Stephanie Gilmore may have achieved more than any other woman in surfing, and has spent recent years on sponsor-funded wave odysseys, playing guitar at gigs to adoring crowds, developing apparel collabs and launching her own tequila, but she will turn back the clock in 2026.
The 37-year-old, who turns 38 in January, will return to full-time competition on the elite tour after accepting a season-long wildcard to surf the World Surf League’s Championship Tour.
“The last few years, I’ve enjoyed time off to do some exploration and other things, but I’m looking forward to heading back to the CT in 2026, and seeing how I compete against the young talent on the tour,” she said.
Gilmore made an appearance on tour in May, when she was given a wildcard at the Gold Coast Pro. She progressed to the quarter-finals by overcoming defending world champion Caitlin Simmers, but was ultimately defeated by another teenager in Canadian Erin Brooks.
“I’m mostly excited just to see how I go in these challenges again,” Gilmore said. “When you step away from competing full-time, you can really switch off, and it can be hard to get back into that headspace, but I’m excited to feel that energy and that challenge again.”
Gilmore has won eight world titles, more than any other surfer, and her most recent success came in 2022. That year her improbable finals victory took her past Layne Beachley’s record of seven global crowns.
But she withdrew from the tour in 2024 saying she wanted to pursue other passions, which have included playing guitar with rock group Spiderbait, and travelling the world for surf documentaries.
Gilmore remains a woman in demand, and signed a new eight-year, multi-million dollar endorsement deal with Rip Curl even after she has stopped competing. “I’ve had incredible opportunities over the last few years, and it’s actually been busier than I could have imagined,” Gilmore said.
She will be far from favourite next year in the season that begins at Bells Beach in Victoria in April. In her absence a new generation of surfers has emerged, including 22-year-old defending world champion Molly Picklum from the NSW Central Coast.
“It will be nice to get back on tour and have a schedule mapped out for the year. It’s been fun, but I’m looking forward to getting back into a bit more of a routine, so we’ll see where that leads me.”
