LOWER TRESTLES, San Clemente, Calif., USA (Sunday, June 8, 2025) - The World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) is back at the world-class cobblestone break of Lower Trestles for the Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown, Stop No. 8 of the 2025 CT season. The event holds a competition window from tomorrow, Monday, June 9 through Tuesday, June 17.
Current World No. 1s Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Jordy Smith (RSA) lead the field of remaining competitors vying for the 2025 World Title. Those who call San Clemente home look to make statements when competition kicks off including, Griffin Colapinto (USA), Crosby Colapinto (USA), Cole Houshmand (USA) and event wildcards Sawyer Lindblad (USA) and Kirra Pinkerton (USA). Also joining as a wildcard is Dimitri Poulos (USA) and Kelly Slater (USA), who aims for a potential seventh CT win at Trestles.
San Clemente's Hometown Heroes Return to Lower Trestles
This event marks a major return for San Clemente's own, 2023 and 2024 World Title contender Griffin Colapinto (USA) and his younger brother Crosby Colapinto (USA), 2024 Rookie of the Year. Griffin had the community of San Clemente support by the masses during his World Title attempts, and now the city has multiple contenders to cheer on. The Colapinto brothers are joined by Cole Houshmand (USA), and wildcard threats Sawyer Lindblad (USA) and Kirra Pinkerton (USA). Lindblad earned 2024 Rookie of the Year and fell just short of the Mid-season Cut, but will rejoin the Tour in 2026 with the expanded women's field. Currently ranked No. 5 on the Challenger Series (CS), Pinkerton became the World Junior Champion in 2018. Now she looks to make a statement as a wildcard.
"It's super special to be here because we grew up learning how to surf here, and watching this contest made us want to become pro surfers" said Colapinto. "Now we have the opportunity to do that for the next generation. I remember very vividly being down here for the Gudauskas brothers and cheering them on and just so many good memories here. Our whole childhood was here and the community is so rad and loves surfing so much. This wave belongs on the Tour with a perfect right and left. It suits everyone's surfing really well. This wave just brings out the best surfing from everyone."
San Clemente's own Griffin Colapinto (USA) is back at his home break of Lower Trestles June 9 - 17. - WSL / Thiago Diz
Gabriela Bryan and Jordy Smith Look to Fend Off Field in Southern California
A momentous year for 2022 Rookie of the Year Gabriela Bryan (HAW) has seen her at World No. 1 since the Gold Coast. Now, Bryan enters her first CT event at Lower Trestles in hopes of ramping up her bid for a 2025 World Title campaign.
"This being my first CT experience here is super exciting," said Bryan. "After growing up and surfing here every summer for amateur events, it was a dream to maybe get the opportunity to surf here on the CT. It's been a long time coming, so I'm excited. When I have the Yellow Jersey on I think of it as a reward for all the hard work I've done, and a reminder that what I'm doing is working. I like to fly under the radar, but why not embrace it and it's pretty awesome to think I was the underdog growing up. Now I go home and everyone's so proud of me. Everyone at home has done so much for me and been so supportive so I almost feel like it's reward for all of us."
With three-career CT victories to her name, Bryan looks to bring Kauaʻi its first World Title since the late Andy Irons (HAW) in 2004.
One of the Tour's legacy contenders, Jordy Smith (RSA), returns to Lower Trestles for the first time since 2017 when he was also World No. 1. Now, Smith will compete once again at Trestles wearing the Yellow Leader Jersey. He will look to channel his previous Trestles event wins in 2014 and 2016 to continue his momentum going into Stop No. 8.
"As far as memories go, there's been a lot of good ones. I lived here in San Clemente for a little bit and getting some surfs with my dad early in my career were special," said Smith. "Watching Chris Ward and the Lost… tapes, I think they were the biggest inspirations for me growing up. I've put in the work. Everyone's so different on what they classify as work. Everyone lives a different life and the environments are constantly changing. So you just adapt and you put best work you can in that day and hope that tomorrow brings a better one. It's really hard to kind of and pinpoint what exactly it is. I've always said all the crumbs make up a loaf of bread and you just have to keep showing up."
