​Four days of competition at Cloud 9 ended with victories for Gabriel Medina and Caity Simmers at the inaugural Philippines Pro Presented by the Philippine Sports Commission. Marking 30 years of international surfing competition at the Siargao venue, Stop No. 11 of the 2026 World Surf League Championship Tour delivered four-to-six-foot-plus barrels. The results establish the rankings ahead of the season-ending Lexus Pipe Masters in Hawaii, where the 2026 World Champions will be crowned this December.
For three-time WSL World Champion and Olympic medalist Gabriel Medina, the win marked his first Championship Tour victory in over three years. Medina returned to tour action following a year out of competition in 2025 and had already accumulated three runner-up finishes during his 2026 comeback campaign. Overcoming heat deficits across four days with big turns, massive airs, and technical tube rides, Medina became the inaugural men's CT winner in the Philippines, moving into second spot on the World Title rankings.
In the Final, Medina matched up against Cloud 9 standout Jack Robinson. Robinson took an early lead with two mid-range scores, leaving Medina holding Priority. Medina selected a large wave, pulling in deep and holding his rail through multiple throwing sections before exiting the longest tube ride of the event to earn a near-perfect 9.43 score out of a possible 10. Medina established a winning two-wave heat total of 16.93 points. Robinson responded with an excellent score of his own, but lacked the required backup wave, leaving Medina to claim his 18th CT victory.
"This means a lot to me. I’ve been trying so hard all year long, traveling with all of my crew. I really wanted to win one event this year, and after a few second-place finishes, I just kept believing," Medina said. "It’s been fun, though. The journey is fun. I wasn’t expecting that this would be an event I could win because it’s a hard wave to surf. Especially going against the guys I have, they are so gnarly out here. I’m just so happy to get this win. I’m just happy to have a shot at it. This year is my comeback year, so to be at it with Filipe, Italo, Griffin, and Yago all year long has been amazing. I can’t wait for Pipe; it's going to be fun. I’m just so happy to get the win; it’s a lot of work all year long, so good to get one all the way at the end."
Medina acknowledged the heat tactics and Robinson's performance in the barrel. "Jack is so gnarly out here, and he’s been getting crazy barrels this week, so I knew it would be hard. He’s been the standout in this contest for sure," Medina added. "I know he’s been having a tough year, and I’m happy to see him back in the Finals. You have to always believe. Before the final, I just knew I had to focus on myself and just get the good ones. Then I got the best wave of my entire time here in the Philippines, in my heat, so I was happy with that, and it felt good. I took off on that thing and just wanted to be deep. I could see it sucking, and then the foamball came over, and I couldn’t see a thing and just trusted the wave, and then just came out, which felt really good. This wave looks pretty and perfect, but it’s really challenging, especially as a goof, but overcoming a challenge like this makes you stronger. I have been waiting all year for this win, and I’m so happy. I knew it was going to come. Talking about a title just makes me confident and makes me believe in the title and the next event. I love the pressure."
Caity Simmers Claims Eighth Win Following Injury
In the women's draw, 2024 WSL World Champion Caity Simmers earned her first event win of the 2026 season. Simmers had recorded one event win from five final appearances since the start of 2025, but consecutive final results in Portugal and the Philippines propelled her to third on the World Title leaderboard.
Her path to the Final in Portugal included a Quarterfinal collision with opponent Yolanda Hopkins, which resulted in an unintentional interference call and injury requiring seven stitches to Simmers' ankle.
"Coming here from Portugal was so back-to-back that my brain was so busy trying to work on things to change, and that was really overwhelming," Simmers said. "What really kept me grounded and happy was spending time in the ocean and spending time with my mom. I’m just so grateful for those two things. This is also one of my favourite waves in the world, and I was almost in tears paddling out for the Final because I could really feel the love from everyone watching from the water. It was a really beautiful moment, and I kind of let go of my attachment to winning or losing, and just focused on surfing."
In the Phillipines Pro Final, Simmers faced an in-form Isabella Nichols, who was returning from an ankle injury of her own. Simmers maintained a high energy heat, pulling into multiple barrels and executing quality turns however falling on some of her rides, spending a lot of time underwater. Nichols posted an early solid score and waited patiently for a backup. However Simmers eventually found a backup wave to complete a winning heat total of 12.00 points from two tidy tube rides, securing her 8th CT victory.
"My approach is new and different because I’m feeling much more confident this year," Simmers said. "This is my fourth year on Tour, and I’m feeling really comfortable now. My goal right now isn’t to go and win it; I feel like I’ve already accomplished my goal, which is to be able to be in a place and be grateful and thankful for the beauty of it. I’m just so grateful."
