Alan Cleland & Luana Silva ready to shine in 2025 WSL CT debut
Photo 2: MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 11: Luana Silva of Brazil surfs in Heat 1 of the Opening Round at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro on April 11, 2024 at Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia. (Photo by Aaron Hughes/World Surf League)
Alan Cleland Jr. and Luana Silva are making waves even before the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) begins, with both surfers achieving historic milestones.
Cleland is set to become the first full-time Mexican surfer on the CT, while Silva returns to the Tour representing Brazil with a standout journey behind her.
For Cleland, this moment is the culmination of years of dedication.
Growing up in Boca de Pascuales, Colima, Mexico, Cleland honed his skills in some of the country’s most challenging waves.
The son of a former professional surfer, he began competing young and made his mark with a gold medal at the 2023 ISA World Surfing Games.
He also represented Mexico at the 2024 Paris Olympics and became the first Mexican surfer to win the Lexus US Open of Surfing last August.
Reflecting on that victory, Cleland said, “It’s crazy. Having such a rough start to the year, to end up coming here and getting momentum, it feels amazing.”
Now, Cleland steps into the CT, bringing pride and representation for Mexican surfing to the world stage.
Silva, born in Hawaii to Brazilian parents, has carved out her own impressive path.
Introduced to surfing at just three years old, she’s been a competitor to watch since her early teens. In 2021, she won the MEO Vissla Pro Ericeira in Portugal, and her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics added another highlight to her career.
Earlier this year, she claimed the WSL World Junior Championship title in the Philippines, becoming the first Brazilian woman to win the event.
Her return to the CT completes her story, as she strives to solidify her position among the elite surfers.
As the season kicks off, both surfers will carry the hopes of their nations and the excitement of fans eager to see history unfold