A couple of weeks ago we said an Aussie storm was brewing on the WSL CT. Two rounds into Bells, there’s only one Australian left. Out of a possible nine, George Pittar is the only one left on the men’s side. The Brazilians, meanwhile, have come out swinging. At the end of Round Two only Joao Chianca and Mateus Herdy have been eliminated – with Yago Dora advancing after an all Brazilian clash.
Fuelled by Yago’s World Title win, the return of Gabriel Medina or claims online that the Brazilian storm had finally passed, the yellow and green contingent have looked anything but faded at Bells.
In Round Two Gabby eased past Al Cleland Jr, Italo edged Xavier Huxtable in a back-and-forth battle. The wildcard and home town hero knocked the Brazilian out of the comp last season. Alejo Muniz got past former Bells winner Cole Houshmand and Sammy Pupo looked sharp when he beat Jack Robinson – a heat overshadowed by an interference call that’s since sparked debate online.
It’s early days in the 2026 season, but its a promising start for Brazil. We caught up with the country’s current and former champs. Check out those conversations below.
Yago Dora
Expectations for the new season as world champ? Yeah, for sure. There’s definitely a bigger expectation now. Not just from me, but from a lot of other people as well. With Gabriel coming back and everything, in a way that was actually good for me, it took a bit of the spotlight off. But of course, there’s extra pressure from carrying last year’s title. I’m happy though, I’m excited to start this campaign and try to defend it. I know I still have a lot to improve and that’s what I want, to get better at every event and be better than I was last year.
Biggest rival for 2026? It’s an honor for me to hear them (Charles and Andy King) say that I’m his biggest rival. Gabriel has always been an inspiration to me. I’ve watched him surf since I was a kid and saw him achieve everything he has. I’ve always supported him and followed his journey, and I’ve been really inspired by him. So just having my name mentioned as his main rival is super rewarding. I’m really happy he’s back. I love the challenge of competing against the best surfers, against other world champions, that’s what motivates me. I hope he comes back at the level everyone expects, has a great season and that we can really be fighting for the title at the end of the year.
New format? Yeah, it definitely adds more tension. We can’t afford to have a bad first heat. We need to show up fully focused, with the right mindset, the equipment dialed in and a clear idea of what we need to do. So yeah, it’s extra pressure, but I’m ready for it. I’m actually curious to see how it plays out, and I feel prepared to face this new format.
New calendar? I think the main new addition is Raglan, and I’m really happy about that. As a goofy footer, it’s cool to finally have a proper high-performance left on tour. We have other lefts, but they’re mostly barreling waves. So having a performance point break is going to be great. I think it brings a really good balance to the tour. I’ve never been there, so I’m excited to go, get to know the wave, and connect with it. Of course, every event matters the same in terms of points, even Pipe. But Pipe is the most important one, so if there’s one event I’d say I really want to win, it would be Pipe.
Gabriel Medina
Feeling of being back? I’m really happy to be wearing the jersey again. That feeling of competition, that little nervous excitement in your stomach, it feels good. The heat was tough because the ocean went a bit quiet. So it was all about strategy. Alan surfed really well in those conditions. I knew it was going to be hard, so I tried to play smart with priority, being on the right wave at the right time, and it worked out.
Being here with a girlfriend, family support away from home? It’s amazing to have family support, even when they’re far away. You still feel at home. When you’re in good company, time goes by faster and everything feels more natural. I’m really happy to have my girlfriend here with me. Day-to-day life has been great, we’re doing the same things we’d do at home: eating well, sleeping well, enjoying the day, making the most of everything. Of course, the focus is on the competition, but we train together too. She supports me a lot, so I’m really happy.
How have you been adjusting to the new season with so many changes in your personal life? It’s been a year of change, and every change brings a bit of uncertainty. You never really know if it’s the right decision or not. But I followed my heart and made my choices. I take responsibility for that, and I want to make it worth it. I’ve been training hard to be here. Like I said, I like to take things step by step. Mineiro (Adriano De Souza) is someone who knows the path, he’s already won here. He’s someone I really admire, and he’s been keeping me in rhythm, which is great for competition. I needed to get back into competing, and we spent some time at home in Maresias. We came to Australia early, tested boards, and put in the work. We’ve both been through this journey before.
What drives Medina forward these days? Like I said, the choices you make in life create motivation. This is a different year. Mineiro is with me, my girlfriend is with me, I want to make them proud. They’re traveling with me, and that motivates me a lot. And of course, I want that fourth world title. Not many people have it, it’s something special, and it drives me.
It’s hard to say when it’s enough. You’re always finding new motivation. I’m happy to still have that drive because there were moments in my life when I wasn’t feeling as good, when motivation was low. But right now, I’m enjoying surfing. I like going fast on the waves, trying new things, I enjoy that. I’ve been riding different boards, seeing how they respond. Sometimes you step out of your comfort zone and notice details you didn’t see before. Every change has its positives, and I’m happy with the decisions I’ve made. Everything is coming together.
Filipe Toledo
What has changed for you compared to last season? I worked a lot on my physical and mental side. But at the same time, I was really present as a dad. I just had my third child, and I had my other two kids there as well, so I got to spend a lot of time with my family. I really enjoyed that time at home, which is pretty rare for us, to have almost eight months off. So I made the most of it, doing things I usually can’t do with them. At the same time, it was a very complete pre-season. So I’m feeling well prepared.
What motivates you to come back every year and go through it all again? I think it’s about preparing for something that’s uncertain. We’re chasing a world title, but we depend on nature—the ocean, the wind, the tide, so many variables. You prepare everything that’s under your control for something that’s actually uncontrollable. I think that’s crazy—and that’s what motivates me. To be ready for any kind of condition, any adversity. And also, just the love for it. I love this sport, I love surfing, I love competing—it’s in my blood. As long as I feel that, I’ll keep competing.
New format? I think even though they changed something people were just getting used to, the Finals format, which I’m not a huge fan of (exchange), it also brought a different vibe to the tour. Adding a new event in New Zealand gives it something fresh. It adds a bit of extra fire for the season, for everyone. So yeah, that was probably the main thing.