Kelly Slater Set to Play Ultimate Spoiler with California Wildcards
The world's best will have their work cut out for them with 11-time World Champion and six-time Lower Trestles victor Kelly Slater (USA) back in the draw. The 53-year-old surfing GOAT has experience and knowledge of Lower Trestles that outmatches many on the CT as he looks for a 57th-career victory among the world's best. Slater will be joined by wildcards Dimitri Poulos (USA), Kirra Pinkerton (USA), and Sawyer Lindblad (USA). Poulos and Pinkerton earn the wildcard spots as the highest ranked North Americans on the current 2025 Challenger Series.
For Ventura, California, competitor Poulos, this will be his first-ever CT appearance. Poulos' surge in Newcastle pushed him past former World Title contender Morgan Cibilic (AUS) before finishing with a Quarterfinal result. He brings accolades all his own to Lower Trestles including, a 2018 ISA Gold Medal.
"I heard some rumors that they were going to give a wildcard to the highest North American finisher here [in Newcastle]. But I kind of just paid no mind to it but I got the text that I was the highest North American so I'm excited," said Poulos. "I've surfed Lowers a lot. I've spent enough time out there and know I can figure it out. There's a few flight options that get me there Sunday night and another one that gets me into LAX at 6:00 a.m. so it'd be straight from the airport into the jersey (laughs)."
Pinkerton's experience among the CT elite goes back to the 2018 US Open of Surfing before the Surf Ranch Pro in 2021. The 22-year-old has become a perennial CT qualification threat as she looks to disrupt the World Title race at home. This will be Pinkerton's second CT appearance in 2025, following a Round of 16 result at the Surf City El Salvador Pro earlier this year.
**WSL Rising Tides Takes Over Lower Trestles, Special Opening Ceremony Led by Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation Inspires Ahead of Event Start
A special day for some of Southern California and North America's rising talents provided inspiration through the WSL Rising Tides initiative. Since 2019, the Rising Tides has played a pivotal role in encouraging young women to get in the water through sharing waves with their idols on the CT.
"It feels really nice to be back home surfing Lowers. It was really cool seeing all the girls out there and it was perfect conditions out there for them," said 2024 WSL Rookie of the Year, Sawyer Lindblad. "I'm excited to have the opportunity to compete at my home break this week. I've been coming down here since I was eight years old so it's really special."
A beautiful opening ceremony from the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians / Acjachemen Nation provided the blessing to open the competition's proceedings. Griffin and Crosby Colapinto (USA) joined Cole Houshmand (USA) and more in the blessing ahead of the competition window opening Monday, June 9.
Event organizers will convene at 7:45 a.m. PDT to for a possible start to the competition at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, Monday, June 9.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
The Juaneño Band of Mission Indians / Acjachemen Nation providing their blessing ahead of the Lexus Trestles Pro. - WSL / Emma Sharon
Lexus Trestles Pro Women's Opening Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
HEAT 2: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Luana Silva (BRA) vs. TBD
HEAT 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA)
HEAT 4: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN)
Lexus Trestles Pro Men's Opening Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Rio Waida (INA) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA)
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Connor O'Leary (JPN) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
HEAT 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA) vs. TBD
HEAT 4: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. TBD
HEAT 5: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
HEAT 6: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Joel Vaughan (AUS)
HEAT 7: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)
HEAT 8: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Alan Cleland Jr. (MEX)
Watch LIVE
The Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown will hold a competition window of June 9-17, 2025. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, and the free WSL App. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL's broadcast partners.
*This event is proudly sponsored by Lexus, Outerknown, Red Bull, YETI, Apple Watch Neutrogena, Surfline, True Surf, I-SEA, Dakine, 805 Beer, Pacifico, Suncruiser, Hoag, Flexfit, Eero, Open Water, and John Wayne Airport.