Figuring if it's good enough for an 11-time world champion then it's good enough for him, Steve Shearer has pulled out of the Rio Pro. In a media statement this morning, he blamed his absence on low blood sugar levels, the wave not respecting him, and a troublesome time zone.

Under threat of sanction, Steve promised he'd deliver a contest wrap up after the Rio Finals.

Meanwhile, here's the Woz presser from overnight in Saquarema:

PRAIA DE ITAÚNA, Saquarema, Brazil (Sunday, June 22, 2025) - The energy of the ocean turned on to match the energy of the crowd at Praia de Itaúna and kick-off the VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero, Stop No. 9 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2025 Championship Tour (CT). After a flat opening day of the waiting period, the three-to-four-feet of swell on offer provided plenty of opportunity for the world’s best surfers to earn the cheers of the thousands of fans lining the beach. The women’s and men’s Opening Rounds were completed, along with the women’s Elimination Round. The next call will be Monday, June 23, at 6:45 a.m. for a possible 7:03 a.m. (GMT-3) start.

Wildcards Power Through as Tatiana Weston-Webb Returns and Arena Rodriguez Defeats World No. 1 in CT Debut

World No. 1 and 2 heading into the event, Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Caity Simmers (USA), were both eliminated due to the appearance of event wildcards Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) and Arena Rodriguez (BRA).

Weston-Webb returned to competition as a wildcard in Brazil after a few months off. The Olympic Silver Medalist and 2021 World Title runner-up cruised to a comfortable victory over two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS), as well as Simmers, the reigning World Champion and back-to-back Rio Pro winner, before Luana Silva (BRA), Weston-Webb’s Olympic teammate for Brazil, defeated Simmers in the Elimination Round. The loss saw Simmers drop to No. 3 on the live rankings, the Californian’s lowest placing of the season so far. Having last appeared in competition at CT Stop No. 3 in Portugal before taking time away from the jersey to prioritize her well-being, Weston-Webb enjoyed utilizing her forehand to attack the lip on the lefts, earning a 7.00 and 5.17 for a 12.17 (out of a possible 20) heat total, the second-highest of the round.

"It's been so weird to be back in the water with everyone," Weston-Webb said. "Even, actually, my first surf out here at Itaúna was this morning before the contest. I just wanted to go out and have fun and be able to just let my surfing actually free flow. I feel like the beginning of this year…it was just really different for me because I didn't have that mind, body, soul connection. I got some time off, went to the Mentawais, got some really good waves, spent a lot of time with my husband and my family and my close ones, which I really, really cherished, and yeah, I feel really excited to be here. It's really weird because I really thought I was going to take the whole year off, but as it was my home, I feel at home here in Itaúna, and the Brazilian fans are amazing."

Caity (WSL/Othon)

A tough Opening Round heat saw Rodriguez immediately sent to the Elimination Round in her CT debut, but the 19-year-old bounced back with a major upset over Bryan, the current World No. 1. The heat win was a big victory for Rodriguez, who appears in the event thanks to her current placing as the highest-ranked South American on the Challenger Series. Returning to the Challenger in 2025 for a full season for the first time in three years, the Peruvian started with her best placing yet in the opening event in Newcastle, Australia, and just days later finds herself in the Quarterfinals of her first-ever CT.

"I'm really happy to make it through," Rodriguez said. "I'm really, really happy with how the heat panned out, I was searching for lefts. In the morning I wanted to surf because it was really good actually, but I didn't catch the waves I wanted. I'm so happy to have shown my surfing this heat and beat the number one. [Gabriela Bryan's] been ripping all year long and I love her surfing so much. I'm so stoked to be in the Quarters. I'm actually so without nerves. I'm just taking it all in and learning so much from the best because they make no mistakes and they capitalize on yours. So it's really important to be present. I'm feeling so much right now."

To add to the upsets, Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) was defeated by Wright in the Elimination Round after the Hawaiian had won two of the last three CT events and made her way into the Top 5 for the first time this season.

Molly Picklum and Cole Houshmand Deliver Top Numbers With Power Leading the Day

Molly Picklum (AUS) closed out the women’s Opening Round with both the highest heat total of 13.50 and single wave score 7.83 (out of a possible 10) of the round. Delivering what is becoming one of her trademarks, the 22-year-old drove through an aggressive single maneuver with full commitment on a critical section to earn her near-excellent score and send 2023 World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) and 2024 World Junior Champion Luana Silva (BRA) to the Elimination Round. Fresh from a runner-up finish at the Lexus Trestles Pro, Picklum was the only woman currently sitting in the Top 5 to make the Quarterfinals. The Australian is also the only woman of the five to not win an event so far this season, a fact she is hoping to turn around in Brazil.

"I woke up this morning feeling a little foggy, so I was just really happy to make my waves and work with the swell here," Picklum said. "But yeah, obviously so happy to get through that. Everyone's surfing so good at the moment. And yeah, I'm happy to skip that Elimination Round. Brazil's definitely one I want to win. I love the energy here. I have so many good friends here, and it's definitely something I would love to win. This year, I've made a couple Finals, but unfortunately, haven't got the win. I just keep knocking on the door, you know, just keep showing up, and let's see if I can try and crack it and take home the trophy."

Molly (WSL/Othon)

Brazilian Wildcard Gabriel Klaussner (BRA) got off to a quick early lead in his first appearance on the CT, where the 20-year-old found himself in the middle of the ongoing rivalry between the two biggest surfers on Tour, Jordy Smith (RSA) and Cole Houshmand (USA). Houshmand struggled to find rhythm for much of the heat until a powerful, perfectly-timed two-turn combo on his forehand earned the first excellent score of the event, an 8.00. With a 5.30 added shortly after, the Californian jumped into the Round of 16 ahead of Klaussner and Smith, the current World No. 1.

