The KwaZulu-Natal North coast trades dolphin watching for world-class surfing this week as the Challenger Series comes to town. Matthew McGillivray steals the headlines as he tops the WSL Ballito Pro pre-event odds, 680 miles up the coast from where he learned to surf. Sally Fitzgibbons leads the women’s charge coming off two finals in recent events. Here is your analysis for the latest WSL showdown.
Go beyond just supporting the WSL Ballito Pro – check out our partner sportsbooks to get valuable promotions and place your WSL bets. Whether you are backing your favorite surfer or looking for an underdog, our partners offer competitive odds, special playing boosts, and promos designed for surfing fans.
The Ballito Pro drops in for the business end of affairs on Tuesday, July 1st, when the heavy hitters paddle out. Follow the daily on WSL.com, and keep informed about the latest odds and analysis on NXTbets.
2025 WSL Ballito Pro Odds
Event Winner – Men’s
South African Matthew McGillivray experienced the agony of being chopped from the Championship Tour after Margaret River, but that’s behind him. He now paddles out on familiar Indian Ocean water as the favourite to prevail in Ballito. McGillivray struggled with inconsistency in the early part of the year, but progressed to the final in El Salvador, before losing out to compatriot Jordy Smith. The local is likely to face resistance from impressive Aussie Jacob Willcox. He defeated McGillivray in the semifinals of the Newcastle Surfest before going on to win the event.
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Surfer
Odds
Payout on $20
Matthew McGillivray
+414
$102.80
Jacob Willcox
+646
$149.20
Ryan Callinan
+754
$170.80
Liam O'Brien
+836
$187.20
Ian Gouveia
+868
$193.60
Kauli Vaast
+1022
$224.40
Morgan Cibilic
+1098
$239.60
George Pittar
+1490
$318.00
Samuel Pupo
+1657
$351.40
Deivid Silva
+2247
$469.40
Ian Gentil
+2525
$525.00
Imaikalani deVault
+2782
$576.40
Levi Slawson
+2867
$593.40
Jackson Bunch
+2949
$609.80
Nolan Rapoza
+2977
$615.40
Jordan Lawler
+3290
$678.00
Callum Robson
+3348
$689.60
Michael Rodrigues
+3360
$692.00
Jackson Baker
+3510
$722.00
Edgard Groggia
+3868
$793.60
Mateus Herdy
+4708
$961.60
Luke Thompson
+4778
$975.60
Winter Vincent
+5136
$1047.20
Eli Hanneman
+5163
$1052.60
Frederico Morais
+5364
$1092.80
Xavier Huxtable
+5888
$1197.60
Carlos Munoz
+6436
$1307.20
Mikey McDonagh
+6436
$1307.20
Jadson Andre
+6942
$1408.40
Kade Matson
+7476
$1515.20
Adin Masencamp
+12721
$2564.20
Josh Kerr
+18768
$3773.60
Maxime Huscenot
+18768
$3773.60
Hiroto Ohhara
+18768
$3773.60
Billy Stairmand
+18768
$3773.60
Charly Quivront
+18768
$3773.60
Jorgann Couzinet
+18768
$3773.60
Lucas Silveira
+18768
$3773.60
Igor Moraes
+18768
$3773.60
Keijiro Nishi
+18768
$3773.60
Lucca Mesinas
+18768
$3773.60
Finn McGill
+18768
$3773.60
Kyuss King
+18768
$3773.60
Riaru Ito
+18768
$3773.60
Jett Schilling
+18768
$3773.60
Ryan Huckabee
+18768
$3773.60
Luke Swanson
+18768
$3773.60
Adur Amatriain
+18768
$3773.60
Lucas Vicente
+18768
$3773.60
Shohei Kato
+18768
$3773.60
Taro Watanabe
+18768
$3773.60
Yago Dominguez
+18768
$3773.60
Dimitri Poulos
+18768
$3773.60
Jarvis Earle
+18768
$3773.60
Franco Radziunas
+18768
$3773.60
Shion Crawford
+18768
$3773.60
Oscar Berry
+18768
$3773.60
Keoni Lasa
+18768
$3773.60
Bronson Meydi
+18768
$3773.60
Oliver Zietz
+18768
$3773.60
Peterson Crisanto
+18768
$3773.60
Luc Lepront
+18768
$3773.60
Dylan Moffat
+18768
$3773.60
Men’s Top 64 Heats Odds
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Heats
Moneyline
Payout on $20
Michael Rodrigues
+133
$46.60
Luke Thompson
+151
$50.20
Dimitri Poulos
+584
$136.80
Ryan Huckabee
+584
$136.80
Levi Slawson
+156
$51.20
Frederico Morais
+243
$68.60
Mateus Herdy
