Just as quickly as the 2023 Billabong Pro Pipeline concluded, the WSL World Championship Tour peddled down Ke Nui Road towards Sunset Beach for the Hurley Pro. Pipeline favorites such as Kelly Slater and Italo Farreira fell early in the first event of the season, which makes the impending mid-year cut a very real threat. Furthermore, WSL fantasy hopes have already crumbled, with approximately 62% of “Surfival League” players out of the mix as we enter stop No.2 on the WCT. As a result, interest is higher than ever for Sunset Beach. For this reason nearly every sportsbook affiliate out there is weighing in with Hurley Pro Sunset Beach predictions, picks, and odds. The problem, as these sites don’t know a damn thing about professional surfing, beyond the odds that they find posted with their sportsbook/casino partners. And what does Vegas know about surfing? Nothing.
The goods news, is that you’ve arrived at the only trusted resource for WSL betting odds. Although this time, we have waited until the opening non-elimination round to name the favorites, sleepers, and long shots for the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach. Make your wagers accordingly.
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Betting Preview for the WSL WCT Hurley Pro Sunset Beach Men’s Surfing Competition Running from February 11-23 2023
Where: Sunset Beach Park, Oahu
When: Waiting period runs from February 11-23, 2022
Betting Lines: View WSL betting odds
Streaming Broadcast: WSL website / WSL YouTube
Online Commentary: BeachGrit
Surfing Podcast for Post-Event Recap: SurfSplendor
FAVORITES
John John Florence: 4/6 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.5
John John Florence jumped from the No.11 spot to the No.5 position on the WCT after coming in fifth at the Billabong Pro Pipeline. Even though he didn’t win, he notched the top two waves of the event with near-perfect scores in far from perfect Pipe conditions. He was actually robbed by being scored a 9.93 in an unmakable backdoor chandelier that only he could navigate through. While the locomotive rights at Sunset rarely offer barrels, JJF’s powerful and unmatched gouges are perfectly suited to the wave when it’s firing. Conditions look good for Thursday February 16th, and there’s another projected bump in the swell with favorable winds towards the end of the contest period. The table is set for a JJF victory.
Jack Robinson: 4/6 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.1
Jack Robinson is riding high after winning the 2023 Billabong Pro Pipeline and remains to be a consistent favorite at Sunset Beach. The wave is well-suited for the rising Australian who manhandles interchangeable conditions in Western Oz. Robinson came in 5th in the 2022 Hurley Pro, and made the Finals twice at the same North Shore break back in 2019 when he came in second at the Sunset Pro, followed by a win here when it was known as the VANS World Cup. That win, secured his position on the WSL WCT, which makes it a special place for Robinson to compete in. If you tend to bet on emotion, put some money on Jack to take another crown at the home of the leaning palm.
Filipe Toledo: 5/1 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.5
The defending WCT World Champion had a better than expected result at the Billabong Pro Pipeline last week, coming in 5th to on-fire fellow countryman Joao Chianca. Sunset Beach is accommodating to Toledo’s updated rail game which is almost as strong as John John Florence’s, which positions the Brazilian as a strong favorite to win before the Tour heads to Portugal in March. He won his Opening Round heat on Monday against Liam O’Brien and Kai Lenny with an 8-point and 5-point ride for a total of 13-points.
Barron Mamiya: 8/1 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.17
Barron Mamiya won the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach last year as a wild card, which shot him up the WCT rankings and secured his position on the Tour. Like with Robinson, this wave has a special place in his heart. Plus the Hawaiian considers Sunset to be one of his local breaks. Furthermore, Mamiya made it through the opening round of the 2023 Hurley Pro (yesterday, at press) by defeating an in-form Caio Ibelli along with friend and fellow Sunset-specialist Ezekial Lau. Barron could very well take back-to-back WCT titles at Sunset Beach.
SLEEPERS
Ethan Ewing: 10/1 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.17
It’s an odd thing to place Ethen Ewing anywhere on this list of Hurley Pro Sunset Beach picks. He could reasonably be considered a favorite by some, a long shot by critics, and a sleeper by yours truly. We may even catch some flack for this, especially after he notched a 9-point ride in his opening round on Monday against Carlos Munoz and Nat Young. The powerful 5’11” regular footer is built to surf Sunset Beach, and his 3rd place finishes here in 2022 and 2019 (VANS World Cup) are a testament to this fact. We feel that the verdict is out on the young Australian, but he could quiet our concerns for good with a podium showing this coming week.
Ezekial Lau: 15/1 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.17
If there is one wave in the world Ezekial Lau excels best at, it’s Sunset Beach. He came in 5th at the Hurley Pro in 2022, and won the event when it was the VANS World Cup in 2018 and 2013. He would have won it in 2019 as well, but he lost due to an uncalled (but clear) interference by eventual winner Jack Robinson. There was a time we would have deemed Zeke to be a favorite to win the Hurley Pro, but the statuesque Hawaiian has been a bit shaky and inconsistent through his career. That being said, he will always be a threat to win any event at Sunset Beach.
LONG SHOT
Kelly Slater: 20/1 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.17
The most celebrated professional surfer in the world has a tumultuous relationship with Sunset Beach. It’s his achilles heel – the Joe Dumars to his Michael Jordan. Last season offered more of the same as Slater came in 17th at the 2022 Hurley Pro, although he did make the Quarterfinals here in 2016 when it was the VANS World Cup. Bowing out early at the 2023 Billabong Pro Pipeline may light a fire under Slater because he needs a great result to avoid the lethal midyear cut to come. He showed signs of exactly that as he won his opening round heat on Monday against Miguel Pupo and Maxime Huscenot. It seems like it’s been awhile since Kelly made it through the non-elimination round at Sunset, so we may be witnessing something special in the works. Buffer your Hurley Pro bet by making Slater your long-shot pick.
2023 WSL HURLEY PRO SUNSET BEACH MEN’S WINNER PREDICTION
Who are we kidding? John John Florence will shoot up to the WCT World No.1 spot by winning the 2023 Hurley Pro Sunset Beach. Bet on it!
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