Crosby Colapinto Suffers Injury At Backdoor, Will Miss Early 2025 CT Events

Another year, another surfer injured on the eve of the Pipe CT.

We’ve already discussed Gab Medina’s shoulder-tug in Maresias last week, which opened up a wildcard can-of-worms that’s yet to be cleaned up by the WSL.

We’ve also covered the very real possibility of John Florence skipping 2025, but not before putting on a masterclass at Pipe. Perhaps a mic-drop moment?

Today, we’re saddened to report that the 2024 Rookie of the Year, Crosby Colapinto, has injured himself at Backdoor while practicing for the 2025 Pipe Pro.

A 2022 Vans Triple Crown (Pipeline) champion — on the weight of two Backdoor megabombs — Crosby pulled into a particularly dry righthander a couple days back, came up short of the exit, and went down elbow-first into the reef. According to sources on the ground, it could leave Crosby on the sidelines for a significant portion of the 2025 season.

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“I was just surfing Backdoor two mornings ago after the Shootout,” says Crosby. “It was peaky and I was getting in a rhythm, but then I went on one that closed out on the shallow part of the reef. I jumped off, and landed where the lip was. I pretty much jumped directly to reef, didn’t touch any water, and hit my elbow. Luckily it wasn’t worse honestly, glad I didn’t hit my knee or my head.”

“Once the adrenaline started to wear off on the beach, I started to feel pretty lightheaded and that’s when I knew it was worse than a bruise.”

Crosby is now back in California awaiting scans that will reveal the extent of the injury, plus what next steps are required.

“I have a fracture in my elbow,” says Cros. “Basically a broken elbow, a little chunk out. It’s a clean break though. I’m gonna get surgery on Wednesday with Dr. Kramer. He was saying it should be about 6-8 weeks, so it’s not too bad. I’m gonna shoot for 6. I think I could possibly be back for Portugal.”

For now, we’re just wishing Crosby the best.

And, not that the WSL has any reason to heed our advice, but should Crosby miss the first several events of the 2025 season, as ROTY he should be a shoo-in for a wildcard spot in 2026, alongside 3x World Champ Gabe Medina.

Also, after Al Cleland — who we’ve already predicted will get a CT spot in 2025 — it’s worth noting that Stab High/way star Mateus Herdy is next in line on the 2024 CS rankings. Wouldn’t hate to see him get a proper run on the 2025 CT either.