Carissa Moore Chases the World Lead After Claiming Her Second Title of the Season

Carissa Moore, after winning the Surf City El Salvador Pro - Aaron Hughes / WSL

The five-time world champion secured her second title of the season as a mother and is authoring one of the most successful comebacks in professional surfing. She currently sits No. 2 in the world rankings, just 1,575 points behind women's leader Gabriela Bryan.

Carissa Moore is proving that her return to the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour is about much more than simply coming back to competition. The 33-year-old Hawaiian claimed victory at the Surf City El Salvador Pro, the fifth stop of the world tour held at Punta Roca, earning her second win of the 2026 season and once again establishing herself as one of the leading contenders for the world title.

Hawaiian Carissa Moore, a five-time WSL champion, competes in the final of the Surf City El Salvador Pro at Punta Roca - Aaron Hughes / WSL

The victory in El Salvador carried special significance for the five-time world champion. In the final, she defeated Australia's Tyler Wright to claim the event title and secure her second Championship Tour victory as a mother, following her return to elite competition after taking time away from the sport to start a family.

However, the road to this successful comeback began a few weeks earlier in New Zealand. During the fourth stop of the Tour, held at the historic left-hand point break of Raglan, Moore lifted a trophy she had previously won in 2010. Sixteen years after that first triumph, the Hawaiian once again became New Zealand Pro champion after defeating Sawyer Lindblad, the 2025 Rookie of the Year and current world No. 6, in the final.

Carissa Moore celebrates her victory with her family at the Corona Cero New Zealand Pro presented by Bonsoy - Rambo Estrada / WSL

That victory marked an important milestone in her return, as it represented her first win since coming back to full-time competition on Tour. Far from being satisfied, Moore confirmed her outstanding form at Punta Roca, where she returned to the top of the podium to claim back-to-back victories for the first time since her comeback.

Beyond the results, one of the most remarkable aspects of her season has been this new chapter in her life. At every stop on the Tour, she has been accompanied by her husband and daughter, making motherhood an integral part of her experience as a professional athlete and becoming an inspiration to many athletes around the world.

Carissa Moore with her family after surfing in Heat 2 of the quarterfinals of the Surf City El Salvador Pro - Aaron Hughes / WSL

The results are already reflected in the rankings. After five events, Moore sits second in the women's world rankings with 28,745 points, while Gabriela Bryan leads with 30,320. The gap between them is just 1,575 points, a margin that could quickly shrink if the Hawaiian maintains her current level through the upcoming events.

With two consecutive victories, renewed motivation, and the support of her family at every event, Carissa Moore is authoring one of the most remarkable comebacks professional surfing has seen in recent years. Although much of the season still remains, the five-time world champion has made one thing clear: she returned to the Tour with the goal of fighting for the top spot in the world once again.

Now, the focus shifts to Brazil. From June 19 to 27, the Championship Tour heads to Saquarema for the Vivo Rio Pro, where Carissa Moore will look to extend her impressive run of form and continue closing the gap on the women's world rankings leader.