The 2026 World Surf League Championship Tour is three stops in and already delivering the storylines that make competitive surfing unmissable. Stephanie Gilmore just reminded everyone why she is the greatest female surfer of all time. Gabriel Medina is back on top. And the tour is heading to one of the world's most iconic left-hand point breaks.
Gilmore Rewrites History at Snapper Rocks
Stephanie Gilmore won the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro at Snapper Rocks — her 34th Championship Tour event win, extending her own all-time record. It was also her seventh Gold Coast Pro title, on the wave she grew up surfing on Queensland's southern tip.
What makes this win remarkable is the context. Gilmore came into the event ranked last on tour after a slow start to the season. She left ranked seventh, having surfed through the entire draw with the kind of precision and power that has defined her two-decade career. At 38, she is surfing as well as ever.
Ewing's Homecoming
Ethan Ewing took the men's title at Snapper Rocks — his third Championship Tour victory and a homecoming win for the 27-year-old from North Stradbroke Island. Ewing's previous wins came at Jeffreys Bay (2022) and Bells Beach (2023), both right-hand point breaks. His performance at Snapper confirmed what the tour already knew: when the waves are long and mechanical, Ewing is one of the most dangerous surfers in the world.
Connor O'Leary (JPN) and Luana Silva (BRA) finished as runners-up in the men's and women's draws respectively.
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Luana Silva heads to New Zealand wearing the yellow jersey for the first time in her career. The Brazilian has been consistently excellent through three events, and her runner-up finish at the Gold Coast was enough to secure the lead alongside the GWM Aussie Treble title alongside men's world number one Gabriel Medina.
Medina continues to lead the men's rankings with the kind of authoritative surfing that won him two world titles. At 32, he is showing no signs of slowing down.
Next Stop: Raglan, New Zealand (May 15-25)
The Corona Cero New Zealand Pro takes the tour to Raglan — a small town on New Zealand's North Island that is home to one of the longest left-hand point breaks on Earth. When the swell lines up, Raglan delivers rides of 300 metres or more, peeling along a cobblestone reef with the green hills of the Waikato as a backdrop.
For surfers, Raglan is a pilgrimage. The wave rewards smooth, flowing surfing — the kind that Gilmore and Ewing excel at. Expect the Australians to be dangerous here too.
The waiting period opens May 15. Conditions at Raglan depend on southwest swells wrapping into the bay, so the contest directors may wait several days for the right conditions.
Why Surfers Should Follow the Tour
The WSL Championship Tour visits the same waves that surf athletes on ZealZag chase year-round. Snapper Rocks, Raglan, Bells Beach, Margaret River — these are not just contest venues, they are destinations that define the sport.
Whether you are watching the webcast or planning your own trip to Raglan or the Gold Coast, following the tour is the best way to understand what world-class waves look like — and where to find them yourself.
Connect with surfers on ZealZag who know these breaks and start planning your own championship-level sessions.