Macy Callaghan, Kauli Vaast, Bronson Meydi, and Mateus Herdy will compete in the inaugural Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, the first Championship Tour (CT) event in the UAE, set to take place on February 14. This event marks the next stop on the fast-paced 2025 Championship Tour, following closely after the Pipe Pro, which concluded just days before.
The Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, located on Hudayriyat Island, will feature cutting-edge wave technology from the Kelly Slater Wave Company. The event will be a pivotal moment for some of the sport’s rising stars, with four wildcards and injury replacements announced on Monday.
Macy Callaghan, Kauli Vaast, and Bronson Meydi secured their wildcard spots, while Mateus Herdy steps in as an injury replacement. Gabriel Medina and Crosby Colapinto, both recovering from injuries, will be replaced by Ian Gentil and Herdy, respectively.
A Diverse Group of Wildcards
The four wildcard surfers bring diverse experiences to the competition. Kauli Vaast, the 2024 Olympic gold medalist, is no stranger to high-level surfing. He won the Olympic surfing event at Teahupo’o, a venue he’s familiar with from past CT events. However, this will be Vaast’s first experience surfing the wave pool at Abu Dhabi.
“This wildcard spot means a lot to me,” said Vaast. “My goal with the Challenger Series this year is to qualify for the CT, and this is a crucial step toward that. Although I’ve never surfed here before, I’m excited to experience the wave and gain more knowledge of this technology, which will be used in future contests.”
Bronson Meydi enters the CT with momentum, having made history as the first Indonesian surfer to win a WSL World Junior Championship last month. Known for his explosive aerial maneuvers, Meydi’s challenge will be adapting his skills to a controlled, wave pool environment.
“Getting this wildcard means so much to me,” said Meydi. “It will be my first CT event, and I’m eager to face the world’s best at the wave pool. I’ve surfed here before, and I’m excited to return and learn from the best.”
Macy Callaghan, a 24-year-old from Avoca Beach, Australia, has a strong track record on the women’s CT, having competed full-time from 2018 to 2021. Although she missed the cut in 2023, her wildcard entry into the event is a significant opportunity. Callaghan qualified for the event after a stellar performance on the Challenger Series, where she won the Saquarema Pro, the season’s final event.
Mateus Herdy, the 24-year-old Brazilian, has competed in four previous CT events, with his best finish being a semifinal appearance in 2021. This marks Herdy’s fifth CT appearance, and he is eager to make a strong impact at Abu Dhabi. With his versatile skill set and impressive air game, Herdy has the potential to be a serious contender.
Women’s and Men’s Qualifying Round Matchups
The qualifying rounds for both the women’s and men’s events are stacked with talent. The matchups are as follows:
Women’s Qualifying Round Matchups:
- Heat 1: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Bella Kenworthy (USA)
- Heat 2: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Luana Silva (BRA)
- Heat 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS)
- Heat 4: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Vahine Fierro (FRA)
- Heat 5: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
- Heat 6: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN)
Men’s Qualifying Round Matchups:
- Heat 1: Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Connor O’Leary (JPN) vs. Edgard Groggia (BRA)
- Heat 2: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Jackson Bunch (HAW)
- Heat 3: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. George Pittar (AUS) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW)
- Heat 4: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) vs. Mateus Herdy (BRA)
- Heat 5: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW) vs. Kauli Vaast (BRA)
- Heat 6: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Joel Vaughan (AUS) vs. Bronson Meydi (INA)
- Heat 7: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)
- Heat 8: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)
- Heat 9: Rio Waida (INA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
- Heat 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Ian Gouveia (BRA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA)
- Heat 11: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Alan Cleland (MEX)
- Heat 12: Joao Chianca (BRA) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS)
The Surf Abu Dhabi Pro promises to be an exciting and unpredictable event, with the mix of wildcards, injury replacements, and established CT stars ready to face off on the innovative wave technology. Fans can expect thrilling performances as surfers adapt to the new environment and compete for crucial points in the Championship Tour.
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