+248
$69.60
Finn McGill
+565
$133.00
Samuel Pupo
+120
$44.00
Jackson Baker
+281
$76.20
Carlos Munoz
+297
$79.40
Luke Swanson
+562
$132.40
Imaikalani deVault
-129
$35.50
Keijiro Nishi
+295
$79.00
Shion Crawford
+551
$130.20
Billy Stairmand
+565
$133.00
Ian Gentil
+126
$45.20
Deivid Silva
+160
$52.00
Lucas Vicente
+582
$136.40
Oliver Zietz
+582
$136.40
Morgan Cibilic
-127
$35.75
Adin Masencamp
+301
$80.20
Peterson Crisanto
+543
$128.60
Hiroto Ohhara
+544
$128.80
Matthew McGillivray
-197
$30.15
Xavier Huxtable
+488
$117.60
Luc Lepront
+596
$139.20
Oscar Berry
+597
$139.40
Liam O'Brien
+135
$47.00
Kauli Vaast
+150
$50.00
Jett Schilling
+580
$136.00
Maxime Huscenot
+580
$136.00
Jordan Lawler
+138
$47.60
Callum Robson
+141
$48.20
Adur Amatriain
+605
$141.00
Keoni Lasa
+605
$141.00
Ryan Callinan
-110
$38.18
Jadson Andre
+344
$88.80
Kade Matson
+361
$92.20
Jorgann Couzinet
+552
$130.40
Jacob Willcox
-118
$36.95
Nolan Rapoza
+241
$68.20
Kyuss King
+599
$139.80
Shohei Kato
+599
$139.80
Ian Gouveia
-218
$29.17
Charly Quivront
+591
$138.20
Josh Kerr
+591
$138.20
Lucas Silveira
+591
$138.20
Edgard Groggia
-116
$37.24
Jarvis Earle
+301
$80.20
Dylan Moffat
+479
$115.80
Bronson Meydi
+522
$124.40
Winter Vincent
+120
$44.00
Mikey McDonagh
+158
$51.60
Franco Radziunas
+619
$143.80
Igor Moraes
+619
$143.80
George Pittar
-192
$30.42
Taro Watanabe
+492
$118.40
Lucca Mesinas
+580
$136.00
Yago Dominguez
+580
$136.00
Event Winner – Women’s
Sally Fitzgibbons endured a tough start to the season, failing to progress beyond the round of 16 in five of her first seven events. Her luck is changing if her last three events are anything to judge by, making the final twice in that period. Her first final of the year came at the Gold Coast Pro, and she arrives in South Africa fresh off a finals appearance in her World Challenger Series opener. Yolanda Hopkins starts as the second favorite after a quarterfinal appearance in New South Wales, but she’s had very little world-class surf competition this year compared to Fitzgibbons and Nadia Erostarbe.
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Surfer
Odds
Payout on $20
Sally Fitzgibbons
+368
$93.60
Yolanda Hopkins
+497
$119.40
Ellie Harrison
+697
$159.40
Nadia Erostarbe
+718
$163.60
Macy Callaghan
+738
$167.60
Teresa Bonvalot
+743
$168.60
Sophia Medina
+968
$213.60
Francisca Veselko
+1235
$267.00
Alyssa Spencer
+1277
$275.40
Tessa Thyssen
+1291
$278.20
Kirra Pinkerton
+1397
$299.40
Sarah Baum
+1411
$302.20
Sierra Kerr
+1941
$408.20
India Robinson
+2287
$477.40
Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri
+2824
$584.80
Keala Tomoda-Bannert
+2867
$593.40
Leilani McGonagle
+3916
$803.20
Amuro Tsuzuki
+4267
$873.40
Noah Klapp
+4425
$905.00
Minami Nonaka
+4951
$1010.20
Eweleiula Wong
+5395
$1099.00
Laura Raupp
+7307
$1481.40
Anat Lelior
+8672
$1754.40
Arena Rodriguez
+8672
$1754.40
Nanaho Tsuzuki
+8672
$1754.40
Sol Aguirre
+8672
$1754.40
Talia Swindal
+8672
$1754.40
Women’s Top 32 Heats Odds
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Heats
Moneyline
Payout on $20
Teresa Bonvalot
+111
$42.20
Sierra Kerr
+270
$74.00
India Robinson
+352
$90.40
Nanaho Tsuzuki
+547
$129.40
Kirra Pinkerton
+115
$43.00
Amuro Tsuzuki
+261
$72.20
Eweleiula Wong
+381
$96.20
Talia Swindal
+490
$118.00
Francisca Veselko
+140
$48.00
Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri
+236
$67.20
Minami Nonaka
+316
$83.20
Laura Raupp
+507
$121.40
Where to Bet on WSL
Round two of the World Challenger Series is ready for duty in KwaZulu-Natal. Can local favorite Matthew McGillivray live up to bettors’ expectations and grab victory for the Rainbow Nation? Will Sally Fitzgibbons continue her impressive run of finals and enter her third in four events in Ballito?
