"I'm excited to feel that energy!"
In news just thrown onto the expanse of my lovely late twenty-first century, designed in Sweden built in Bangladesh, desk, Stephanie Gilmore, the retired eight-time world champ who recently pivoted into the hard liquor biz, has announced she’s gonna jump back on tour in 2026, aged almost forty.
Stephanie Gilmore’s Return to Competition
“I’m mostly excited just to see how I go in these challenges again. 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.”
Stephanie Gilmore retired a couple of years back, making the decision on the eve of her thirty-sixth birthday, Gilmore following the five-time champ Carissa Moore into the sunset. Ironically, Carissa Moore has also announced she’s gonna be back in 2026.
If you’ll remember, the zenith of Stephanie Gilmore’s career came in 2022 when she dominated Finals Day, starting in fifth place, mowing through all-comers before beating Carissa Moore in the winner-take-all surf-off.
Six months later, and after much reflection, Gilmore said she felt guilty about the way she won.
I’d only ever won titles in the other fashion where you accumulate points through the season and the winner at the end is who has the most points. In this fashion you just try and make the top five and on the very final day the world’s best battle it out and that moment crowns a world champion. You could have a bad day and Carissa just wasn’t on that day. A big part of me still thinks the world champion should be crowned over all the different conditions, surfing is about being able to compete in all different kinds of waves and being successful all through the year.”
But it’s not as if surf fans have been completely deprived of Stephanie Gilmore’s sublime lines.
Around the same time as her May reappearance, Stephanie Gilmore headlined Rip Curl’s massive PR counter-offensive amid the wreckage of their trans misstep, the Kathamndu-owned surf brand signing Gilmore on an eight-year contract worth between six and ten mill.
“To be able to partner with Rip Curl on a deal that not only for myself, but for women in sport is something that’s truly groundbreaking, just it feels right,” said Stephanie Gilmore.
“You can align yourself with brands for certain things but unless it really feels authentic and true to who you are, then the audience can feel that. It feels right to me, and I’m super happy with that.
“It’s an iconic deal. It’s historic. And there’s something about that, that makes me feel proud to know that I’m allowing this space to open up for the women of the next generations – and also for the companies that we’re working alongside to realise that this is a fantastic way to celebrate female athletes and it can be very healthy and successful for both of us.”
As for the 2026 return for Stephanie Gilmore.
Smart play or Slater-esque in its futility?
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beg to differ.
Cloudbreak at size
Yeah it’s almost like if they don’t wave their banner, learn how to assimilate into the local culture and even marry interracially you would never know right?
Scary stuff.
She’ll be fine on her forehand in clean conditions and will teach the kids lessons about heat management
And, she’s not that old and the young girls make mistake after mistake.
Smart play required by her new contract.
3 heavy lefts on schedule, wonder if Chas has noticed
Can’t let her bask in the 8 Million sun sitting idle by minute 25 with no intention
She’s going to have to up her heavy game to compete on some of the stops now. Gonna be interesting…
not really, can just duck it like Pip, enough rights on tour.
Pro athletes, famously, have a VERY hard time letting go of the competition.
But nothing wrong with skating until the wheels fall off, as long as you’re not doing permanent damage to the body.
I get that you don’t like Mick and Parko, and that you genuinely have solid reasons.
But you could say the same for the behaviour of every Aussie champ ever. You don’t think they all have views that would make people turn and walk away?
So mick said something highly racist against your kin. I get it; it’s fucked up. Well, sorry to be the one to inform you about the views of the rest of Australian surfers. Is it that you’re fine if you have these views in private as long as you don’t say them in public? You know what I’m talking about. You’ve been around those convos your whole life.
Seems very strange to call Parko a Karen because he did that thing that one time where he tried to stop his neighbourhood from looking like shit, even if it did prevent the kids from having a swell time. Maybe it’s time to let it go; or maybe not and you can continue how you choose on your own website and it doesn’t matter how strange it seems.
Chas is Jewish?
Who knew?
Carissa announces retirement, steph announces retirement. Carissa announces return, steph announces return… very slater-esk. There just be something about being a GOAT that makes one act like this.
either way, I wish them the best on tour. It would be pretty sick if they both finished top 5
Now John has announced his return as well
Yeah but Carrissa decides to have a baby….Steph’s outta there!
JJF had a baby, Kelly had a baby
nah, Coolie kids smart with money, lots of biz ventures.
Are people really buying that tequila?
fcuk nose.
she bought property as well.
Will she go vert? Asking for a competitor.
It’s meal time.
Every Steph heat is a good time to make a snack.
Need DSS&S recipes for 2026
Dude is surfing below sea level dredges alone, no time to cook for you
Rosey Hodge is a classier lady, top notch.
It’s true! Very erudite as it happens. Reads fine books.
Pleasantly learned more in your ten words there than in recent articles..
Are they watching fanning take a piss in top pic?
Carissa and stef are done, stay in retirement with some dignity , neither are a match for caity and co
The wsl doesnt need any more kellys
Her mate signed her on that ridiculous deal, mate got sacked and now Rip Curl want her to actually try and do something rather than just try and flog her own tequila. How the fuck does that deal of hers help other ladies or any other cunt in general besides herself? Sponno dollars are at a minimum and she sucked up heaps and has literally done fuck all for the past two years.
haha, beat me to it. SHE is doing it for the (sports)women of the world – good for her.
Communication / PR nowadays is you just say anything that sounds good first, whether it makes any sense comes a distant second.
Dude, she signed that deal and was like “wee twin fins are fun!!!!” $$$$
I guess shes bored with dog/cat life
Thought she would have popped out a quick kid first.
I hope Carissa mops the fucking ceiling with Steph and sends her back to a crate of XXXX in upside down land.
🤣
RIPcuntz putting the pressure on to get return for investment , realzing that no cunt GAF about retired middle aged surfers. Let alone boring safe surfing female ones.
No cunt. ie like 58 year old moaning bitter male divorcees online?
When you did turn 58.?
Not yet, I’ve always been ahead of the curve.
Wish i was 58 again
Nice comeback, I did LOL at that one.
Might have to put this in the “don’t give a shit” file.
What about Kolohe ?
…….
That’s right, cunt couldn’t beat time with a drum
hey man, lighten up on Kuntlohe
To be fair, anyone who’s dad is named Dino Andino was always going to be a queer cunt.
Hahahahaha
Honestly, I like Kolohe. he’s a pretty nice guy, but Dino……is an absolute cunt.
Too funny.