Photo: ISA/Ryder 

Stephanie Gilmore, Carissa Moore, John John Florence and Gabriel Medina received WSL wildcards and will be back on the world surfing tour in 2026, making it one of the most competitive years on paper in history, the WSL reported in its press releases and social media.

In the case of the ladies, the wildcards come along with the absences of Tatiana Weston Webb and Johanne Defay, the former pregnant and the latter having just had her first child, who will be taking some time off from the competition.

Carissa was off the tour for a full year and Steph for two.

In Medina's case, he was injured just before the start of the 2025 circuit and has already been seen surfing in good shape.

John John, for his part, had a son and decided to travel on his sailboat with his family, surfing a little and staying away from competitions.

 

See this post on Instagram

A post shared by World Surf League (@wsl)