Bettylou Sakura Johnson Claims Maiden CT Victory
Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) claimed her maiden CT win today at Burleigh Heads, overcoming CT veteran Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) in the Final. Sakura Johnson came into the Gold Coast event sitting in 13th place on the rankings and in desperate need of a massive result here to move above the Mid-Season Cut line ahead of Margaret River. After back-to-back Quarterfinal finishes, the 20-year-old Hawaiian looked primed to take the next step, and it was on show from her Opening Round heat as she posted some of the highest heat totals of each round all the way to the Final, where she eventually claimed the biggest result of her career.
“This is the best feeling in the world,” Sakura Johnson said. “I’m over the moon to have my first win here on the Gold Coast. This is what winning feels like, and I want to keep winning. I’m super stoked to get this feeling, and I’m so grateful for everything. It’s taken a lot, so much hard work and a lot of patience and perseverance to put everything together. This year was a really hard year for me, dealing with injuries and a whole bunch of other things, but super happy to just pull it together.”
After only just making it through her Semifinal against 2025 CT Rookie Vahine Fierro (FRA), Johnson came out swinging, posting an 8.50 (out of a possible 10) on her first ride, then continued to post mid-range scores until ending on a two-wave total of 15.33 (out of a possible 20). Her frontside rail game was the perfect match for the fast, down-the-line walls at Burleigh. Fitzgibbons, who was in form all day, seemed to lose rhythm with the ocean, leaving Johnson to cruise to a comfortable win and rocket seven places up the rankings to No. 6 in the world.
“I really wanted to just enjoy it all,” Sakura Johnson continued. “Soak in the moment and yeah, just know that I can do it, and trust myself, in the abilities, once I get the chance to get the wave. But yeah, I’m so happy.”
Veteran Fitzgibbons Finds First Final Since 2021
Australian surfing legend and CT veteran Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) today claimed her biggest result in four years, finishing runner-up at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro. The 17-year veteran of the Tour has struggled with consistency in the last few years and comes into the Mid-season Cut this year facing potential relegation. The former Gold Coast event finalist came into this week needing to Final to give herself a chance ahead of the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, and she pulled on all of her experience throughout the event to find herself in the last heat of the competition. On her way to the Final, Fitzgibbons took down the in-form Isabella Nichols (AUS) in the Quarterfinal and the 2025 CT Rookie Erin Brooks (CAN) in the Semifinals but fell short of claiming her maiden Gold Coast CT victory.
“I wanted to get it together so bad in that Final,” Fitzgibbons said. “It’s been a fight and a grind the last few years, but I really want to be here and my deep desire is to keep surfing for this country, for all you guys, my family down here, my friends. This means the world to me, and I just want to fight for it. It was nearly the best birthday present for my dad down there, but today was Betty’s day.”
Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Women’s Final Results:
1 – Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 15.33
2 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 7.83
Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 12.33 DEF. Vahine Fierro (FRA) 7.00
HEAT 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 11.17 DEF. Erin Brooks (CAN) 9.40
Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Women’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Vahine Fierro (FRA) 12.83 DEF. Luana Silva (BRA) 10.83
HEAT 2: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 15.33 DEF. Molly Picklum (AUS) 13.37
HEAT 3: Erin Brooks (CAN) 17.76 DEF. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.27
HEAT 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.47 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 12.60
Next Stop: Western Australia Margaret River Pro
The WSL Championship Tour will next head to the Western Australia Margaret River Pro for Stop No. 7, which will hold a competition window from May 17 – 27, 2025. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com
