MANU
BAY,
Raglan,
New
Zealand
(Monday,
May
25,
2026)
– Today,
World
Champions
and Tokyo
2020
Olympic
Gold
Medalists
Carissa
Moore
(HAW)
and
Italo
Ferreira
(BRA)
won
the Corona
Cero
New
Zealand
Pro
Presented
by
Bonsoy, Stop
No.
4
of
the
2026
World
Surf
League
(WSL)
Championship
Tour
(CT). The
two
winners,
who
also
shared
World
Titles
in
2019,
claimed
their
first
victories
since
becoming
parents,
defeating Sawyer
Lindblad
(USA)
and
Morgan
Cibilic
(AUS),
respectively.
It
was
an
epic
end
to
the
inaugural
men’s
and
women’s
CT
event
on
New
Zealand
shores,
with
Raglan’s
Manu
Bay
turning
on
the
best
conditions
of
the
event
with
super
clean
waves
in
the
four-to-five-foot
range.
Historic
Win
for
Carissa
Moore
as
New
Mother,
Returns
to
the
Top
of
the
Podium
In
an
incredible
return
to
form,
Carissa
Moore
(HAW)
claimed
her
first
CT
event
win
since
2023,
following
two
seasons
away,
welcoming
her
daughter,
‘Olena,
to
the
world.
The
five-time
World
Champion
and
Olympic
Gold
Medalist
dominated
the
first-ever
Championship
Tour
event
to
be
held
at
New
Zealand’s
premier
left
point
of
Raglan,
posting
the
highest
heat
totals
in
every
round,
including
the
overall
highest
of
the
season
in
the
Semifinals,
a
near-perfect
19.00
(out
of
a
possible
20).
The
result
further
solidifies
Moore’s
place
at
No.
2
on
the
all-time
CT
win
list
with
29
victories.
The
most
recent
woman
in
the
CT’s
50-year
history
to
win
an
event
as
a
mother,
Moore
joins
fellow
Hawaiian
Melanie
Bartels
(HAW),
who
won
two
events
after
giving
birth,
the
most
recent
in
2008,
and
four-time
World
Champion
Lisa
Andersen
(USA),
who
claimed
15
of
her
21
CT
wins
after
her
daughter
was
born.
Moore’s
victory
follows
a
similar
trajectory
to
eight-time
World
Champion
Stephanie
Gilmore
(AUS),
who
took
a
stunning
win
at
home
on
the
Gold
Coast
at
Stop
No.
3
earlier
this
month
after
also
taking
a
two-season
break
from
the
CT.
Moore
also
won
the
first-ever
women’s
CT
to
be
held
in
New
Zealand
at
Taranaki
in
2010,
her
first
victory
as
a
17-year-old
Rookie
on
Tour,
and
gifted
all
of
her
prize
money
to
the
local
Waitara
Bar
Boardriders
Club,
a
contingent
of
which
came
to
support
her
in
this
event.
Having
won
the
regular
season
for
every
year
she’s
competed
on
the
CT
since
2019,
the
33-year-old’s
move
to
No.
6
on
the
rankings
is
a
major
threat
to
the
new
generation
on
Tour.
“This
is
for
the
moms,
never
stop
dreaming
if
you
want
to,”
Moore
said.
“When
I
walked
away
two
years
ago,
I
didn’t
know
if
I’d
ever
get
this
feeling
back
or
this
opportunity
to
surf
perfect
waves
with
only
one
other
person
out
in
front
of
a
beautiful
crowd
and
at
a
beautiful
place
with
my
family
on
the
beach.
In
that
process,
you
doubt
yourself
so
much,
and
so
I
think
the
win
means
so
much
to
me.
I
do
want
to
say
thank
you
to
my
husband
because
without
him,
this
wouldn’t
be
possible.
To
my
beautiful
daughter,
who
is
adapting
to
all
these
conditions
and
places
we’re
going,
I
couldn’t
do
it
if
she
weren’t
willing
to;
she
has
given
me
a
strength
that
I
didn’t
even
know
I
had.
And
my
dad,
he’s
here.
For
me,
this
feels
like
a
really
full-circle
moment
with
him.
Our
first
CT
win
was
here
in
New
Zealand,
and
so
to
have
it
with
him
here
is
really
cool.
And
my
sister
was
here,
and
all
my
family
at
home
has
been
so
special.
I
really
want
to
dedicate
this
win
to
Greg
Browning,
my
friend
who
passed
away
last
year.
He
is
the
most
spectacular
human
I’ve
ever
met,
and
he
is
the
example
that
I
think
we
all
should
strive
to
be
because
he
lived
with
kindness
and
love
and
treated
people
well
because
that’s
what
matters.”
An
extremely
exciting
Final
saw
2024
Rookie
of
the
Year
Sawyer
Lindblad
(USA)
push
Moore
all
the
way
to
the
end.
