<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi’s own <strong>Gabriela Bryan</strong> (HAW) won the 2026 <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/cs/413/lexus-pipe-challenger/main" target="_blank">Lexus Pipe Challenger Presented by Billabong</a>, Stop No. 6 of the 2025/2026 Challenger Series. She joins fellow event victor<strong> Callum Robson</strong> (AUS). Bryan navigated through a premier field starting in the Round of 32 and found her way through the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and ultimately claimed her maiden Challenger Series win at the famed reef of Pipeline in solid, four-to-six-foot, building wave faces.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The race for qualification heated up with marquee early eliminations and new Top 7, plus <strong>Sally Fitzgibbons</strong> (AUS) officially qualified for the 2026 Championship Tour (CT). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Gabriela Bryan Brings Home the Pipeline Title Back to Kauaʻi</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2025 World No. 3 <strong>Gabriela Bryan</strong> (HAW) reinstated her world-class form with a brilliant run through Finals Day, and adding a first Challenger Series victory to her accolades with Andy Irons’ legacy at the forefront of her win. The 23-year-old already has four CT victories to her name and is now a proven threat to the World Title race after a dominant 2025 season. Now, Kauaʻi’s own prepares for the start of the 2026 CT season at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, beginning April 1 through 11. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“It feels so good to start the year off with a win after so much time off. Getting back in the jersey, feeling the nerves, and everything that comes along with competing,” said Bryan. “It gets me so fired up for the rest of the year. It’s a long year ahead, and we’re just beginning, but there’s no better way than to start with a win, especially at Pipe. That was a very talented Final to say the least. It’s not ideal Pipe, but you never know what you’re going to get so every heat out here in onshore, incoming swell, windy or if it’s perfect, it’s worth it. Anat [Lelior] is probably looking good to qualify, but I know me, Erin [Brooks], and Molly [Picklum] are doing everything we can to get extra time out here, so it feels great to get the win.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“It’s so special to feel that spirit of Andy [Irons] and I love to represent Kauaʻi and where I come from. It’s so awesome to have Lyndie [Irons] here. My first-ever contest was the Irons Brothers. I have a photo of me when I was little with Andy and it’s so cool. We came from the same hometown and I’m following my dreams, and I have amazing inspirations to look up to.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The women’s Final featured some of the sport’s generational talents, including reigning World Champion<strong> Molly Picklum</strong> (AUS), 2025 World Title contender <strong>Gabriela Bryan </strong>(HAW), 2025 Rookie of the Year<strong> Erin Brooks </strong>(CAN), and now No. 9 on Challenger Series rankings<strong> Anat Lelior </strong>(ISR). Picklum’s backhand power posted the first score of consequence, earning a 7.00 (out of a possible 10), before her opponents began finding minimal opportunities. But, that all changed when Bryan locked into a Pipeline wall to match Picklum’s power and up the ante with a 7.10 (out of a possible 10). Brooks stayed close with a 5.67, but Bryan matched Brooks with a 5.67 of her own heading into the final minutes to stake her claim atop the heat and held firm for a brilliant win.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>2025 CT Rookie of the Year Erin Brooks Earns Marquee Runner-up</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Erin Brooks</strong> (CAN) joined the CT roster in 2025 and put them on high alert throughout her rookie season, finishing as CT Rookie of the Year. The 18-year-old, Brooks, put on a clinic of backhand barrel-riding at Backdoor to post the women’s best performance of the event with a 9.43 and 16.26 (out of a possible 20) heat total in her Quarterfinal bout after winning her Round of 32 heat to start her Finals Day campaign. Brooks now eyes to back her Rookie of the Year accolade in 2026.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Thank you so much for supporting us throughout this whole event. It’s been so awesome,” said Brooks. “There’s been so many great days, and so many great waves. I’m just stoked to be a part of it.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Molly Picklum and Anat Lelior Round Out Finalists in Finals Day Spectacle</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the sport’s proven generational greats, <strong>Molly Picklum</strong> (AUS), entered the Lexus Pipe Challenger looking for more time in the jersey and received just that with a third-place finish. The 23-year-old was in-form from start to finish after setting the standard for the women on Day 1, and carried that momentum through a dominant Quarterfinal showing with a 16.06 heat total. Picklum then earned another victory in the Semifinals alongside <strong>Anat Lelior </strong>(ISRA), finding her way to a major Final. Picklum joins Bryan and Brooks in the CT season start at Bells Beach.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“It’s always so good to be back here. What a way to start the season, coming over here to Hawaiʻi. There’s such warm welcomes for me, so I’m so grateful to be here. Pipeline is such an amazing wave. It’s tumbling at times, but I love to come here and test myself, and just make sure I’m sharpening the tools ahead of the Tour. We still have time so we’re getting there." