​Stop number five of the 2026 World Surf League Championship Tour was nothing short of spectacular. We saw an incredible string of performances that ultimately ended with Carissa Moore and Leonardo Fioravanti taking the top spots on the podium. Moore continued her highly dominant streak by securing back-to-back CT wins, while Fioravanti locked down a historic maiden victory, which also marks the very first CT win for the country of Italy.
Carissa Moore Continues Her Dominant Form
Carissa Moore is looking absolutely unstoppable this year. Her remarkable run through the waves in Central America earned her a historic 30th career CT victory. Interestingly, this win marks her first-ever CT victory in Central America. The five-time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist is constantly raising the bar for women’s power and progression in the water. She consistently puts everything into last-minute heroics and provides excellent showcases for surfing fans around the world.
Moore’s path to the final was packed with top-tier matchups. Her road through Finals Day opened with an excellent performance against then World Number 2 Luana Silva. Following that heat, she faced off against World Number 1 Gabriela Bryan in the Semifinals, dropping a massive 8.17 to outmatch her opponent and seal her spot in back-to-back Finals on the 2026 CT.
The final was a true clash of CT icons as Moore went up against two-time World Champion Tyler Wright. Moore started the heat strong, posting a mid-range 5.50 out of a possible 10 on her consistently powerful forehand following a quick opener to take the lead. She stayed busy under priority, locking into a Punta Roca runner to showcase more of her forehand variety, with glimpses of power in sections that offered, posting a 4.83. This left Wright needing an excellent 8.00.
At the 19-minute mark, a critical exchange witnessed Wright use her priority, but the wave simply did not provide the opportunity she needed. Moore took off on the next wave and put on an absolute masterclass of power and variety, earning an 8.33. This put Wright into a combination situation, but only briefly. The two competitors traded back-to-back Punta Roca walls, with Wright digging deep into her power form to score a 7.67 and catapult herself right back into the heat.
It all came down to the dying moments as these 2011 Gold Coast Pro finalists battled it out. Wright found her chance to strike back, posting the required 6.17 to overtake the lead with only five minutes remaining on the clock. But Moore had the final answer. She scored a 6.67 to flip the heat once more, and she remained in the lead until the final horn sounded.
Following her massive win, Moore was full of gratitude and reflected on her journey. “I’m literally baffled. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for their support and love, especially from home,” said Moore. “When I saw Tyler [Wright] in the locker room, I just said, ‘This is like the old days, this is awesome.’ It’s really cool to see the veterans make a push this year, make some Finals, and take some wins. I’m inspired by my generation and the next generation; it’s such a good combination for women’s surfing right now. To be able to share this with my husband. We’ve been together for 16 years now, and he’s my best friend. And we’re testing the waters with him as a coach at a few, and it seemed to work out at this one.”
With this victory, Moore moves up to World Number 2 and heads to the VIVO Rio Pro with her family in full support.
Leonardo Fioravanti Finds Long-Awaited Glory
On the men’s side, Leonardo Fioravanti was arguably the most consistent contender of the entire event. His phenomenal surge all the way to a maiden CT victory happened in what was his third career CT Final. He posted some of the absolute best performances of the event from start to finish. This included securing the best single-score of the competition with a massive 9.00 in the Quarterfinals.
Fioravanti’s Quarterfinal comeback brilliance over fellow European standout Marco Mignot yielded a 15.93 heat total. Following that, he faced his good friend and Finals Day breakout Kanoa Igarashi in the Semifinals, posting an 8.50 during a very stout battle.
The men’s final featured two standout competitors: World Number 1, 2019 World Champion, and Olympic Gold Medalist Italo Ferreira going up against Fioravanti. Fioravanti capitalised on the first wave that pulsed into the lineup, unleashing more of his signature forehand power from start to finish to post an 8.33 and apply immediate pressure. As Ferreira tried to find a response, he could not get onto a Punta Roca gem. Fioravanti found another opportunity to strike and increased his lead with a 6.17, putting Ferreira in a combination situation where he required a 14.50 heat total out of a possible 20.
A pivotal exchange at the eight-minute mark witnessed Fioravanti keep pushing his forehand against the walls of Punta Roca. Ferreira finally found his much-needed response, posting a 7.50 to earn his way back into the heat. However, Fioravanti extended his lead with a 7.00, forcing Ferreira to require a 7.84. Fioravanti held that lead until earning his maiden CT victory.
Reflecting on his historic win, an emotional Fioravanti shared his thoughts on the long road to the top. “It doesn’t feel real. This sport is so hard, and I’ve dedicated the last 10 years of my life to getting this win. I’ve come close a lot of times, and it feels unreal,” said Fioravanti. “My crew is amazing. I’ve got the best coaches in the world. [Richard] Dog [Marsh] has been with me since I was twelve years old. Having Ramzi [Boukhiam], Connor [O’Leary], and Tyler [Wright]. My filmer Tommy has been supporting me this whole week. My wife, who’s back home, always says, ‘Don’t win when I’m not there.’ I love you. There are so many years of believing in not giving up. That Final at Pipe last year really broke my heart, but I never gave up. I tried to just keep going ahead, and keep thinking positive. And always saying my moment would come, and I just kept believing in that. Thank you to WSL and Surf City for providing this event to us, it was just insane.”
Now, Fioravanti firmly establishes himself towards the top of the rankings as World Number 3, with the VIVO Rio Pro clearly in his sights.