How Can I Verify if WSL Betting is Legal in My State?
Refer to your sportsbook’s eligibility requirements, terms, and conditions, or contact your state’s gaming commission to verify your state’s WSL betting legality. Most licensed betting platforms restrict access in prohibited states, saving you from the long confirmation process.
Which Sportsbooks Offer WSL Betting?
For the best WSL betting experience, select reputable, regulated sportsbooks like Fanduel, DraftKings, CaesarsSportsbook, and BetMGM. Check event schedules and relevant offers ahead of every WSL competition. Use Underdog Fantasy for Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) gaming.
What is the Current Legal Status of Betting on the World Surf League in the US?
The legal status of WSL betting differs from state to state. The lifting of the federal sports betting ban in 2018 (by the Supreme Court) gave states the independence to legalize sports betting. WSL betting is mostly legal in states with regulated sports betting and licensed sportsbooks like Colorado and New Jersey. Check your sportsbooks and state-specific regulations to confirm availability.
What Are the Most Popular Types of Bets for WSL Events?
Common WSL betting options include outright winner bets, head-to-head matchups, and futures bets (predicting season champions). Most platforms also allow prop bets—for example, you can predict the highest wave score in a competition.
Do Sportsbooks Offer Live Betting for WSL?
Yes. Betting platforms like FanDuel and BetMGM have live betting options. Their users can place bets during the WSL competition. For example, bettors can predict the next wave score, who will win the ongoing heat, or whether a competitor will achieve a given aggregate. Note that not all events may qualify for live betting. Check out your sportsbook live betting section for more.
Can I Bet on WSL Events Even If My State Doesn’t Allow Sports Betting?
Consider Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) if your state does not allow sports betting. Unlike traditional betting, DFS falls under a different regulatory framework, making it legal in several jurisdictions. DFS platforms like Underground Fantasy and DraftKings DFS are common in states where sports betting is illegal.
Please refer to Affiliated Operators’ T&C. Void where prohibited. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
The waves were firing and the world’s best delivered an electrifying display of high-performance surfing at the WSL El Salvador Pro. Hawaii’s John John Florence clinched a long-awaited victory, solidifying his spot atop the rankings and securing a place in the WSL Finals. On the women’s side, Caroline Marks continued her sizzling form, notching back-to-back …
Two tournaments remain until the 2025 Playoffs. Gannon Buhr and Holyn Handley have put daylight between themselves and their MPO and FPO peers, respectively, and have no cause for concern. The duo touch down in Kentucky as the favorites in the DGPT LWS Open at Idlewild pre-event odds. Buhr tees off fresh off his fifth …
The International Surfing Association announced an IOC‑approved LA 2028 surfing qualification system that sharply reduces automatic World Surf League Championship Tour Olympic spots. The move drew formal rejection from the WSL and World Professional Surfers, the surfers’ representative group. WSL CEO Ryan Crosby said the WSL had not been properly consulted, accusing the ISA of canceling meetings, ignoring emails, and pursuing back‑channel discussions. Championship Tour surfers publicly protested, and leading competitors, including reigning world champion Yago Dora, Filipe Toledo, Caity Simmers, and Lakey Peterson, called the changes unfair and urged a return to a system that guarantees top‑ranked competitors qualify.
The ISA’s updated proposal would shrink the CT pathway. One report says available CT places would fall from 10 men and 8 women under prior arrangements to five men and five women. It proposes to determine CT‑based Olympic qualifiers using results from the first four to five events of the 2028 CT season with a June 15, 2028, cutoff, instead of relying on full 2027 season rankings.
