Galley: Behind the Scenes at Cloudbreak for the Last WSL Finals

Originally posted on SURFER | By August Howell | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 5:47 PM ET

The ride out to Cloudbreak was calm. Barely a flatulence of wind. Sun shining. A few latte clouds lingered over Tavarua across the horizon of the South Pacific.

“Are we on?” The boat wondered. We had to be. After seven days of waiting for Cloudbreak to show some substantial surf, Tuesday was the best option for the 2025 WSL Finals. The swell crept in, going from shoulder-high in the morning to well overhead in the afternoon. As the swell grew, so did the energy in the armada gathered in the channel. It was a full-on water world, a kind of real-life bumper boats. Chants of Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi" from the Australians and vuvuzela horns from the Brazilians added to the stadium-like atmosphere.

Ten heats later, two new world champions were named. Both No. 1 seeds came out on top. Yago Dora went one and done, while Molly Picklum had to do it in three heats. You can read our full coverage of their crowning achievements here. The gallery below is a selection of photos that caught our eye yesterday in Fiji. It was dramatic, to say the least. A fitting end to the 2025 Championship Tour season, and the last iteration of the WSL Finals.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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