Australians Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and Ethan Ewing (AUS) won the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM, Stop No. 3 of the 2026 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). An incredible run of firing conditions lit up the Gold Coast’s premier point of Snapper Rocks for four days straight, seeing the world’s best surfers return to competition at the Superbank for the first time since 2018. Connor O’Leary (JPN) and Luana Silva (BRA) placed runners-up, with Silva moving to the top of the rankings for the first time in her career to secure a win in the second annual GWM Aussie Treble alongside men’s World No. 1 Gabriel Medina (BRA).
Gilmore Extends Legacy With Seventh Gold Coast Pro Title and 34th CT Win
Nine years since she last claimed victory at her home break, and 21 years since she skipped school to claim her first-ever CT win as a 17-year-old Wildcard at Snapper Rocks, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) has extended her own records with a 34th CT event win and seventh Gold Coast Pro title. Appearing in her first Final since winning her eighth World Title in 2022, her 51st overall, the 38-year-old showed exactly why she is considered the Queen of Snapper and the greatest of all time. Starting her run through the event with a generational victory over Erin Brooks (CAN), who defeated her in last year’s Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro, Gilmore next took out the defending event winner, Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), before a big win over 2024 World Champion Caity Simmers (USA) in the Quarterfinals, event standout Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) in the Semifinals, and finally the new World No. 1, Luana Silva (BRA), in the Final.
“This has been the best weekend of surfing, the waves have been pumping, Snapper’s delivered the absolute perfect goods for us,” Gilmore said. “I didn’t think I would be able to win an event this year. I cannot believe I won this event. The level of the women surfing has excelled at an incredible rate. I watched every event from a distance the last few years, and I always had those thoughts like, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I can do it anymore.’ But if it was ever going to happen, it was going to be here.”
Gilmore built with every performance, adding her first excellent score since 2023 in the Semifinals, before peaking in the Final with a near-perfect 9.50, posting a 17.33 (out of a possible 20) two-wave total, the highest of the event for the women.
Silva Moves to World No. 1, Claims GWM Aussie Treble Victory
Following a breakout season in 2025, Luana Silva (BRA) is moving from strength-to-strength in 2026, now claiming the Yellow Leaders Jersey for the first time in her career to win the GWM Aussie Treble. The 21-year-old has appeared in the Finals Day of every event so far this season, including back-to-back Finals, having also placed runner-up in the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Silva began Finals Day by posting the first excellent heat total of her career to defeat the woman who beat her in W.A., Lakey Peterson (USA), before taking out a tight battle with Sawyer Lindblad (USA) in the Semifinals.
“It’s incredible [to share the lineup with Stephanie Gilmore],” Silva said. “I have no other words to say. She’s been my inspiration since I was like seven, eight years old, and I’ve been drawing inspiration from her ever since. I’ve only ever dreamed to share a Final with her at Snapper. Someone asked me the other day as well, ‘Who would you wish to share a Final at Snapper?’ I said, ‘Steph Gilmore, obviously.’ It’s insane, I’m living a dream come true. I really wish I could have come out on top, but it couldn’t have happened any better. If you would have told me a year ago or even at the start of the year that I’d be in number one, it’s insane. And to make two Finals, I wouldn’t have ever believed you. I’m really happy.”
Ewing Joins Iconic Australian Winners and Reignites Title Charge With Third CT Victory
The tenth Australian man to win the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM, Ethan Ewing (AUS), joins a long list of iconic names, including the local World Champions Mick Fanning (AUS) and Joel Parkinson (AUS). Competing at Snapper Rocks for the first time since his Rookie performance in 2017 that saw him post a 9.10 on his first-ever wave surfed on the CT, Ewing revelled in the opportunity to return to the perfection of the sand-bottom point. Ewing’s third CT victory added to his history of incredible performances on the world’s best right points, having claimed his previous two wins at Jeffrey’s Bay (2022) and Bells Beach (2023). The 27-year-old from Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island turned a rough start to the season around, rising straight into the Top 5 to now sit at World No. 4. A runner-up to the World Title in 2023, Ewing is hoping today’s result will provide the momentum required to stay present in the highly competitive 2026 Title race.
“This is destiny fulfilled for sure,” Ewing said. “[Winning this event has] been such a big goal of mine because it’s like an hour away from home. I used to be a little kid down here, coming down here and watching this event. This has been at the top of the list to win. I’ve been chasing another win for a while now, a World Title race would be nice. My last win was Bells, so a few years now, It’s just tough, I’ve been grinding away trying to get them, but everyone’s just that good, it’s super hard. I just want to keep it rolling now. This is huge for my campaign, back to work tomorrow. Fun tonight, though, let’s go.”
Ewing hit his peak during the Semifinals in a relentless battle with fellow Queenslander, Liam O’Brien (AUS), that saw escalating scores from the pair, before facing yet another surfer who has refined his style on the local point breaks, Connor O’Leary (JPN), in the Final. O’Leary gained a slight edge in the opening exchange, but Ewing was just getting started. An excellent 8.33 soon followed as Ewing tapped into his seamless flow to showcase his full repertoire down a long Snapper wall. The unstoppable backhand of O’Leary hit back with a 7.67, but across multiple further attempts was unable to match the searing pace of North Stradbroke’s finest.