Under the ISA framework, the overall qualification table allocates 48 athlete places (24 men, 24 women). The plan reserves ten athlete places from the 2028 WSL Championship Tour (top five per gender, capped at one per nation) and ten places from the 2028 ISA World Surfing Games; continental slots would be earned via the 2026 Asian Games, the 2027 Pan American Games, and the 2027 European Championship. Africa and Oceania slots would be awarded via the 2027 ISA World Surfing Games with a top‑25 requirement, and team slots would be allocated via the 2026 and 2027 ISA World Surfing Games. The proposal also reserves one host‑nation slot per gender for the United States and one universality slot per gender, which requires a top‑40 finish at the 2027 or 2028 ISA World Surfing Games. Lower Trestles near San Clemente, California, has been named as the site for the LA 2028 competition. Reports vary on the national quota, but one source describes a maximum of three athletes per gender per National Olympic Committee. However, other reporting says the updated rules cut per‑country Olympic quotas from two athletes to one. ISA president Fernando Aguerre defended the framework as fair and aligned with IOC objectives. The announcement highlights an ongoing governance conflict between the sport’s global federation and the professional tour over Olympic access for elite surfers.
Best Bets: 2023 PBR Team Series Championship – Champion Futures Odds The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Team Series 2023 season is off to an exhilarating start, with top-tier bull riders from around the world competing for the prestigious championship title. As we advance through the series, it’s time to take a glance at the futures …
Best Bets: WSL Ballito Pro Pre-Event Odds Analysis 2025
The KwaZulu-Natal North coast trades dolphin watching for world-class surfing this week as the Challenger Series comes to town. Matthew McGillivray steals the headlines as he tops the WSL Ballito Pro pre-event odds, 680 miles up the coast from where he learned to surf. Sally Fitzgibbons leads the women’s charge coming off two finals in recent events. Here is your analysis for the latest WSL showdown.
Go beyond just supporting the WSL Ballito Pro – check out our partner sportsbooks to get valuable promotions and place your WSL bets. Whether you are backing your favorite surfer or looking for an underdog, our partners offer competitive odds, special playing boosts, and promos designed for surfing fans.
Schedule and How to Watch WSL Ballito Pro
The Ballito Pro drops in for the business end of affairs on Tuesday, July 1st, when the heavy hitters paddle out. Follow the daily on WSL.com, and keep informed about the latest odds and analysis on NXTbets.
2025 WSL Ballito Pro Odds
Event Winner – Men’s
South African Matthew McGillivray experienced the agony of being chopped from the Championship Tour after Margaret River, but that’s behind him. He now paddles out on familiar Indian Ocean water as the favourite to prevail in Ballito. McGillivray struggled with inconsistency in the early part of the year, but progressed to the final in El Salvador, before losing out to compatriot Jordy Smith. The local is likely to face resistance from impressive Aussie Jacob Willcox. He defeated McGillivray in the semifinals of the Newcastle Surfest before going on to win the event.
swipe to see more
Men’s Top 64 Heats Odds
swipe to see more
Event Winner – Women’s
Sally Fitzgibbons endured a tough start to the season, failing to progress beyond the round of 16 in five of her first seven events. Her luck is changing if her last three events are anything to judge by, making the final twice in that period. Her first final of the year came at the Gold Coast Pro, and she arrives in South Africa fresh off a finals appearance in her World Challenger Series opener. Yolanda Hopkins starts as the second favorite after a quarterfinal appearance in New South Wales, but she’s had very little world-class surf competition this year compared to Fitzgibbons and Nadia Erostarbe.
swipe to see more
Women’s Top 32 Heats Odds
swipe to see more
Where to Bet on WSL
Round two of the World Challenger Series is ready for duty in KwaZulu-Natal. Can local favorite Matthew McGillivray live up to bettors’ expectations and grab victory for the Rainbow Nation? Will Sally Fitzgibbons continue her impressive run of finals and enter her third in four events in Ballito?
Place your bets with our partner sportsbooks and check out our WSL Betting Guide if you’re new to the tour.
And remember, bet smart, have fun, and enjoy every wave.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Refer to your sportsbook’s eligibility requirements, terms, and conditions, or contact your state’s gaming commission to verify your state’s WSL betting legality. Most licensed betting platforms restrict access in prohibited states, saving you from the long confirmation process.
For the best WSL betting experience, select reputable, regulated sportsbooks like Fanduel, DraftKings, Caesars Sportsbook, and BetMGM. Check event schedules and relevant offers ahead of every WSL competition. Use Underdog Fantasy for Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) gaming.
