It’s official. As of the Corona Open J-Bay contest conclusion we hold the best record in the industry for predicting finalists for 2022 WSL WCT events. Even if we bust in these Outerknown Tahiti Pro odds and predictions we cannot be usurped. This is analogous to the WSL Finals for September, as Filipe Toledo is essentially a lock for the No.1 spot, even if he continues to dodge barrels in Teahupoʻo. On that note, with Toledo off the table, who stands a legitimate chance at winning at the heaving beast of a left-handed reef break? In this penultimate chapter of the WCT schedule there are a number of threats from the bottom of the WSL rankings who could win. For this reason bettors need advice for the Outerknown Tahiti Pro more than any other event on the schedule. Who are the favorites, sleepers, and long shots? Let’s review.
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Betting Preview for the WSL WCT Outerknown Tahiti Pro Men’s Surfing Competition Running from August 11 to 21 2022
Where: Teahupoʻo, Tahiti, French Polynesia
When: Waiting period runs from August 11-21, 2022
Betting Lines: View WSL betting odds
Streaming Broadcast: WSL website / WSL YouTube
Sponsor: Presented by Outerknown
Online Commentary: BeachGrit
FAVORITES
Jack Robinson: 5/1 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.2
Jack Robinson is on a serious roll in the back half of the 2022 WSL WCT season, making the finals in 3 of 5 events, and winning two of them. Barrels (in either direction) are Robinson’s forte, so if Teahupoʻo turns-on it will be hard to stop the impressive momentum that the young Australian has going for this neck of the annum. If he wins, he will slide into the coveted No.1 spot for September’s WSL Finals, which adds motivation for another strong performance. That said, the more-seasoned favorites below will be nipping at his heels in Tahiti.
Kelly Slater: 5/1 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.18
Kelly Slater has more wins (five) at Teahupoʻo than any other surfer on the WSL WCT, past and present. Of course, that can be said about nearly every event since he has been on tour for well over three decades. Still, Teahupoʻo is like Pipeline for Kelly, in that he has a special relationship with the wave that won’t decay with time. He can slot himself into a bending tube to a 10-point ride better than anyone else competing in Tahiti this August. He may not make the WSL Finals this year, but he has one more big win in him before riding off into the sunset. Next to Pipe, where better than Teahupoʻo? Never bet against the GOAT at Teahupoʻo. Instead, place a smart wager on Slater for a win.
Gabriel Medina: 8/1 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.24
The 3X WCT Champion is currently sitting at the bottom of the WSL rankings after his mid-year return to the tour. He received two 3rd place finishes and a seventeenth since then. A grade 2-3 MCL injury was to blame for his absence at the recent Corona Open J-Bay, but word has it that he’ll be ready to go for Teahupoʻo. Bothersome knee or otherwise, Medina is a threat to claim his third Tahito Pro trophy after winning the event in 2014 and again in 2018. Like Slater, this favorite won’t be in the 2022 WSL Finals so he’ll be looking to make a statement for next season with a big win in Tahiti.
SLEEPERS
Seth Moniz: 10/1 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.20
Hawaii’s Seth Moniz can surf heavy left-handed barrels as well as (and often better than) anyone left on the WSL WCT this season. This makes Moniz a solid sleeper pick even though he too is coming off of an injury that caused him to miss three events in a row and fall into last place at J-Bay. A current average heat score (10.68) and average wave score (3.12) are pretty much meaningless at Teahupoʻo for this young charger. Moniz has better odds to win the Tahiti Pro than the current World No.1 (Toledo, who has zero odds) so don’t be afraid to add him to your betting ticket.
Italo Ferreira: 15/1 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.4
It has been a weird year for the 2019 World Champion. He doesn’t have a single event win thus far, which is a rarity seeing as he has racked up at least one victory per season since 2018. Despite not being able to seal the deal in any event in 2022, he sits at No.4 on the tour. Knowing that he needs a strong result to secure his Top 5 position (to make the WSL Finals) we expect Ferreira to even out his restless disposition and focus on a strong performance in Tahiti. How has Italo performed at this wave in the past? His best result at the Tahiti Pro is a 5th, which he received in 2015 and again in 2018. We’re not ready to count Italo out for a 2022 event win yet, so bet along with us and make this Brazilian your sleeper pick.
LONG SHOT
Kanoa Igarashi: 20/1 Odds
WCT Ranking: No.6
Kanoa Igarashi sits just below the Top 5 cut-line. He has just one event left to squeeze himself into position for the WSL Finals at Lower Trestles, which he could actually win. But can he get the result he needs in Tahiti to make it happen? Can he take the podium at Teahupoʻo? He absolutely can, if the conditions aren’t prime. WSL WCT events have a knack for being just under-prime, and it’s within this range that Kanoa does his best competitive surfing. His 2nd and 3rd place finishes at mediocre Pipeline (2016 and 2017) attest to this fact. Thus far this season, Igarashi has 19 heat wins and boasts an average heat score of 12.85. As far as long shots go, he’s as likely to result in a pay day as any other, so hedge your wagers accordingly.
2022 WSL OUTERKNOWN TAHITI PRO MEN’S WINNER PREDICTION
The Gabriel Medina we used to hate (and now love) returns to form just in time to conclude the 2022 WSL regular season, and wins his third Tahiti Pro title.
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