“I started alright, and then I was so stressed out,” Ewing continued. “Connor [O’Leary’s] been on fire, the scariest freaking backhand. He beat me last year and J-Bay when he won. He’s a good mate of mine, he’s a tough competitor, so it feels good to get over him. I grew up on these sorts of waves, and just had a crazy good week. Just with all my mates down here, my dad’s down here, it’s just been so much fun. It’s the dream week, like straight into it, pumping waves every day. All the support’s been unreal. I appreciate it so much, it’s been crazy.”
O’Leary Overcomes Toledo on Route to Runner-Up Finish at Snapper Rocks
Connor O’Leary (JPN) further cemented his reputation as one of the Tour’s best goofy-footers, backing up his 2025 win at Jeffrey’s Bay with a runner-up finish at Snapper Rocks. In the same fashion as his J-Bay win, O’Leary had to overcome an on-fire two-time event winner in Filipe Toledo (BRA) in order to progress into the Final. The 32-year-old Cronulla-born, Lennox Head resident posted the two highest men’s heat totals of the day, both excellent, with a 16.97 total getting him past the Brazilian World Champion and 16.44 taking him to his first defeat of sparring partner Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) in the Quarterfinals.
“To represent the goofs and the goofy tribe as best as I can is a big goal of mine, especially surfing a right point,” O’Leary said. “I was stoked with how I showed up today. This crowd was unbelievable, thanks so much. You guys are the ones that were firing me up and pushed me to perform my best today. All gas, no brakes for the rest of the year.”
Breakout Week for Erostarbe Ends in Semifinals Against Gilmore
A breakout run for 2026 CT Rookie Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) was put to an end in the Semifinals by Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), but not before the 25-year-old put her name firmly on the map. The only non-CT surfer to make the Quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games proved her status on Tour at Snapper Rocks, taking down 2023 World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Caroline Marks (USA) and World No. 1 Gabriela Bryan (HAW), along with Alyssa Spencer (USA), on her way to the Semifinals. Erostarbe earned excellent scores in every heat surfed, including the highest number of her matchup with the GOAT, an 8.50. After struggling to make heats as the WSL Replacement Surfer in 2025, Erostarbe now sits comfortably in the Top 10 on the rankings, with a newfound confidence propelling Spain’s first woman on Tour into the rest of the season.
Silva and Medina Claim World No. 1, Claim Second Annual GWM Aussie Treble
Following an incredible run through the first three events of the season, Luana Silva (BRA) and Gabriel Medina (BRA) took out the second annual GWM Aussie Treble to both win themselves a GWM Tank 300. In the process, the Brazilian duo secured the top positions on the rankings at World No. 1 headed into Stop No. 4, the Corona Cero New Zealand Pro Presented by Bonsoy.
“I’m just really happy to start the year like this, putting up good results and just to be back, really,” Medina said. “I was not expecting to get a car here and lead the rankings, but I’ll take it. I want to thank all the fans that came to support us, you guys are amazing, thank you so much. I love watching surfing. Today was really fun to watch, I’m just loving watching all these guys ripping, it motivates me so much. I want to do even better. I’m looking forward to New Zealand, it’s going to be a fun one.”
Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Women’s Final Results
1. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 17.33
2. Luana Silva (BRA) 14.07
Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Men’s Final Results
1. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.56
2. Connor O’Leary (JPN) 14.17
Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Women’s Semifinal Results
HEAT 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.00 DEF. Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) 14.23
HEAT 2: Luana Silva (BRA) 13.67 DEF. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 12.73
Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Men’s Semifinal Results
HEAT 1: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 16.33 DEF. Liam O’Brien (AUS) 15.30
HEAT 2: Connor O’Leary (JPN) 16.97 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.77
Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Women’s Quarterfinal Results
HEAT 1: Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) 15.67 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 14.33
HEAT 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.73 DEF. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 10.83
HEAT 3: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 14.76 DEF. Molly Picklum (AUS) 12.50
HEAT 4: Luana Silva (BRA) 16.00 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 10.00
Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Men’s Quarterfinal Results
HEAT 1: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.50 DEF. Kauli Vaast (FRA) 6.50
HEAT 2: Liam O’Brien (AUS) 15.00 DEF. Mateus Herdy (BRA) 8.67
HEAT 3: Connor O’Leary (JPN) 16.44 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 16.03
HEAT 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.77 DEF. Samuel Pupo (BRA) 12.57
The Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM was held at Snapper Rocks from May 1 – 11, 2026.
Next Up: Corona Cero New Zealand Pro Presented by Bonsoy
The Corona Cero New Zealand Pro Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 4 of the 2026 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), will hold a competition window from May 15 – 25. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
The Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM is proudly supported by Bonsoy, Experience Gold Coast, the Queensland Government through Tourism & Events Queensland, GWM, Yeti, Red Bull, Apple Watch, Surfline, Eero, Flowstate, Stone & Wood, Bond University, Hydralyte, Bioglan, Boost Mobile, mophie, I-Sea, Coastal Real Estate, S&S Group, FatBoy Bikes, Breitling, Florence, Surfboard Empire, One Ocean, True Surf, Sea FM, Triple M, Gold Coast Bulletin.
Photos: WSL / Beatriz Ryder.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.