As the 2025 men’s World Surf League Challenger Series unfolds, a compelling narrative is emerging — seasoned surfers with Championship Tour (CT) pedigrees are making significant waves in their quest for re-qualification. This year’s Challenger Series features not only rising talents but also several familiar faces from the CT, injecting an element of excitement and unpredictability into the competition.
A year ago, Kelly Slater’s highly publicized “non-retirement” dominated headlines, marking the end of an era for the 11-time world champion after failing to qualify for the CT for the second consecutive year. However, 2025 is shaping up differently. Julian Wilson, a 37-year-old surfer with 18 years of CT experience, currently wears the yellow jersey — awarded to the Challenger Series leader — following seven event stops. Alongside him, a cohort of former CT competitors, including some with Championship Tour victories, are striving to reclaim their place on the sport’s elite stage.
Surfers Who Just Missed the Cut
The mid-season CT cut plays a crucial role in shaping the Challenger Series roster, with those ranked 23rd and below on the CT automatically qualifying for the Challenger Series as a pathway back to the top tier. This year’s group includes 12 surfers facing re-qualification battles: Ryan Callinan, Edgard Groggia, Ramzi Boukhiam, Ian Gentil, Deivid Silva, Imaikalani deVault, Samuel Pupo, Ian Gouveia, George Pittar, Jackson Bunch, Liam O’Brien, and Matthew McGillivray.
Among them, several are fresh CT rookies — Groggia, Pittar, and Bunch — while others bring a wealth of experience. Notably, Ian Gouveia, who previously declared 2024 his “last hoorah,” is returning for another Challenger Series campaign. After two years on the CT in 2017 and 2018, and a five-season hiatus (with 2020 canceled due to the pandemic), the Brazilian had contemplated stepping away to focus on family and freesurfing. But now, he is back with renewed determination. “Grateful for everything I lived, life is not a dream and I will fight for it again,” Gouveia said recently. “Without apologies and crying, let’s go together for more of a CS season.”
Josh Kerr’s Return
At 41, Josh Kerr is making waves in a comeback that surprised many. After stepping away from the CT in 2017 without a Championship Tour win but earning a devoted fan following, Kerr competed in several Qualifying Series (QS) events last year. A runner-up finish at the Nias Pro helped secure his spot in the 2025 Challenger Series. Kerr now competes alongside his daughter Sierra, forming the WSL’s first father-daughter duo in the Challenger Series.
Julian Wilson’s Resurgence
Julian Wilson’s return to the CT after a hiatus since 2021 has been one of the year’s most compelling stories. His runner-up finish at May’s Gold Coast Pro confirmed that the former CT star remains a serious contender. Initially invited to the Challenger Series via wildcard, Wilson’s strong performances have raised expectations for a potential re-qualification. Should he succeed, Wilson would return to the CT at age 37, nearly two decades after his debut as a 21-year-old wildcard in 2010.
Kolohe Andino’s Ongoing Campaign
Kolohe Andino, an 11-year CT veteran and former Olympian, remains a persistent presence on the QS and Challenger circuits. After missing the mid-season cut in 2023, Andino has kept busy, notably winning a QS event on the U.S. East Coast and competing in multiple Challenger Series stops. Early this year, he also launched a new brand, Steko, following a brief and problematic rebranding from his original label, ‘2% Union.’ Andino’s steady activity and business ventures indicate a focused effort to return to CT competition.
Morgan Cibilic’s Challenging Journey
Morgan Cibilic’s story is one of near misses and resilience. The Australian burst onto the CT scene as 2021 Rookie of the Year, finishing fifth in the world rankings that season and competing in the WSL Finals. However, he missed re-qualification in 2022 by a narrow margin and has since hovered just outside the cutline, ranking 16th and 19th in the Challenger Series in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Despite the setbacks, Cibilic has shown strong form when granted wildcards in CT events, frequently advancing to quarterfinals or better, suggesting his eventual return to the CT is imminent.
The 2025 Challenger Series is shaping up to be one of the most compelling in recent memory, with experienced veterans and ambitious challengers battling for coveted Championship Tour spots. For fans and athletes alike, the season promises drama, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of surfing’s highest honors.