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.

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. 

Corona Cero New Zealand Pro Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Final Results

1. Carissa Moore (HAW) 17.90

2. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 16.67

Corona Cero New Zealand Pro Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Final Results 

1. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 17.50

2. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 15.80

Corona Cero New Zealand Pro Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Semifinal Results 

HEAT 1: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 15.34 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.20

HEAT 2: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.10 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 12.33

The third and final film in director Seth Hughes' and surfer Mike Lay's trilogy has arrived. Following Cynevin and Hireth, Gwynnik completes a body of work that has quietly become one of the most thoughtful series in contemporary surf filmmaking.

The title — Cornish for "little fair one" — is a nod to the arrival of Mike's young children, and the new rhythm they've brought to life in West Penwith. It's a film shaped by fatherhood, by rootedness, and by a shifting relationship with the sea.

Filmed across two years in Cornwall and Brittany, Gwynnik finds Mike closer to home than ever before. After years surfing across the globe, his connection to the ocean has evolved — less about the relentless pursuit of perfect waves, more about the quieter, holistic experience of simply being in the water.

Don't expect pumping surf. Most of the waves here would barely raise an eyebrow on a traditional surf film reel, and that's entirely the point. Gwynnik makes a compelling case that beauty isn't reserved for swell events and offshore perfection — it lives in the everyday, in the ordinary rhythm of the sea, in the kind of sessions most of us actually have.

As a Finisterre Ambassador, Mike has always embodied a connection to place and purpose that goes beyond performance surfing. Gwynnik is perhaps the fullest expression of that yet — a film that's as much about life on land as it is about life in the water.

Finally the World Tour gets a performance left hander.

Words: Joel Gray Photos: WSL

Amongst the goofy-footed fraternity, it’s an often-grumbled fact that the elite World Tour has been missing a true performance left for many years. Finally, they have one with the Corona Cero New Zealand Pro.

This represents a chance to balance out the hi-fi action of the Snapper and El Salvador events, along with the open-face right-handers of Margaret River and Bells Beach. Sure, they’ve got Pipe, Cloudbreak and Teahupoʻo, but those barrel-focused reef breaks still tend to favour the regular footers due to the advent of full-body tube-stall techniques.

The multiple-manoeuvre walls of Manu Bay at Raglan will provide a super exciting canvas for spectators and competitors alike. After the packed beaches, boardshorts and bikinis of the Gold Coast, it’s back to full suits and chilly morning coffees. There’s a real element of the unknown as to how the World Tour’s established top dogs and bottom feeders will fare on this new addition to the tour.

Carve’s five to watch — men and women.

Gabriel Medina

There's no doubt that the returning Medina has been the onform surfer over recent events. It’s like he’s accessed a new level of calm maturity and the depth of flow to his surfing, his read on individual waves is unmatched. 

Rio Waida

If he can adjust to the morning chill and the full wetsuits then this could be a great opportunity for Rio to shine. Growing up predominantly surfing with his back against the wall on the long lefts of the Bucket Rio’s back hand is his forte and not something we’ve seen much of to date.

Griffin Collapinto

One of the few regular footers able to put down real variety and throw tail without sacrificing flow. At his home break, Trestles his backhand is as good as his forehand and his performance in last years final 5 at Coudbreak was only bettered by goofy footer Yago.

Italo Ferreira

When judges and spectators alike are open minded to the possibilities of goofy footed surfing at this new canvas, we can fully expect Italo to be the electric cat amongst the pigeons. Expect a big wave count and a wide variety of attempts. 

Ramzi Boukhaim

The rocking Moroccan is in real need of a big result after three shockers so far — largely due to too many falls. Despite being known for his backhand attack, Ramzi has a tight forehand carve that stands out and could suit the Kiwi walls well. While most eyes are on the right-handers on tour, don’t be surprised if Ramzi puts up huge numbers here.