The legal status of WSL betting differs from state to state. The lifting of the federal sports betting ban in 2018 (by the Supreme Court) gave states the independence to legalize sports betting. WSL betting is mostly legal in states with regulated sports betting and licensed sportsbooks like Colorado and New Jersey. Check your sportsbooks and state-specific regulations to confirm availability.
Common WSL betting options include outright winner bets, head-to-head matchups, and futures bets (predicting season champions). Most platforms also allow prop bets—for example, you can predict the highest wave score in a competition.
Yes. Betting platforms like FanDuel and BetMGM have live betting options. Their users can place bets during the WSL competition. For example, bettors can predict the next wave score, who will win the ongoing heat, or whether a competitor will achieve a given aggregate. Note that not all events may qualify for live betting. Check out your sportsbook live betting section for more.
Consider Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) if your state does not allow sports betting. Unlike traditional betting, DFS falls under a different regulatory framework, making it legal in several jurisdictions. DFS platforms like Underground Fantasy and DraftKings DFS are common in states where sports betting is illegal.
Please refer to Affiliated Operators’ T&C. Void where prohibited. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
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The waves were firing and the world’s best delivered an electrifying display of high-performance surfing at the WSL El Salvador Pro. Hawaii’s John John Florence clinched a long-awaited victory, solidifying his spot atop the rankings and securing a place in the WSL Finals. On the women’s side, Caroline Marks continued her sizzling form, notching back-to-back …
Best Bets: 2025 DGPT LWS Open at Idlewild Pre-Event Odds Analysis
Two tournaments remain until the 2025 Playoffs. Gannon Buhr and Holyn Handley have put daylight between themselves and their MPO and FPO peers, respectively, and have no cause for concern. The duo touch down in Kentucky as the favorites in the DGPT LWS Open at Idlewild pre-event odds. Buhr tees off fresh off his fifth …
ISA cuts CT Olympic spots to five per gender for LA 2028
The International Surfing Association announced an IOC‑approved LA 2028 surfing qualification system that sharply reduces automatic World Surf League Championship Tour Olympic spots. The move drew formal rejection from the WSL and World Professional Surfers, the surfers’ representative group. WSL CEO Ryan Crosby said the WSL had not been properly consulted, accusing the ISA of canceling meetings, ignoring emails, and pursuing back‑channel discussions. Championship Tour surfers publicly protested, and leading competitors, including reigning world champion Yago Dora, Filipe Toledo, Caity Simmers, and Lakey Peterson, called the changes unfair and urged a return to a system that guarantees top‑ranked competitors qualify.
The ISA’s updated proposal would shrink the CT pathway. One report says available CT places would fall from 10 men and 8 women under prior arrangements to five men and five women. It proposes to determine CT‑based Olympic qualifiers using results from the first four to five events of the 2028 CT season with a June 15, 2028, cutoff, instead of relying on full 2027 season rankings.
Under the ISA framework, the overall qualification table allocates 48 athlete places (24 men, 24 women). The plan reserves ten athlete places from the 2028 WSL Championship Tour (top five per gender, capped at one per nation) and ten places from the 2028 ISA World Surfing Games; continental slots would be earned via the 2026 Asian Games, the 2027 Pan American Games, and the 2027 European Championship. Africa and Oceania slots would be awarded via the 2027 ISA World Surfing Games with a top‑25 requirement, and team slots would be allocated via the 2026 and 2027 ISA World Surfing Games. The proposal also reserves one host‑nation slot per gender for the United States and one universality slot per gender, which requires a top‑40 finish at the 2027 or 2028 ISA World Surfing Games. Lower Trestles near San Clemente, California, has been named as the site for the LA 2028 competition. Reports vary on the national quota, but one source describes a maximum of three athletes per gender per National Olympic Committee. However, other reporting says the updated rules cut per‑country Olympic quotas from two athletes to one. ISA president Fernando Aguerre defended the framework as fair and aligned with IOC objectives. The announcement highlights an ongoing governance conflict between the sport’s global federation and the professional tour over Olympic access for elite surfers.
Best Bets: 2023 PBR Team Series Championship – Champion Futures Odds Analysis
Best Bets: 2023 PBR Team Series Championship – Champion Futures Odds The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Team Series 2023 season is off to an exhilarating start, with top-tier bull riders from around the world competing for the prestigious championship title. As we advance through the series, it’s time to take a glance at the futures …