"There wasn't really much strategy except for identify the lefts and try to go left," said Houshmand. "I was struggling out there. I literally surfed a two-minute heat. I caught both those waves in maybe less than two minutes. But yeah, it was fun. The crowd here is crazy. I mean, the reason you want to win here is because of the crowd. It's like you're surfing in a packed stadium or something. There's got to be thousands and thousands of people on the beach. So yeah, it'd be fun to win here in front of everyone, but you know heat-by-heat and just enjoying it. It's a good life here. I love it here. It's one of my favorite places."

Houshmand’s fellow San Clemente surfer Crosby Colapinto (USA) also moved into the Round of 16 after defeating back-to-back Rio Pro Finalist Yago Dora (BRA), and former CT surfer Peterson Crisanto (BRA), who is appearing as a wildcard thanks to a strong showing in the opening event of the Challenger Series season.

Brazilian World Champions Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Italo Ferreira (BRA) both picked up Opening Round heat wins, along with Miguel Pupo (BRA). Toledo, the four-time Rio Pro winner, holds high expectations from the local crowd as he returns after taking last season off. The two-time World Champion emerged on top in a stacked heat that featured João Chianca (BRA), who calls Saquarema home, and Griffin Colapinto (USA). Meanwhile, Ferreira, the 2019 World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist who is the defending event winner, also moved straight into the Round of 16.

"I'm so happy to be back in Brazil again," Ferreira said. "Last year, it was one of my best moments of the year right here in Saquarema and I have the opportunity to do it again. That first heat was pretty nice against two nice surfers, Seth [Moniz] and Connor [O’Leary]. I tried to find the good waves. It's hard because there's a lot of current and then white-water at the same time and it's hard to find a good wall. But I had one on a channel and my last one was kind of good, but I fell on the last turn. But yeah, it's just the first heat so I'm super stoked.”

Rookie of the Year Frontrunners Erin Brooks and Joel Vaughan Channel Good Memories to Collect Early Wins

The only women’s Rookie to survive the Mid-season Cut, Erin Brooks (CAN), collected her first Opening Round heat win since CT Stop No. 3 in Portugal in the first heat of the event. The 17-year-old earned the jump straight into the Quarterfinals and sent two women currently sitting in the Top 5, Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) and Isabella Nichols (AUS), into the Elimination Round where both were subsequently eliminated. Though competing in a Championship Tour event for the first time in Brazil, Brooks has fond memories of Saquarema, having won the Corona Saquarema Pro Challenger Series event in 2023 and earned her CT qualification on its sands in 2024.

"I just love Brazil," Brooks said. "I mean, the waves are so fun. I love the lefts and I'm just really happy to be here. I woke up early, came down and it was actually really, really small. It kind of grew once the sun came up, but there's so much opportunity, so many waves out there, so I was just trying to stay active and I'm lucky that I did."

Erin (WSL/Othon)

The current men’s frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, Joel Vaughan (AUS), took the win over Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and Alejo Muniz (BRA) to advance into the Round of 16. Vaughan bookended his heat with mid-range 6’s, one on the left, one on the right, for a 13.33 two-wave total, the second-highest of the men for the day. Having previously earned a Perfect 10-point ride during the Challenger Series event in 2023, the 21-year-old is happy to return to Brazil for his first South American CT appearance.

"It feels awesome to be back," Vaughan said. "I love this beach and the crowd that it brings, the energy is just so amazing. I'm pretty excited to be back here. I've tried to just keep it pretty simple and work on myself and try to get some good waves and yeah, stoked to make that one.”

It was mixed fates for Vaughan’s competition in the Rookie of the Year race, Alan Cleland Jr. (MEX) and Marco Mignot (FRA). Cleland picked up the second-highest single wave score of the round, a 7.33, on his way to a heat win while Mignot, the 2024 Corona Saquarema Pro Challenger Series event winner, was sent to the Elimination Round.

VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Women’s Opening Round Results: 
HEAT 1: Erin Brooks (CAN) 11.56 DEF. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 10.10, Isabella Nichols (AUS) 9.66
HEAT 2: Lakey Peterson (USA) 9.56 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 8.20, Arena Rodriguez (PER) 4.13
HEAT 3: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 12.17 DEF. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 9.00, Tyler Wright (AUS) 7.27
HEAT 4: Molly Picklum (AUS) 13.50 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 9.60, Luana Silva (BRA) 6.30

VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Opening Round Results: 
HEAT 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.43 DEF. Connor O'Leary (JPN) 11.20, Seth Moniz (HAW) 7.47
HEAT 2: Joel Vaughan (AUS) 13.33 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 6.34, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 4.97
HEAT 3: Crosby Colapinto (USA) 12.50 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 10.60, Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 7.77
HEAT 4: Cole Houshmand (USA) 13.30 DEF. Gabriel Klaussner (BRA) 10.90, Jordy Smith (RSA) 9.43
HEAT 5: Alan Cleland (MEX) 12.33 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 9.97, Barron Mamiya (HAW) 8.33
HEAT 6: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.00 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 8.93, Marco Mignot (FRA) 8.24
HEAT 7: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 13.84 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 10.83, Rio Waida (INA) 6.56
HEAT 8: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 12.90 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 11.23, Griffin Colapinto (USA) 8.57

VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Women’s Elimination Round Results: 
HEAT 1: Arena Rodriguez (PER) 8.90 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 6.50
HEAT 2: Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.90 DEF. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 9.63
HEAT 3: Luana Silva (BRA) 10.47 DEF. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 10.24
HEAT 4: Caroline Marks (USA) 11.43 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 9.57