Surf Legends John John Florence and Carissa Moore Set to Make Waves on 2026 WSL Championship Tour

Surf legends John John Florence and Carissa Moore are returning to the WSL Championship Tour in 2026 after taking time off for family. Both have received wildcard entries for the upcoming season.

Surf Legends John John Florence and Carissa Moore Set to Make Waves on 2026 WSL Championship Tour

Two titans of professional surfing, John John Florence and Carissa Moore, are officially returning to the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour for the 2026 season. Both Hawaiian powerhouses, who took time away from the competitive circuit for personal reasons, have been granted wildcard entries, promising an electrifying year of elite surfing.

Key Takeaways

  • John John Florence, a three-time world champion, will compete full-time on the WSL Championship Tour in 2026 after a hiatus.
  • Carissa Moore, a five-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist, is also returning to the tour in 2026.
  • Both surfers received season wildcard berths.
  • The 2026 WSL Championship Tour kicks off at Bells Beach, Australia, on April 1 and concludes with the Pipe Masters in Hawaii.

Florence's Return to the Competitive Arena

John John Florence, a celebrated three-time men's surfing world champion from Haleiwa, will rejoin the WSL Championship Tour as a full participant in 2026. Florence, 33, opted to take the 2025 season off to dedicate time to his young family and explore new surfing destinations in the South Pacific. The WSL has extended him a wildcard berth for the entire season.

"I really appreciate the WSL extending me this Wildcard," Florence stated in a WSL release. "Having the time to explore and surf new waves with my family (wife Lauryn and 1-year-old son Darwin) at this point in our life has been a dream for us."

Florence's 2024 season was a significant one, marked by his third world title and participation in the Paris Olympics. He had announced his intention to take a year off from professional surfing in January, with a brief exception for the Lexus Pipe Pro where he reached the round of 16. His return follows a period impacted by injuries, making his 2024 comeback and subsequent break a notable chapter in his career.

Moore's Next Chapter: Motherhood and Competition

Joining Florence on the 2026 Championship Tour is Hawaii's own Carissa Moore. The five-time women's world surfing champion and Olympic gold medalist announced her return after successfully achieving her goal of starting a family. Moore, 33, will also receive a full-season wildcard slot.

"I’m really excited for the opportunity to compete again on the Championship Tour,” Moore shared. “To put my jersey back on after having a baby feels like such a win. Competing at the highest level of surfing is something I don’t take for granted, and I’m so grateful to be feeling healthy and reinvigorated. I want my journey to show my daughter, and hopefully other women, that we can do anything; we can keep chasing our dreams, even as life evolves. I’m looking forward to sharing this next chapter with her and experiencing it together as a family.”

Moore had stepped away from competitive surfing in January 2024 to focus on her family, though she competed in the 2024 Olympics while two months pregnant, reaching the quarterfinals. She and her husband, Luke Untermann, welcomed their daughter, ‘Olena, in February. Before her break, Moore was recognized as one of the most consistent performers in CT history, with 28 wins in 122 events.

The 2026 Season Ahead

The 50th anniversary of the Championship Tour is set to commence on April 1, 2026, at Bells Beach in Victoria, Australia. The season will culminate in Hawaii with the Pipe Masters on Oahu’s North Shore in December, promising a thrilling conclusion to a season featuring two of surfing's most beloved athletes.

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