MANU
BAY,
Raglan,
New
Zealand
(Tuesday,
September
15,
2026)
– The
World
Surf
League
(WSL)
has
announced
the
New
Zealand
Pro
will
return
as
a
stop
on
the
Championship
Tour
(CT)
for
the
2027
season.
Following
the
successful
debut
of
the
event
earlier
this
year,
the
WSL
and
the
New
Zealand
Government
have
strengthened
their
partnership
to
ensure
the
world’s
best
surfers
will
return
to
Aotearoa’s
world-class
left-point
of
Raglan
for
the
season
ahead
in
2027.
Though
long-regarded
as
one
of
the
finest
waves
in
the
world,
Raglan’s
Manu
Bay
had
never
experienced
the
highest
level
of
surf
competition
prior
to
the
inaugural
CT
event
held
in
May.
Providing
a
lengthy
left
canvas
that
offered
a
solid
mix
of
progressive
high-performance
surfing
and
traditional
rail
work,
Manu
Bay
announced
itself
as
a
must-watch
venue.
From
the
perfection
of
reigning
World
Champion Yago
Dora’s (BRA)
approach
and
the
forehand
style
masterclass
delivered
by Sawyer
Lindblad (USA)
to
the
historic
wins
from
World
Champions
and
Olympic
Gold
Medalists Carissa
Moore (HAW)
and Italo
Ferreira (BRA),
Raglan
proved
that
its
arrival
on
the
CT
is
long
overdue.
“The
WSL
is
so
excited
to
see
the
CT
return
to
Raglan
in
2027,”
said
WSL
APAC
President
Andrew
Stark.
“Raglan
is
a
truly
special
place,
with
a
deep
surfing
heritage,
world-class
waves
and
an
incredibly
passionate
local
community,
and
after
an
amazing
event
in
2026,
we
know
the
athletes
and
fans
will
embrace
the
opportunity
to
experience
it
again.
We’d
like
to
sincerely
thank
the
New
Zealand
Government
for
its
support
in
bringing
this
event
back
in
2027,
as
well
as
the
Waikato
and
Raglan
communities
for
welcoming
the
WSL
back.
The
enthusiasm
and
commitment
we’ve
seen
from
everyone
involved
has
been
fantastic,
and
we’re
looking
forward
to
working
together
to
deliver
an
unforgettable
Championship
Tour
event
in
2027.”
World
Surf
League
Championship
Tour
is
proudly
supported
by
the
New
Zealand
Government’s
Events
Attraction
Package.
“It’s
fantastic
to
see
the
World
Surf
League
returning
to
Raglan
in
2027,”
said
Tourism
and
Hospitality
Minister
Louise
Upston.
“Following
the
success
of
this
year’s
event,
bringing
the
world’s
best
surfers
back
to
one
of
New
Zealand’s
most
iconic
surf
breaks
will
once
again
showcase
Raglan
and
the
Waikato
to
a
global
audience.
We’re
backing
events
that
put
New
Zealand
on
the
world
stage,
attract
visitors,
support
local
businesses,
and
create
lasting
benefits
for
communities.
We
know
major
events
deliver
real
economic
impact,
and
the
return
of
the
World
Surf
League
is
another
great
example
of
that
in
action.”
Beyond
the
international
arrivals,
the
2026
New
Zealand
Pro
also
provided
a
platform
for
three
Kiwis, Billy
Stairmand (NZL), Alani
Morse (NZL),
and Tom
Butland (NZL),
to
showcase
their
talent
to
the
world.
Securing
the
event
on
Tour
guarantees
that
rising
local
talent
will
continue
to
have
the
opportunity
to
test
their
mettle
against
the
world’s
best
on
home
soil,
furthering
the
nation’s
rich
history
of
competitive
surfing.
In
2027,
this
will
once
again
come
in
the
form
of
two
New
Zealanders
receiving
wildcard
spots
into
the
CT
event
through
a
local
trials
event.
The
full
WSL
Championship
Tour
schedule
for
2027
will
be
announced
later
this
year.
For
more
information,
please
visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Go to Surfing New Zealand
Author: Ben Kennings