Ethan Ewing claims Gold Coast Pro title in tight final at Snapper Rocks

Key facts

• Ethan Ewing won the men's final 14.56 to 14.17 against Connor O'Leary.
• Stephanie Gilmore defeated Luana Silva 17.33 to 14.07 in the women's final.
• Gilmore's 9.50 was the highest single-wave score of the day.
• This is Ewing's third career Championship Tour victory.
• Gilmore earned her 34th CT win and seventh title at Snapper Rocks.
• Competition was halted earlier in the week due to a shark sighting within 500 metres.
• The next event is the New Zealand Pro at Raglan, May 15-25.

Sunshine and solid surf greet finals day after week of disruption

After days of rain, the WSL Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro at Snapper Rocks concluded under sunny skies with solid surf. A low tide exposed the sand, creating a packed amphitheatre as crowds streamed in from both sides of the NSW–Queensland border. The event had been briefly halted earlier in the week when a shark sighting within 500 metres of the break forced officials to suspend heats under WSL safety protocols. Conditions on finals day were among the best of the window, with clean waves allowing surfers to showcase their full repertoire. The low tide also shaped the sandbank, producing long, hollow rides that rewarded both power and precision.

Gilmore ends early-season drought with dominant performance

Stephanie Gilmore entered the event after losing her first two opening heats at Bells Beach and Margaret River, leaving her dead last in the women's rankings. But at Snapper Rocks, the seven-time world champion rediscovered her form. She took on 21-year-old Brazilian Luana Silva in the final, a surfer who had just claimed a career-first world No.1 ranking by defeating American Sawyer Lindblad in the semifinals. With less than eight minutes remaining, Gilmore delivered the defining moment of the heat: a 9.50, the highest single-wave score of the day. Silva responded with powerful vertical turns, but Gilmore held on to win 17.33 to 14.07. The victory was Gilmore's 34th career Championship Tour win and her seventh at Snapper Rocks, the break where she first won as a 17-year-old wildcard in 2005. It shot her up the rankings from last to seventh.

Ewing controls the men's final from the opening horn

Ethan Ewing faced Japan's Connor O'Leary in the men's final. Ewing set the tone early with an 8.33, combining compact turns, strong rail work and floaters to control the heat. He carried that momentum through the final, winning 14.56 to 14.17 in a tight contest. The victory is Ewing's third career CT win and his first at the Gold Coast. His strong run through the elimination rounds demonstrated consistency under pressure, a quality that has marked his rise in recent seasons.

Australian leg reshapes rankings as Brazilian surfers lead both tours

The Australian leg has made an early impact on the world rankings. Gabriel Medina leaves Oz with the yellow jersey, followed by George Pittar, Miguel Pupo, Ewing, and Samuel Pupo rounding out the top five. On the women's side, Luana Silva holds the yellow jersey, meaning Brazil owns the top spot in both the men's and women's rankings. Gabriela Bryan, Lakey Peterson, Molly Picklum and Caity Simmers complete the women's top five. Ewing's win vaults him into the top five, while Gilmore's surge from last to seventh keeps her in contention for another world title.

Next stop: New Zealand Pro at Raglan

The Championship Tour continues down under with the New Zealand Pro at Raglan, scheduled for May 15-25. The event will test surfers on the left-hand point break, a stark contrast to the sand-bottom peaks of Snapper Rocks. For Ewing and Gilmore, the momentum from their Gold Coast victories could prove crucial as the season progresses. With the rankings tightening and several contenders within striking distance, the New Zealand Pro promises to be a pivotal chapter in the 2024 title race.

The bottom line

• Ethan Ewing won his third CT title, defeating Connor O'Leary 14.56–14.17 at Snapper Rocks.
• Stephanie Gilmore ended an early-season slump with a 9.50 wave and her seventh win at the break.
• Gilmore's 34th CT victory moved her from last to seventh in the women's rankings.
• Brazil's Luana Silva and Gabriel Medina hold the yellow jerseys after the Australian leg.
• The tour continues at the New Zealand Pro in Raglan from May 15-25.