Asher Pacey’s surfing is defined by flow rather than force. Every turn is unhurried, every line intentional, drawing speed from the wave instead of overpowering it. On twin fins and alternative boards, he opens faces with clean arcs and effortless trim, showing how style, timing, and wave knowledge are everything. I know, it’s sickening isn’t it, hit play to watch him full flow.
A Film By: Jon Arman
Music:
Escape-ism - "Walking in the Dark"
Somewhere in a remote corner of southern Chile, when the sandbank is in place and the ocean finds its order, perfection appears.
Clean, cold, silent barrels.
Secret perfection with Cristian Merello.
A single surf super session went down recently—one of those days that just kept pumping for hours on end. It was an unreal session for Gearoid Mcdaid, sharing waves with some of his friends in the water.
Featured: Gearóid Mcdaid, Noah Lane, Louis Thomas Hudson, Arran Strong
Filmed by: Michael Mc Caughey and Joao Tudela
Edit: Michael Mc Caughey
Photos: Cory Scott
The World Surf League (WSL) announced the addition of Aotearoa, New Zealand, to the schedule for the 2026 Championship Tour (CT). From May 15 - 25, the top 36 men and 24 women will compete at the left-hand point break of Manu Bay, Raglan, located on the west coast of the North Island's Waikato region. The New Zealand Pro joins the calendar as stop number four of WSL’s updated CT format and will take place at the optimal time of year for New Zealand’s most famous wave.
“We’re excited to welcome this new location to the CT in the 50th year of the World Tour,” said WSL CEO Ryan Crosby. “As a quality left-hander, Manu Bay, Raglan is a great addition to the tour and has been made possible thanks to valuable support from the New Zealand Government.”
“I’m very happy with the addition of a rippable left on tour,” said Yago Dora, 2025 WSL World Champion. “It’s been a long time asking to have one on the schedule, and we finally got it! I’ve never been to New Zealand, and I'm very happy that I will get the chance to go there for the first time and experience what seems to be a very beautiful part of the world. The place looks amazing so I'm truly excited to go there for the first time and compete at Raglan.”
“Obviously, so psyched to have an event that’s not too far from home,” said Molly Picklum, 2025 WSL World Champion. “We don’t have a rippable left point break on tour, so I absolutely love that I get to bring out the backside attack. New Zealand culture and the way of life there is just a breath of fresh air, which is so appreciated when we are travelling so much. So all in all, I’m excited for that event. I think having NZ on tour brings us a world-class location when it comes to waves and food, which for me is all I ever worry about!”
New Zealand has a strong track record of hosting elite professional surfing events, including women’s CT stops from 2010 to 2013 at Taranaki, which then transitioned to a Qualifying Series (QS) event, a men’s QS event at Raglan in 1995 and the Rip Curl Pro Raglan, part of the New Zealand Surf Series, which ran for more than two decades. The 2026 “Backdoor King and Queen of the Point” event staged by Surfing New Zealand (SNZ) in early May will serve as the official trials for the event. The best performing man and woman will receive the SNZ wildcards into the CT event.
“I’m thrilled to be able to support a World Surf League Championship Tour event coming to our shores,” said Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston. “Fans can watch the world’s best surfers compete, while showcasing Raglan as a top surf destination, growing the sport in New Zealand, and boosting local tourism.”
“Hosting a World Tour event at Raglan is a landmark moment for surfing in Aotearoa,” said Ben Kennings, Chief Executive, SNZ. “This will be the biggest surfing event ever staged in New Zealand, bringing the world’s best surfers to our most iconic break. The impact goes well beyond the event itself; it elevates the profile of surfing nationally. The opportunity for young New Zealand surfers to witness the world’s best up close is invaluable and will have a lasting impact on the future of our sport.”
Marking the 50th year of the World Tour, 2026 welcomes an increased women’s field as well as a combined men’s and women’s 12-stop CT schedule that will run from April to December, 2026. The tour starts in Australia and concludes in Hawai‘i, culminating in a revitalized Pipe Masters that will close the season with a high-stakes, all-inclusive finale.
Here is the calendar for the 2026 WSL Championship Tour:
Stop No. 1 - Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia: April 1 - 11
Stop No. 2 - Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia: April 16 - 26
Stop No. 3 - Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia: May 1 - 11
Stop No. 4 - Raglan, New Zealand: May 15 - 25
Stop No. 5 - Punta Roca, El Salvador: June 5 - 15
Stop No. 6 - Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: June 19 - 27
Stop No. 7 - Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia: August 8 - 18
Stop No. 8 - Cloudbreak, Fiji: August 25 - September 4
Stop No. 9 - Lower Trestles, San Clemente, Calif., USA: September 11 - 20
Stop No. 10 - Surf Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE: October 14 - 18*
Stop No. 11 - Peniche, Portugal: October 22 - November 1*
Stop No. 12 - Banzai Pipeline, Hawaiʻi, USA: December 8 - 20**
*Events feature a reduced field
**Full CT fields compete for Pipe Masters Titles
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Recent days have seen an alarming cluster of shark attacks along the New South Wales coastline, with four separate incidents reported in a short period of time. The series began when a 12-year-old boy was critically injured in Sydney Harbour, followed by an incident at Dee Why where an 11-year-old escaped injury after a shark bit his surfboard. Shortly after, a 27-year-old surfer was seriously injured at Manly, and the most recent attack occurred on the Mid North Coast at Point Plomer, where a 39-year-old surfer suffered minor injuries. Authorities believe recent heavy rainfall and murky water conditions may have increased shark activity close to shore, leading to beach closures and strong warnings for people to stay out of the ocean until conditions improve.
Our thoughts are with anyone affected by these events.
For its 13th edition, the big-wave competition held annually in Hossegor at the legendary La Nord spot once again delivered a spectacular display of high-level surfing.
From early morning, the world’s top big-wave surfers took to the water in solid conditions, with waves ranging from 2.5 to 3 meters. As the day progressed, the tide rose and the wind shifted offshore, smoothing the ocean surface while the swell remained consistent. These conditions provided final-round sets exceeding 3 meters, with some waves producing impressive barrels.
As a reminder, competition criteria require a minimum wave size of 3 to 4 meters. Scoring takes into account both wave size and the surfer’s level of commitment. The event’s waiting period runs from November 1 to April 1.
Despite overcast weather and occasional showers, the spot facing Hossegor’s central beach drew a large crowd of spectators, who came to watch and applaud the unwavering commitment of the surfers.
For the second consecutive year, local surfer Kyllian Guerin claimed the overall victory. He was joined on the podium by two other regional surfers, Nelson Cloarec and Jeff Lartigue. Notably, Nelson Cloarec earned the highest score of the competition with a perfect 10 in the final, thanks to a stunning barrel on a powerful right.
Sincere thanks to the Comité des Landes de Surf, organizer of the event, as well as the Hossegor Surf Club for their warm welcome and invaluable contribution to the success of the competition.
See you next year for the next edition of the Rip Curl Challenge La Nord!
SURF RESULTS
STAND UP PADDLE RESULTS
Live recording below:
