With the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour season set to begin next week at the Pipe Pro, reigning world champion John John Florence announced he will take a competitive pause this year, focusing on fatherhood and personal projects before returning in 2026. The three-time world champion’s departure, combined with five-time women’s champion Carissa Moore’s retirement, signals a changing of the guard in Hawaii’s elite surfing ranks. Their absence creates an opportunity for the next generation of Hawaii surfers to make their mark on the global stage. According to WSL commentator and Punahou graduate Joe Turpel, Hawaii’s up-and-coming surfers are ready to step into the spotlight. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rob DeMello KHON (@robdemello) “It’s a time for the new names—surfers who have looked up to John and Carissa their whole lives—to make a name for themselves,” Turpel said. “They have a lot of gratitude for those two legends and world champions, and now that they’ve moved on—Carissa growing her family and John enjoying fatherhood—it’s their time.” Turpel added that while Florence and Moore’s absence is bittersweet, it presents a major opportunity. 'This really opens up the spotlight for the next generation to take the torch and run with it' - With world champs John John Florence & Carissa Moore not on WSL championship tour, 2025 provides opportunity for next wave of Hawaii surfers https://t.co/jlFjzsQsb9 #WSL #WSLHawaii… pic.twitter.com/r5s2VgcNvr— Rob DeMello (@RobDeMelloKHON) January 23, 2025 “It’s time to win some events. Even though we will miss those heroes, those legends of our sport, this really opens up the spotlight for the next generation to take the torch and run with it.” A total of seven surfers will represent Hawaii in the 2025 Championship Tour season, competing against the world’s best. Men’s Surfers:       •     Jackson Bunch       •     Imaikalani deVault       •     Ian Gentil       •     Barron Mamiya       •     Seth Moniz Women’s Surfers:       •     Gabriela Bryan       •     Bettylou Sakura Johnson While several surfers from Hawaii will also compete on the tour, they will represent other nations:       •     Tatiana Weston-Webb (Kauai) – Surfing for Brazil       •     Brisa Hennessy (Oahu) – Surfing for Costa Rica       •     Luana Silva (Oahu) – Surfing for Brazil The competition window for the season-opening Pipe Pro begins Monday at Banzai Pipeline, where Hawaii’s new wave of talent will have its first chance to shine.Stay with KHON2 Sports for continuing coverage of Hawaii’s 2025 WSL Championship Tour season.