Not Just John: Stephanie Gilmore Confirms She Will ALSO Skip The 2025 CT
But, with seven years and AUD$3.5 million left on her Rip Curl contract, Steph’s not done yet.
Editor’s note: Two multi surfing world champs and tastemakers have confirmed, on the same day, that they will not be competing on the 2025 WSL Championship Tour. Read about John Florence here and Steph below.
In 2007, a 19-year-old Stephanie Gilmore won her first World Title. It was her Rookie Year.
It was the first time a surfer had one a World Title in their rookie season since Wendy Botha in 1987 and then Kelly Slater in 1992. Nobody has done this since.
But winning the title wasn’t the start of Steph’s reputation proliferating across the surfing world. She originally made her presence known by winning the very first CT contest she ever surfed — the 2005 Roxy Pro Gold Coast — as a wildcard.
But, after Steph’s inaugural 2007 World Title, the Australian won three more — in a row — from 2008 – 2010. Then, Steph gave her competitors a brief reprieve in 2011, only to win another title in 2012, and then another in 2014, then another in 2018, and, finally an eighth Title in 2022 — by surfing her way through a marathon barrage of heats to climb from fifth place to first with the new WSL Finals format. As a result, Steph now holds more surfing world titles than any woman in history.
Those aren’t the only awards she’s won, though. In 2010 Steph was inducted in the Surfers’ Hall of Fame (at 22 years old — one year younger than Kelly Slater was when he was inducted). She also won two ESPN “ESPY” awards for “Best Female Action Sports Athlete” — one in 2011 and another in 2013.
Steph was also our 2018/2020/2022 Stab Surfer of the Year and starred in her own season of The Electric Acid Surfboard Test.
But, since opposition must strike all things, Steph has faced her share of challenges. In 2010, after her historic four titles in a row, she was attacked outside of her apartment by a man armed with a metal pipe. Steph suffered a broken wrist and multiple head lacerations as a result and still placed sixth the next season.
Also, in 2015, Steph sustained a knee injury that took her out of the entire season.
Perhaps most impressive about Steph’s two decades around the tour, is that she’s had to adapt her surfing to fit the rapidly changing female professional surfing landscape. Besides an occasional gravity defiance from Silvana Lima, aerial surfing was simply not a thing when Steph surfed her first WCT event in 2005. Similarly, waves like Pipeline and Cloudbreak weren’t considered feasible venues for the Women’s World Tour. Now, 20 years later, if Erin Brooks got spewed out of Pipe portal straight into an air reverse it wouldn’t be surprising.
Steph’s surfing has remained relevant, poetic, and exciting through all stages of surfing’s evolution.
Today, Steph confirmed our long-held suspicions: she will not compete on the 2025 Championship Tour. In her own words:
Hey friends,
After careful consideration, I’ve decided to take another season away from the WSL tour. This time will allow me to focus on healing some lingering injuries and redirect my energy toward continuing my adventures of surfing around the globe. I’m deeply grateful for the unwavering support of my sponsors and I wish all the athletes on tour the best of luck this season!
See you in the surf
Let’s not forget, just last year Stephanie signed an eight-year contract with Rip Curl for a total of $4M AUD. Whether or not she ever competes again, we’re assured to see Steph do what we love to see her do — surf beautiful waves beautifully.
In the words of Kelly Slater, “Stephanie Gilmore is God’s gift to surfing.”
Enjoy your time in the sun, Steph, you earned it.
PS, Steph’s spot on the 2025 CT will be filled by #11 on last year’s CT, Luana Silva.
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