Simmers Wins Inaugural Philippines Pro
Oceanside surfer Caitlin Simmers claimed the first World Surf League title of the new Philippines Pro event, her first win this year.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Surfing
Caitlin Simmers won the inaugural Philippines Pro surfing event, defeating Australian Isabella Nichols in the final. Gabriel Medina also won the men's draw after four days of competition.
Why it matters
The win moves Simmers up to third place in the world rankings and comes after she reached the finals of a World Tour event in Portugal weeks earlier. The Cloud 9 surf spot made its debut as a World Tour stop.
Official World Surf League results and rankings show Simmers climbing to third in the world standings, with Medina second. The stub does not say whether the seven-stitch ankle injury will affect her upcoming competitions.
The players
Caitlin Simmers
Simmers is a surfer from Oceanside who earned the 2024 world championship as the youngest shortboard competitor to win the title.
Gabriel Medina
Medina is a Brazilian surfer and multiple world champion who won the Philippines Pro men's draw.
The details
Simmers used tube riding and critical turns to earn the highest scores in each heat. In the quarterfinals she collided with Yolanda Hopkins, a clash that drew an unintentional interference call and required seven stitches to Simmers' ankle.
Timeline
November 2026: Simmers and Medina win the inaugural Philippines Pro.
December 2026: Simmers heads to the Pipeline Masters.
2028: Summer Games at Lower Trestles, where Simmers could return for Team USA.
Season Trajectory
The Philippines Pro adds a new stop to the World Surf League World Tour, with Cloud 9 making its debut. Simmers' win lifts her to third in the world rankings ahead of the Pipeline Masters.
Simmers' third-place ranking shapes the qualification race for the Pipeline Masters and the 2028 Summer Games. Fantasy and betting followers tracking the World Tour standings will see her climb reflected in the rankings.
The takeaway
Simmers' win shows how quickly a surfer's ranking can move after a strong run of events, so tracking the rankings between stops gives a clearer picture of the title race.
What happens next
Simmers will compete at the Pipeline Masters in December 2026, and the Summer Games at Lower Trestles follow in 2028.
Further reading
For more on the tour circuit, see our Surfing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Diego Union-Tribune.
