 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), with the women’s Finalists being decided. With the completion of 14 heats, Molly Picklum (AUS) and Caity Simmers (USA) have booked spots in the women’s Final that will run when competition resumes. For the second day in a row, Teahupo’o turned on incredible conditions as the world’s best women pushed the limits of tube riding in flawless, six-foot tubes.

With the swell forecast to drop off over the coming days, the competition will be OFF tomorrow, Saturday, August 9, and Sunday, August 10. The next call for competition to resume will be on Monday, August 11, at 7:00 a.m. TAHT. 

 Women’s Final 5 Set Ahead of Finals Day in Tahiti 

Today’s competition has witnessed the 2025 WSL Final 5 locked in for the Lexus WSL Finals that will run in Fiji later this month. Molly Picklum (AUS), Gabriela Bryan (HAW), Caity Simmers (USA), and Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) all held onto their spots, while Caroline Marks’ (USA) Semifinal finish was enough to see her move two places up the rankings and into contention for her second World Title. 

Reigning World Champion Caity Simmers (USA) built momentum all day at Teahupo’o to earn a spot in the Final after three solid heat wins. Simmers looked comfortable in the tube all day, posting some of the highest heat totals in each round to eventually overcome World No. 2 Gabriela Bryan (HAW) in an entertaining Semifinal matchup. Simmers’ Semifinal win was enough to lock her into No. 3 in the WSL Final 5 ahead of Fiji. 

Just Sit Back

“I do this to have fun, and today has been a lot of fun,” Simmers said. “I obviously focus on winning while I’m in my heats, but every now and then I just sit back and take this place in. It’s so beautiful and special, and I feel lucky to be experiencing this. I sat in looking for those little round ones, and I managed to find a few.”

Bryan’s Semifinal finish was her best yet, having been unable to break through the Elimination Round in previous years at this event. Punctuated by an 8.87 that the 23-year-old claimed was the best wave of her life, Bryan defeated Erin Brooks (CAN) in a high-scoring Quarterfinal matchup that also included an excellent 8.33 from the Canadian.

Caroline Marks and Bettylou Sakura Johnson Lock Final 5 Before Battling for Seeding

Heading into the event, Caroline Marks (USA) was sitting narrowly outside of the Final 5, knowing she needed a big result to make the jump and secure a place in the Lexus WSL Finals. Today, the 2023 World Champion extended her impressive track record in Tahiti after narrowly slipping through the Elimination Round, where then No. 4-ranked Isabella Nichols (AUS) was defeated, handing Marks a ticket to Fiji.

Having previously won both the 2023 Tahiti Pro and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games gold medal at Teahupo’o, 23-year-old Marks continued to show her impressive read of the barrel as the lineup shifted with swell direction and size. In the battle for who would have the higher seed in the Finals, Marks defeated Bettylou Sakura Johnson(HAW) in the Quarterfinals, locking her in at No. 4 on the rankings.

“I feel like in that heat I was just like, ‘Oh no pressure, just have fun,'” Marks said. “But Bettylou [Sakura Johnson] and I were laughing before. We’re like, we’re surfing for priority in Fiji right now, like whoever wins this heat gets priority over there. I felt good, getting barreled is the coolest thing ever. Fiji is just such a great place, and Cloudbreak is one of the best waves in the world. So that adds so much motivation when the Finals are at such a good wave, so we’re psyched for sure.”

Third WSL Finals

It will be the third WSL Finals appearance for Marks, who won in 2023 and placed runner-up in 2024, but it will be the first showing for Johnson in the fight for the World Title. The 20-year-old has improved her end-of-year ranking every season since first joining the Tour in 2022, with this year’s leap the biggest thanks to her first two CT event wins on the Gold Coast and at Lower Trestles.

“It’s been a goal of mine this whole year, so to be able to clinch it here at the last event is pretty surreal,” Johnson said. “Hopefully, there’s maybe some swell early and we can go there and practice, spend more time over there. But yeah, I’m just super happy with my performance this whole year to get me into this spot. We’re going to Fiji!”

Molly Picklum Asserts Authority To Clinch No. 1 Seed 

Molly Picklum (AUS) has put on an incredible performance at Teahupo’o today, booking a spot in the Final after claiming dominant wins in the Opening Round, Quarterfinals and Semifinals. Picklum’s technique on her backside saw her ride some of the deepest tubes of the day, earning an excellent heat total of 16.90 (out of a possible 20) in her Opening Round heat, the highest of the event so far. She then posted a near-perfect 9.77 (out of a possible 10) in her Quarterfinal heat with a super late, deep tube ride.

This was enough to come from behind and upset local favourite and reigning event winner Vahine Fierro (FRA). Picklum eventually overcame Caroline Marks (USA) with another excellent ride in the Semifinal, to book a spot in the Final for the first time in Tahiti. 

