Poor conditions put Rio Pro surfing on hold

Competition at the Rio Pro has been called off for a further two days as World Surf League organisers await the arrival of improved swell at Praia de Itauna.

Small and inconsistent conditions means surfing in the Championship Tour's penultimate round in Brazil won't get under way until at least Wednesday (AEST).

"We woke up to a small increase in wave size, but it's still not enough," said WSL commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer.

"We're still looking at a new swell coming, so tomorrow is also off.

"We're going to continue to analyse the forecast, but we know we've got a swell coming for the back part of the window and we're going to have waves."

With one event remaining after Rio, at Fiji's Cloudbreak, surfers are looking to secure a top-five ranking to surf in the WSF Finals - a one-day winner-takes-all contest - at California's Lower Trestles in September.

There are three Australians currently inside the cut-off, with Molly Picklum ranked fourth in the women's competition.

Current world No.2 Jack Robinson is the top Australian man, while Ethan Ewing sits at four.

Two-time world champion Tyler Wright, currently ninth, faces a near-impossible battle to make the top five after withdrawing from the Rio Pro with a foot injury.

Caitlin Simmers will defend her 2023 Rio title and look to extend her lead at the top of the rankings.

The 18-year-old sits just 440 points clear of fellow American and reigning world champion Caroline Marks.

Hawaii's John John Florence has a healthy lead in the men's rankings and has already clinched his spot in the title decider.

Florence has won twice in Brazil - in 2012 and 2016 - while local star Filipe Toledo is the defending champion.

Last year, Picklum made the Rio Open quarter-finals, Robinson bowed out early, and Ewing lost the final to Toledo.