Historic Win for Carissa Moore as New Mother, Returns to the Top of the Podium

In an incredible return to form, Carissa Moore (HAW) claimed her first CT event win since 2023, following two seasons away, welcoming her daughter, ‘Olena, to the world. The five-time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist dominated the first-ever Championship Tour event to be held at New Zealand’s premier left point of Raglan, posting the highest heat totals in every round, including the overall highest of the season in the Semifinals, a near-perfect 19.00 (out of a possible 20). The result further solidifies Moore’s place at No. 2 on the all-time CT win list with 29 victories.

The most recent woman in the CT’s 50-year history to win an event as a mother, Moore joins fellow Hawaiian Melanie Bartels (HAW), who won two events after giving birth, the most recent in 2008, and four-time World Champion Lisa Andersen (USA), who claimed 15 of her 21 CT wins after her daughter was born. Moore’s victory follows a similar trajectory to eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), who took a stunning win at home on the Gold Coast at Stop No. 3 earlier this month after also taking a two-season break from the CT. 

Moore also won the first-ever women’s CT to be held in New Zealand at Taranaki in 2010, her first victory as a 17-year-old Rookie on Tour, and gifted all of her prize money to the local Waitara Bar Boardriders Club, a contingent of which came to support her in this event. Having won the regular season for every year she’s competed on the CT since 2019, the 33-year-old’s move to No. 6 on the rankings is a major threat to the new generation on Tour.

“This is for the moms, never stop dreaming if you want to.”

“This is for the moms, never stop dreaming if you want to,” Moore said. “When I walked away two years ago, I didn’t know if I’d ever get this feeling back or this opportunity to surf perfect waves with only one other person out in front of a beautiful crowd and at a beautiful place with my family on the beach. In that process, you doubt yourself so much, and so I think the win means so much to me. I do want to say thank you to my husband because without him, this wouldn’t be possible. To my beautiful daughter, who is adapting to all these conditions and places we’re going, I couldn’t do it if she weren’t willing to; she has given me a strength that I didn’t even know I had. And my dad, he’s here. For me, this feels like a really full-circle moment with him. Our first CT win was here in New Zealand, and so to have it with him here is really cool. And my sister was here, and all my family at home has been so special. I really want to dedicate this win to Greg Browning, my friend who passed away last year. He is the most spectacular human I’ve ever met, and he is the example that I think we all should strive to be because he lived with kindness and love and treated people well because that’s what matters.”

An extremely exciting Final saw 2024 Rookie of the Year Sawyer Lindblad (USA) push Moore all the way to the end. After Lindblad struck first for a small score, Moore took the second exchange, opening with an excellent 8.50 over a 7.67 from Lindblad. A fall from Moore on a larger set wave opened the door for Lindblad to take the upper hand. The Southern Californian goofy-footer drove through a series of searing forehand carves to post a 9.00, leaving Moore in need of an 8.18. The Hawaiian continued to attack but was unable to find excellence again until the six-minute mark, when a steep inside section opened up for her to seamlessly deliver a combination of three powerful backhand blasts and earn a 9.40, for a 17.90 heat total. Overcoming a series of competitors whose careers she has heavily influenced, including Bella Kenworthy (USA), fellow Olympic Gold Medalist and 2023 World Champion Caroline Marks (USA), and compatriot Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), Moore once again returned to the top of the podium.

“I was on the ropes for a good portion of that heat. When [Sawyer Lindblad] dropped that 9.00, I was like, ok, well, I need a wave, and I need to show up,” Moore continued. “Sawyer’s been on point all event. I respect her so much, and I think she’s really found her form this year. This place has held a special place in my heart for a really long time. My experience here in 2010 changed my whole perspective on my career, what success looked like, and how I wanted to live. I just want to say a big mahalo to the community in Taranaki, but also here, and how you all have shown up every single day. The love and the energy and the mana in this place are indescribable and something I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Sawyer Lindblad’s Forehand Brilliance Earns Career-Defining Runner-Up Finish

Sawyer Lindblad (USA) delivered the performance of her career to claim her third CT runner-up finish. The only woman to come close to matching Carissa Moore’s (HAW) benchmark-setting numbers throughout the event, Lindblad displayed a forehand attack that rivals the best on Tour. Bringing excellence in nearly every heat, the 20-year-old defeated a series of heavyweight opponents, including eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS), along with fellow Southern Californian goofy-footer Alyssa Spencer (USA). Lindblad’s result moves her to the equal-highest ranking of her career at World No. 5.

“It was a really good day. I’m just really grateful that we had such amazing conditions to end this event,” Lindblad said. “It’s been a long couple of weeks. I feel like I’ve been here for a really long time, but it’s been really nice, and I love this country. Everyone is so nice, and I’ve really enjoyed my time here in New Zealand. It’s been a good start to the year, and I’m really excited for the rest of the year too. I feel like my time is definitely coming soon. I’m just very blessed.”

For highlights from the 2026 Corona Cero New Zealand Pro Presented by Bonsoy, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com. 

Corona Cero New Zealand Pro Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Final Results

1. Carissa Moore (HAW) 17.90

2. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 16.67