After
Lindblad
struck
first
for
a
small
score,
Moore
took
the
second
exchange,
opening
with
an
excellent
8.50
over
a
7.67
from
Lindblad.
A
fall
from
Moore
on
a
larger
set
wave
opened
the
door
for
Lindblad
to
take
the
upper
hand.
The
Southern
Californian
goofy-footer
drove
through
a
series
of
searing
forehand
carves
to
post
a
9.00,
leaving
Moore
in
need
of
an
8.18.
The
Hawaiian
continued
to
attack
but
was
unable
to
find
excellence
again
until
the
six-minute
mark,
when
a
steep
inside
section
opened
up
for
her
to
seamlessly
deliver
a
combination
of
three
powerful
backhand
blasts
and
earn
a
9.40,
for
a
17.90
heat
total. Overcoming
a
series
of
competitors
whose
careers
she
has
heavily
influenced,
including
Bella
Kenworthy (USA),
fellow
Olympic
Gold
Medalist
and
2023
World
Champion Caroline
Marks (USA),
and
compatriot Bettylou
Sakura
Johnson (HAW),
Moore
once
again
returned
to
the
top
of
the
podium.
“I
was
on
the
ropes
for
a
good
portion
of
that
heat.
When
[Sawyer
Lindblad]
dropped
that
9.00,
I
was
like,
ok,
well,
I
need
a
wave,
and
I
need
to
show
up,”
Moore
continued.
“Sawyer’s
been
on
point
all
event.
I
respect
her
so
much,
and
I
think
she’s
really
found
her
form
this
year.
This
place
has
held
a
special
place
in
my
heart
for
a
really
long
time.
My
experience
here
in
2010
changed
my
whole
perspective
on
my
career,
what
success
looked
like,
and
how
I
wanted
to
live.
I
just
want
to
say
a
big
mahalo
to
the
community
in
Taranaki,
but
also
here,
and
how
you
all
have
shown
up
every
single
day.
The
love
and
the
energy
and
the
mana
in
this
place
are
indescribable
and
something
I
will
remember
for
the
rest
of
my
life.”
Ferreira
Claims
11th
CT
Win
and
World
No.
1
as
Brazil
Commands
the
Rankings
Italo
Ferreira
(BRA)
reclaimed
the
No.
1
position
on
the
rankings
following
his
11th
CT
win
today
and
will
wear
the
Yellow
Leader
Jersey
headed
into
the
Surf
City
El
Salvador
Pro
Presented
by
Corona
Cero
for
the
second
year
in
a
row.
The
2019
World
Champion
and
Olympic
Gold
Medalist,
who
also
finished
runner-up
to
the
World
Title
in
2022
and
2024,
carried
the
top
place
on
the
rankings
across
five
events
last
season,
before
sliding
down
to
No.
4.
Ferreira
claimed
the
rankings
lead
from
Gabriel
Medina
(BRA),
with
fellow
World
Champions
Yago
Dora
(BRA)
and
Filipe
Toledo
(BRA)
also
sitting
inside
the
Top
10.
Brothers
Miguel
Pupo
(BRA)
and
Samuel
Pupo
(BRA)
round
out
six
Brazilians
in
contention
near
the
top
of
the
rankings.
Also
a
new
parent,
Ferreira
is
feeling
a
fresh
drive
on
Tour
as
he
competes
for
his
son
and
wife.
“I’m
so
stoked
to
win
a
comp
on
a
left,
like
a
real
left,
because
in
the
past
we’ve
had
Teahupo’o,
Pipe,
some
big
ones,
but
not
a
perfect
one,”
Ferreira
said.
“I
was
like,
ok,
this
can
be
my
comp,
because
I’ve
been
surfing
so
much,
dedicating
a
lot.
I’ve
been
on
the
road
for
two
months,
without
my
kid,
without
my
wife.
I
was
like,
ok,
it’s
time
to
put
all
the
energy
into
this
event.
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
God
for
everything.
The
opportunity
to
stay
here,
to
be
here,
to
win
this
comp,
to
have
a
great
family,
to
have
a
beautiful
history
behind
me,
and
I’m
still
going.
That’s
my
energy.
I’m
creating
a
new
life
right
now,
and
it’s
been
so
sick.
Dad’s
power,
right?
I’m
so
happy.”
The
Final
saw
two
of
the
event
standouts,
with
totally
contrasting
styles:
the
super-fast,
electric
frontside
surfing
of
Ferreira
up
against
the
rock-solid,
critical
backside
snaps
of
Morgan
Cibilic
(AUS).
The
heat
saw
both
competitors
bring
their
A-game,
each
posting
their
highest
two-wave
total
of
the
entire
event
in
the
40-minute
matchup.
Cibilic
took
an
early
advantage,
smashing
a
series
of
massive
vertical
re-entries
to
earn
an
8.90
and
put
Ferreira
on
the
ropes.
Ferreira
looked
unfazed,
returning
serve
with
9.33
for
back-to-back
air-reverses
on
the
one
wave,
followed
by
a
number
of
carves
and
snaps
down
the
line.
