Eight-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore has announced she will extend her break from the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour for another season, prioritizing her recovery from ongoing injuries.
The Australian surfing icon, originally slated to return to competition at the Pipeline Pro in Hawaii next week, will now take a second consecutive season off from full-time competition.
Gilmore was granted a wildcard for the Pipeline Pro but has opted to sit out the 2025 season. The WSL has also awarded her another wildcard for the 2026 Championship Tour, allowing her to continue her pursuit of a record-extending ninth world title.
“After careful consideration, I’ve decided to take another season away from the WSL Tour,” Gilmore shared. “This time will allow me to focus on healing from some lingering injuries and redirect my energy toward continuing my adventures of surfing around the globe.”
The 36-year-old star has been part of the surfing scene for 17 years and spent much of her early career surfing lesser-known spots, including for the Rip Curl Search series. Gilmore made her breakthrough in 2005 as a wildcard, securing her first world tour event victory, and followed it with four consecutive world championships beginning in 2007.
In her absence, Australia’s Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright will continue to compete on the women’s Championship Tour, joined by Sally Fitzgibbons and Isabella Nichols, who qualified through the 2024 Challenger Series.
Gilmore’s spot on the tour will be filled by Brazil’s Luana Silva.
On the men’s side, Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing headline six Australian surfers set to compete, though reigning men’s champion John John Florence will not be part of the 2025 season. Florence has chosen to focus on new projects, stepping away from full-time competition but securing a wildcard for the 2026 season.
“I’ll be focusing on surfing in a different way this year,” Florence explained. “I am looking to explore, find new waves, and push my surfing as far as possible. I’ll be filming new projects and sharing my adventures, with the goal of competing for another world title in 2026.”
Florence’s absence will open up the men’s competition, as three-time world champion Gabriel Medina will also miss the start of the 2025 season. Medina is recovering from surgery on a pectoral injury sustained while surfing in Brazil and has withdrawn from the first three rounds of the Championship Tour.
Meanwhile, eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater, at 52 years old, has received a wildcard for the Pipeline Pro, where he aims to secure his ninth victory at the iconic event. Women’s 2022 Pipeline winner Moana Jones Wong will also compete as a wildcard at the event, which begins on January 27.
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