Hyping Each Other Up

“Caity [Simmers] and I always hype each other up, and whenever we come up against each other, it’s a real surf-off,” Picklum said. “We always make each other go extra hard, which is fun for us and the fans, and it also just fills my heart. It’s always an honour to verse Caity, and hopefully I can get one up on her. As I approached this event, the potential World Title began to sink in. It’s funny because when you get really close to achieving your dream, it all gets really scary.

But I’m just happy that I dream so big and it makes me scared and makes me focus and it challenges me and all of those beautiful things. I don’t think it’s sunk in that it’s so close, and it probably won’t until after the fact. Four incredible surfers can come for me, so there’s still a lot of work to get done. I’m just so grateful to be here in Tahiti, the waves and weather are beautiful, and I’d love to win here, so that’s my focus for now.” 

With new rules in place for the WSL Finals, Picklum will land in Fiji later this month, needing to win a single heat to claim her first World Title.

Kelia Gallina Makes History as Youngest CT Competitor 

Earlier in the day, 12-year-old Tahiti Trials Winner Kelia Gallina (PYF) made history, becoming the youngest ever competitor in a WSL CT event. Gallina was unable to progress past the Elimination Round, eventually going down to World No. 2 Gabriella Bryan (HAW). Still, her poise and technique in the tube were something to behold and will surely earn her more starts in this event in the future. 

“I was so excited to surf in this competition,” Gallina said. “I was hoping that it would be a little bit smaller, but it was so fun still. It was amazing to hear all of the support from the channel and everyone cheering. I really hope to win the trials again and have another opportunity, and even one day qualify for the Championship Tour.” 

Tahitian Wildcard

Fellow Tahitian Event Wildcard Vahine Fierro (FRA) was unlucky to find the ride of the heat one second after the buzzer in the Opening Round. The defending event winner, Fierro, went on to defeat Isabella Nichols (AUS) in the Elimination Round with an excellent 16.67 heat total but was unable to recreate the magic in her Quarterfinal match against Picklum and will now reset for the 2026 CT season when she will return as a full-time member.

For highlights and more information from the competition at the Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com. 

 

Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA Women’s Opening Round Results: 

HEAT 1: Erin Brooks (CAN) 13.67 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 3.77, Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 3.53

HEAT 2: Molly Picklum (AUS) 16.90 DEF. Kelia Gallina (PYF) 3.43, Lakey Peterson (USA) 1.97

HEAT 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.76 DEF. Vahine Fierro (FRA) 11.66, Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 5.23

HEAT 4: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 12.84 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 8.70, Luana Silva (BRA) 1.47

 

Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA Women’s  Elimination Round Results: 

HEAT 1: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 8.33 DEF. Kelia Gallina (PYF) 3.90

HEAT 2: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 13.16 DEF. Luana Silva (BRA) 2.00

HEAT 3: Vahine Fierro (FRA) 16.67 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 9.17

HEAT 4: Caroline Marks (USA) 8.67 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 8.50

 

Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA Women’s Quarterfinal Results: 

HEAT 1: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 16.04 DEF. Erin Brooks (CAN) 15.16

HEAT 2: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 15.60 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 9.83

HEAT 3: Molly Picklum (AUS) 13.10 DEF. Vahine Fierro (FRA) 9.67

HEAT 4: Caroline Marks (USA) 13.00 DEF. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 9.93

 

Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA Women’s Semifinal Results: 

HEAT 1: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 14.57 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 11.60

HEAT 2: Molly Picklum (AUS) 9.73 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 9.33

 

Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA Women’s Final Matchup: 

HEAT 1: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Molly Picklum (AUS)

 

Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA Men’s Elimination Round Results: 

HEAT 1: Jordy Smith (RSA) 16.00 DEF. Teiva Tairoa (PYF) 13.43

HEAT 2: Alan Cleland (MEX) 16.53 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 15.37

HEAT 3: Mihimana Braye (PYF) 7.50 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 2.80

HEAT 4: Joao Chianca (BRA) 15.33 DEF. Connor O’Leary (JPN) 11.67

HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 15.07 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 13.00

HEAT 6: Marco Mignot (FRA) 9.27 DEF. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 7.83

HEAT 7: Rio Waida (INA) 12.17 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 3.17

HEAT 8: Jake Marshall (USA) 13.40 DEF. Joel Vaughan (AUS) 7.17

 

Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA Men’s Round of 16 Matchups: 

HEAT 1: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Kauli Vaast (FRA)

HEAT 2: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA)

HEAT 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Rio Waida (INA)

HEAT 4: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA)

HEAT 5: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Mihimana Braye (PYF)

HEAT 6: Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Jake Marshall (USA)

HEAT 7: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Alan Cleland (MEX)

HEAT 8: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)