The global surfing community gathers at Bells Beach. The first stage of the 2026 Championship Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, kicks off tomorrow, Wednesday, April 1, at the iconic Victoria spot in Australia. A symbolic start to a season that marks the 50th anniversary of the World Tour.
The competition window extends from April 1 to 11, with the first call scheduled for 7:45 am local time (AEDT). The event inaugurates the GWM Aussie Treble, a series of three Australian stages that will continue at the Margaret River Pro and the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro.
Picklum and Dora, world champions seeking their first Australian title
Defending world champions in 2025, Molly Picklum and Yago Dora return to defend their crown. An interesting detail: neither has won an event in Australia yet. The 23-year-old Australian, a finalist at Bells in 2023, dreams of starting her fifth season on the Tour with a victory at home. The 29-year-old Brazilian, on the other hand, shows renewed confidence after a world title that has transformed his approach.
Gilmore and Moore, the big comeback at Bells
Two legends return to the Championship Tour after almost two seasons away. Stephanie Gilmore (eight world titles, four victories at Bells) returns to competition at 38, determined to challenge the new generation. Carissa Moore (five world titles, three consecutive victories at Bells between 2013 and 2015) returns in a new light: as a family woman, accompanied by her husband and one-year-old daughter.
Medina and Robinson turn the page on injuries
Gabriel Medina makes his comeback after a blank season due to a pectoral injury. The three-time world champion took advantage of this forced break to rethink his approach and enlist a new coach, Adriano de Souza, the 2015 world champion. Jack Robinson, last year’s event winner, underwent knee surgery during the offseason to treat an injury suffered at Bells in 2023. Both surfers say they are ready and motivated.
Rising Tides opens up to boys
Another novelty in the 2026 edition: the Rising Tides program, historically dedicated to young female surfers, expands to include a male component. Separate surf sessions with Tour athletes and mixed exchanges are on the agenda, in a spirit of education and mentorship.
The first round matchups
On the women’s side, several matchups catch the eye: Sawyer Lindblad against Carissa Moore, Luana Silva versus Stephanie Gilmore, and French surfer Tya Zebrowski facing American Alyssa Spencer. Among the men, the first round features qualifiers from the Challenger Series, including Australian rookie Oscar Berry and South African Luke Thompson.
The competition will be broadcast live on WorldSurfLeague.com and the WSL app.
Tags: Championship Tour, CT 2026, Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, WSL
:quality(80)/outremer%2F2026%2F03%2F28%2F69c751b55ef19309251202.png "The surf community pays tribute to two young riders who died in a car accident.")