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today, <strong>Anat Lelior </strong>(ISR) showed she’s now a qualification frontrunner with a Finals appearance at Pipeline. Lelior’s remarkable run through the 2025/2026 season includes a Semifinal finish and now a fourth-place result to earn No. 9 on the Challenger Series rankings heading into the final event of the year to make her dream of qualifying a reality.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Thank you to everyone watching here. It’s been a dream come true even sharing this Final with these amazing women, and I didn’t expect this. I only knew who Kelly Slater was when I was 13 from ‘Surf’s Up’ (laughs). I didn’t expect coming here and getting close to qualifying. My goal coming into this year was to be in the Top 15. I’m so blessed and I want everyone to understand how lucky we all are to be here. Thank you to my sponsors, my girlfriend, my support system, my coach, just everyone.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Sally Fitzgibbons Officially Requalifies for 2026 Championship Tour</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next and final stop of the 2025/2026 Challenger Series season now awaits at the Newcastle SURFEST in Newcastle, NSW, Australia, beginning March 9 through 15 to decide the remaining CT qualifiers. Today, a CT icon in<strong> Sally Fitzgibbons</strong> (AUS) has officially sealed her spot back among the world’s best in 2026 after completing her Round of 32 heat at the Lexus Pipe Challenger. A massive victory at the Newcastle SURFEST to start the season helped propel her toward her goal of rejoining the CT and immediately followed with an equal third-place in Ballito. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For highlights from today's Lexus Pipe Challenger Presented by Billabong please visit, <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lexus Pipe Challenger Presented by Billabong Women’s Final Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 - Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 12.70</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Erin Brooks (CAN) 10.47</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 - Molly Picklum (AUS) 9.43</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4 - Anat Lelior (ISR) 3.13</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lexus Pipe Challenger Presented by Billabong Women's Semifinal Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Molly Picklum (AUS) 9.37 DEF. Anat Lelior (ISR) 8.80, Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 6.70, Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 4.80</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Erin Brooks (CAN) 9.50 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 7.17, Alyssa Spencer (USA) 5.24, Francisca Veselko (POR) 4.07</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lexus Pipe Challenger Presented by Billabong Women's Quarterfinal Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Anat Lelior (ISR) 8.83 DEF. Molly Picklum (AUS) 7.23, Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) 5.64, Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 2.60</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 12.00 DEF. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 7.10, Isabella Nichols (AUS) 6.86, Laura Raupp (BRA) 5.83</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 9.57 DEF. Francisca Veselko (POR) 9.50, Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 5.70, Sierra Kerr (AUS) 3.37</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: Erin Brooks (CAN) vs. Eweleiula Wong (HAW) vs. Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lexus Pipe Challenger Presented by Billabong Women's Round of 32 Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Molly Picklum (AUS) 16.06 DEF. Laura Raupp (BRA) 8.83, Leilani McGonagle (CRC) 6.17, Chesney Guinotte (HAW) 2.97</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Anat Lelior (ISR) 9.83 DEF. Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 9.67, Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 8.67, Vahine Fierro (FRA) 4.93</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 12.10 DEF. Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) 6.43, Arena Rodriguez (PER) 1.83, Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) 0.57</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 13.50 DEF. Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 13.17, Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 10.33, Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) 4.77</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 5: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 10.07 DEF. Eweleiula Wong (HAW) 4.00, Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) 3.40, Zoe McDougall (HAW) 0.90</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 6: Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 10.20 DEF. Alyssa Spencer (USA) 9.00, Luana Silva (BRA) 7.73, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 6.50</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 7: Erin Brooks (CAN) 7.33 DEF. Francisca Veselko (POR) 5.50, Teresa Bonvalot (POR) 3.97, Anon Matsuoka (JPN) 1.03</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 8: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 10.73 DEF. Sierra Kerr (AUS) 5.77, India Robinson (AUS) 5.40, Sophia Medina (BRA) 2.47</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Next Stop: Newcastle SURFEST</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The final stop of the 2025/2026 Challenger Series season will be Newcastle SURFEST from March 9-15, 2026. Watch LIVE on <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a> and the free <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/world-surf-league/id966709252" target="_blank">WSL app</a>. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>The Lexus Pipe Challenger Presented by Billabong is proudly supported by Lexus, Billabong, Red Bull, 805 Beer, Uncle Ed’s Vodka, Open Water, White Claw, Suncruiser, HIC, and Spectrum.</em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>