WSL Changes Fiji Format One Month Before Finals — Carissa Moore And CJ Hobgood React

Earlier today, we received a very compelling missive from the WSL.

Per the Woz:

We are announcing a format change to the Fiji Finals:

• If the No. 1 seed wins the first heat of the best-of-three World Title match, they will clinch the World Title without needing to surf a second or third heat.

• The Top-Seeded Surfer in all Matches will also start with Priority.

To clarify, the top seeded surfer no longer needs to win two-out-of-three heats to win the title — if they take out the first heat, that’s game/set/match. If they lose it, then it goes back to best-of-three.

Let’s see how these changes would have affected the 2021-2024 WSL Finals (without taking into consideration priority for the high seed):

2021
Men: Medina would have won in 1 heat instead of 2.
Women: No change (Carissa would have won in 3 heats).

2022
Men: Filipe would have won in 1 heat instead of 2.
Women: No change (Steph won in 2 heats).

2023
Men: Filipe would have won in 1 heat instead of 2.
Women: No change (Caroline won in 2 heats).

2024
Men: John would have won in 1 heat instead of 2.
Women: No change (Caity would have won in 3 heats).

Interesting to note that, for the women, world #1 has never won the first heat, nor in straight sets — though all four men who entered as world #1 did just that.

The WSL confirmed that the format shift came after discussions with Tour surfers. And while it might be too little too late (considering they’re moving away from the WSL Finals format in 2026), it feels like these changes makes sense, right?

We called a few people who know better than we do.

“You know, its funny,” says 2001 World Champ CJ Hobgood. “I actually thought that is the way the format was for the first couple Finals until someone corrected me,” he laughs. “Does it really matter at this point? I mean, it’a probably a great way to get pumping Cloudbreak — announcing you’re gonna do less heats. That’s like reverse WSL psychology on the ocean. It’s kinda comical at this point, to announce they’re going back to the old system and then still change the current rule. I think it probably should have been this way in the beginning, but to change it in the last year of the finals maybe feels a little more insulting than anything.”

Of all people who might have reason to be insulted, Carissa Moore is atop the list. She, however, took the news gracefully.

“I think this is the first I’ve heard of it,” said 5x World Champ. “I mean, I think that it makes a lot of sense. After a full season, I think it’s really great that they’re really rewarding the person going into the finals with the highest seed. I think it just gives them more of a cushion or a little bit more of an edge. It makes a lot of sense to me.”

We’ll keep you updated on anything else we discover about the rule change. In the meantime, let’s enjoy some pumping J-Bay.