Stephanie Gilmore reveals Pipeline title dream following successful opening heat at Gold Coast Pro

Surfing legend Stephanie Gilmore has left the door open for a world tour return after the eight-time world champion starred with Australian surfers at the Gold Coast Pro. Details inside.

Eight-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia prior to surfing in Heat 2 of the Opening Round at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro on May 3, 2025, at Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia. (Photo by Andrew Shield/World Surf League)

Stephanie Gilmore has not ruled out the possibility of claiming a ninth world title at Pipeline following the World Surf League revealing the Hawaiian break will again end the Championship Tour in 2026.

The new tour will start in Australia in April and run through to December with the world champion to be crowned at Pipeline.

“Women’s surfing has been pushed into a whole new realm these last few years and I have been watching from a far a lot of it because I took some time off and I think it’s just mind-blowing,” she said.

“I don’t know if I’ll really be able to win another title but we’ll see, Pipeline’s one of those places where it’s such a historical wave, to win an event and win a world title there would just be mind-bending so would obviously love to do it.

“To see the tour has now been reshaped to a mix of the old and the new, it’s pretty cool.

“To crown a female world champion at pipeline would be just the coolest thing ever.”

Quizzed on whether she would be there for another title push, the eight-time world champion refused to rule it out.

“There’s a lot of events to get through before you get to that point so I’d love to but that’s a hell of a long way away,” Gilmore said.

“We’ll see what happens but looking forward to testing myself and seeing what the following future years may bring.”

Eight-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia surfs in Heat 2 of the Opening Round at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro on May 3, 2025, at Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia. (Photo by Beatriz Ryder/World Surf League)

Gilmore put in a strong performance in her opening heat at the Gold Coast Pro on Saturday as she progressed through to the next stage in a clash with reigning world champion Caitlin Simmers and Luana Silva.

“It was really fun, I was actually incredibly nervous and it felt like super scary and then as soon as I got out there it just felt great,” she said.

“All those feelings of competition and the nerves and the excitement and looking at the beach and seeing so many people on the headland I went ‘yes I love this feeling’.

“It was really fun to battle with Caty and Luana (Silva), it was a tough one, Caty’s so good, she answers back every time and that’s why she’s the current world champ, it was great to battle with her.”

Sophie McCulloch’s love affair with Burleigh Heads continued on Saturday as she claimed victory in her opening round heat.

The Sunshine Coaster won a spot on the main draw after securing victory in the trials on Friday and continued her form on Saturday with a win in her heat against world No. 1 Gabriela Bryan and Bella Kenworthy.

“I am pretty stoked, Gabby’s a good mate, and before I won the trials I told her I was coming for her so I’m happy I stayed true to my word,” she said.

“I think the ocean played into my hands a little bit at the end then but definitely a long journey and I’m happy to be back.”

Sophie McCulloch of Australia surfing in the trials prior to the commencement of the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro on May 2, 2025 at Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia. (Photo by Andrew Shield/World Surf League)

McCulloch has excelled at Burleigh since her remarkable return from a broken back.

She secured a victories in the Gold Coast Open in February and was a part of the winning North Shore team at the Australian Boardriders Battle in April at the same break.

McCulloch said her experience at Burleigh was crucial for her opening round win in her Championship Tour return.

“I thought coming into this I wouldn’t feel much pressure or anything being a wildcard and the cuts not looming but caught me a bit by surprise this morning,” she said.

“The whole atmosphere is incredible so had to try and take it back a notch and the nerves definitely trickled into my surfing a little bit but I’m happy my experience at this wave helped me out a lot today.”

It was a successful day across the board for the Australian competitors, with the majority of the local contingent advancing.

Aussies Jack Robinson, Ryan Callinan and Julian Wilson will all face off in the first men’s elimination round heat tomorrow, while Jordan Lawler and Joel Vaughan will also compete in the elimination rounds.