Snapper Rocks Delivered. Here's What Went Down.

The World Tour returned to the Gold Coast this year and it did not disappoint.
The 2026 Gold Coast Pro at Snapper Rocks was, by any measure, one of the most electric CT events in recent history. Four days of ruler-edge pointbreak lines, stacked beachfronts, packed scaffolding and some of the best high-performance surfing we’ve seen in years. It had everything that makes CT surfing matter - iconic waves, hometown heroes, world-class boards under the feet of the best surfers on the planet, and an atmosphere that reminded everyone why Snapper Rocks sits in a league of its own.

We were there - right in the thick of it with the Pro Shop. 

Two Australian Champions. One Unforgettable Event.

The results matched the occasion. On the women's side, Stephanie Gilmore delivered one of the most emotional wins of the season, returning to the top step in front of a home crowd that never stopped roaring. On the men's, Queensland's own Ethan Ewing was dominant from start to finish, putting on an absolute clinic in the men’s draw. Two Australians. Two wins. Snapper at its absolute best.

The Numbers Backed It Up

If you needed proof that CT surfing is back in a big way, the audience data says it all. The Gold Coast Pro drew the largest viewership seen in recent seasons, with clips, highlights and heat moments flooding feeds across the globe - up 12% year on year. Social media engagement was confirmed as the strongest since 2024, with early indications it could rank as the highest in WSL history.

But honestly, you could feel it without the stats.

The beach energy was different. The surfing was different. The conversation around the event was different.

We Were Proud to Be Part of It

Surfboard Empire's presence at Snapper during the Gold Coast Pro with the Pro Shop was something we've been building toward for years. Events like this are why we do what we do - connecting serious surfers with world-class surfing, world-class boards, and a community that cares about the sport as much as we do.

Snapper's back. And we'll be back with it.

The next stop on the World Surf League Championship Tour is the Corona Cero New Zealand Pro kicking off this Friday at Raglan - keep an eye out for the Surfboard Empire CT Shaper Rankings presented by VEIA as the world’s leading shapers go head-to-head once again.

Stay across upcoming events, new board drops and exclusive in-store activations at surfboardempire.com.au