As
the
ocean
slowed
down,
Cibilic
missed
the
last
wave
he
could
have
surfed
in
the
heat,
leaving
Ferreira
to
claim
his
first
win
in
over
12
months.
“This
has
been
an
amazing
event,”
Ferreira
continued.
“We
have
been
waiting
for
this
left,
and
even
once
we
got
here
to
New
Zealand,
we
had
to
wait
a
little
longer
than
the
last
two
days
it
came
to
life.
Getting
to
show
a
different
type
of
surfing
than
we
usually
do
on
all
of
the
rights
has
been
so
good
and
so
much
fun.
I’ve
really
loved
this
place
and
had
an
amazing
time
surfing
here
and
hanging
out
with
my
crew.
I
can’t
wait
to
come
back.
It
was
good
in
the
Final
hearing,
all
of
the
support
for
us,
and
well
done
to
Morgan,
he
was
surfing
all
week
amazingly.”
Sawyer
Lindblad’s
Forehand
Brilliance
Earns
Career-Defining
Runner-Up
Finish
Sawyer
Lindblad
(USA)
delivered
the
performance
of
her
career
to
claim
her
third
CT
runner-up
finish.
The
only
woman
to
come
close
to
matching
Carissa
Moore’s
(HAW)
benchmark-setting
numbers
throughout
the
event,
Lindblad
displayed
a
forehand
attack
that
rivals
the
best
on
Tour.
Bringing
excellence
in
nearly
every
heat,
the
20-year-old
defeated
a
series
of
heavyweight
opponents,
including
eight-time
World
Champion
Stephanie
Gilmore
(AUS)
and
two-time
World
Champion
Tyler
Wright
(AUS),
along
with
fellow
Southern
Californian
goofy-footer
Alyssa
Spencer (USA).
Lindblad’s
result
moves
her
to
the
equal-highest
ranking
of
her
career
at
World
No.
5.
“It
was
a
really
good
day.
I’m
just
really
grateful
that
we
had
such
amazing
conditions
to
end
this
event,”
Lindblad
said.
“It’s
been
a
long
couple
of
weeks.
I
feel
like
I’ve
been
here
for
a
really
long
time,
but
it’s
been
really
nice,
and
I
love
this
country.
Everyone
is
so
nice,
and
I’ve
really
enjoyed
my
time
here
in
New
Zealand.
It’s
been
a
good
start
to
the
year,
and
I’m
really
excited
for
the
rest
of
the
year
too.
I
feel
like
my
time
is
definitely
coming
soon.
I’m
just
very
blessed.”
Morgan
Cibilic
Claims
Equal
Career
Best
Result
with
Raglan
Runner-Up
26-year
old
CT
returner
Morgan
Cibilic
(AUS)
reminded
the
world
of
his
lethal
backside
approach
this
week
with
another
incredible
performance
on
the
long
lefts
of
Manu
Bay.
The
Australian
Natural
footer
went
on
a
tear,
taking
down
local
wildcard
Billy
Stairmand
(NZL),
Ethan
Ewing
(AUS),
Liam
O’Brien
(AUS),
Rio
Waida
(INA),
and
Griffin
Colapinto
(USA)
on
his
way
to
the
Final.
Although
he
fell
short
at
the
end,
today’s
runner-up
finish
equals
Cibilic’s
career
best
result,
when
he
finished
Runner-up
to
Gabriel
Medina
(BRA)
on
Rottnest
Island
in
2021.
Cibilic
is
the
first
surfer
to
make
a
Final
from
Round
One
in
2026
and
has
moved
16
spots
up
the
rankings
to
16th
place
heading
to
El
Salvador.
“I’m
just
so
grateful
to
be
here.
It’s
been
a
beautiful
experience,”
Cibilic
said.
“The
past
two
weeks
have
been
epic.
It’s
such
a
good
country
and
so
much
to
do
and
see
here,
so
even
when
there
were
no
waves,
it
was
epic
to
hang
out
and
explore
and
look
around
and
just
stay
present.
It
felt
like
it
was
easy
to
do
that
with
so
much
to
do.
It
was
like
just
an
epic
experience,
and
we’re
blessed
with
great
waves
today
and
an
epic
Final.
It’s
always
hard
to
compete
against
Italo
[Ferreira]
when
he’s
in
that
kind
of
mode,
and
he’s
flying
through
the
sky.
I’ve
put
in
so
much
work
over
the
past
couple
of
years
and
just
really
wanted
to
get
back
here.
I
guess
this
proves
to
myself
that
like
I’m
back.
I’m
going
to
try
to
stay
here
and
hopefully
put
up
a
few
more
good
performances
this
year.
I’m
over
the
moon.”
For
highlights
from
the
2026
Corona
Cero
New
Zealand
Pro
Presented
by
Bonsoy,
please
visit
WorldSurfLeague.com.
Go to Surfing New Zealand
Author: Ben Kennings