Cover photo: ISA/Franco 

Frenchman Kauli Vaast and Australian George Pittar have secured their spots on the CT 2026, the WSL announced today after they achieved the combination of results they needed to guarantee their places.

Vaast advanced to the round of 32, but Pittar didn't even enter the water.

But since several surfers vying for a qualifying position lost, the two of them, first in line, were guaranteed a spot.

"I feel incredible, I'm super happy, I hadn't even realized it. I'm super proud to be another Tahitian on the CT, super excited. I'm really looking forward to competing on the CT, my first event. It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I had another dream very early on: the Olympics. I gave it my all, it was the best event of my career so far, for the time being. And then, the goal, of course, never changed, the main goal was to qualify for the CT someday. Today, that dream came true," Vaast said.

Pittar, who had been left out of the mid-year cut, explained: "I've been thinking about this moment for a couple of months now, like I was close, but it's a relief to get the green light, honestly. Being dropped from the Tour last year was a frantic process. It was terrible. I was very nervous and it was very tough for a while. Knowing that I'm going to be surfing those waves again and competing at that level makes me really excited."

According to the WSL, of those in the top 20, Samuel Pupo (BRA), Liam O'Brien (AUS), Winter Vincent (AUS), Jordy Lawler (AUS) and Xavier Huxtable (AUS) lost; the first two still have a chance, but the following three do not.