World's best surfers are ready for the opening call of the Lexus Trestles Pro

LOWER TRESTLES, San Clemente, Calif., USA - The world's best are ready for the opening call of the Lexus Trestles Pro, Stop No. 9 of the 2026 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT).

Pictured: Hayden Rodgers (USA) earned a momentous Lexus Trestles Pro Trials win on a buzzer-beater to join the world's best at his home break. Credit: WSL / Pat Nolan

A favorable south swell could provide fireworks from the start at the famed cobblestone break of Lower Trestles. The World Title race is set to reignite following the Pacific Leg, which has Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) and Carissa Moore (HAW) in the Yellow Leader Jerseys. But San Clemente's own Cole Houshmand (USA) returns home fresh off a Fiji Pro title alongside back-to-back CT wins from teenage phenom Erin Brooks (CAN). 

Event organizers will decide tomorrow, Friday, September 11, at 7:30 a.m. PDT whether the competition will start as early as 8:00 a.m. PDT. 

Local Heroes Return Home to Lower Trestles

A stacked cast of San Clemente's own will feature at this year's Lexus Trestles Pro, including perennial World Title threat Griffin Colapinto (USA), 2026 Fiji Pro victor Cole Houshmand (USA), 2024 Rookies of the Year Crosby Colapinto (USA) and Sawyer Lindblad (USA), CT sophomore Bella Kenworthy (USA), Lindblad's wildcard brother, Taj, fellow local wildcard Eden Walla (USA), and now local resident, 2023 World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Caroline Marks (USA). 

Colapinto continues to hunt down his first win at home after two appearances in the previous WSL Finals format and a Semifinal showing last season against the eventual winner and 2025 World Champion, Yago Dora (BRA). 

"I want to focus on not thinking that this is bigger than anything else, but to show up and bring my best performance, show my love for what I'm doing," said Colapinto. "I think every year I've come into this event feeling super good and feeling like I could win the contest. And I feel like I did my best surfing for what was out there.  And also just remembering I was the little grom trying to sneak into the event site, climb the fences, and now I'm in this thing, it's so cool. It's an amazing experience to soak it all in, and I'm really looking forward to all the crew that's here putting on a show for the hometown."

Leonardo Fioravanti and Carissa Moore Look To Keep Yellow Leader Jerseys

Following the removal of the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, there will be 12 events on the 2026 schedule to crown World Champions, with three throwaways built into the rankings. This elevated Italy's first-ever CT qualifier, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), back to the No. 1 spot, a place he made it to for the first time heading into Tahiti. Now, Fiorvanti looks to deliver a similar performance to the one that won him his maiden CT event victory at Punta Roca. 

"Becoming World No. 1 before Tahiti was a dream come true. Of course, the goal is to be a World Champion, but it's those little steps that mean you're on the right path, and it matters a lot," said Fioravanti. "It gives you that validation. I lost it after Tahiti, and I was bummed but I wasn't too worried about. Then getting a good result in Fiji and showing up here at Trestles back in yellow is a dream come true. Any chance I'm yellow, especially here. The surf culture is deep. They follow it, everybody in town knows what's happening, and it's really cool. And I'll enjoy it, but I'll also try my best to leave here in yellow still." Five-time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Carissa Moore (HAW), is no stranger to being chased at the top of the leaderboard. But, for the first time in 2026, Moore now carries the No. 1 spot ahead of the Lexus Trestles Pro. A resurgence from the new mother, Moore has shown how much she's capable of achieving and finds the moments in between to embrace being a mom on Tour while pushing the standard in the jersey. 

"I'm so excited and grateful. I've surprised myself and wasn't sure if I'd be back in yellow again. It's a huge moment for me. My family and everyone who's supported me. It's a little mini win for all the moms out there, and getting to share that with them is really cool," said Moore. "I think the most surprising thing about the journey so far this year has just been that this can be done differently. I've always done it one way, and there was doubt that I could do it differently. I've proved to myself that it can be done."

San Clemente's Own Kirra Pinkerton and Hayden Rodgers Win Trials Event

A clash of local San Clemente icons and rising talents, including former QS warrior Ian Crane (USA), current Challenger Series No. 8 Hayden Rodgers (USA), and Luke Wyler (USA), joined proven Challenger Series contender Levi Slawson (USA) in the men's Lexus Trestles Pro Trials. The men's battle went down to the wire after conditions pushed them to bring out their signature styles. But, it all came down to a pivotal last exchange as Rodgers and Slawson were trading for the lead, with Slawson holding the best single-wave score of a 6.93 (out of a possible 10) heading into the dying moments. Slawson sent himself on a backhand air-reverse to earn a 4.73, needing a 4.57, to flip the heat, but Rodgers stood up just before the buzzer to show his signature flair and post a 5.93 and add another San Clemente name to the draw for his first-ever CT.

"It's fully what you dream of as a kid. My goal has always been to make the Tour, and to just be in this event at home with fun waves, I couldn't be happier," said Rodgers. "That heat was crazy. I got two waves and just sat out the back with seven minutes left, and Levi had priority, so it was going to be close. I felt good, but I ended up surfing nervously. I got up really early and did a little hop, and heard the buzzer go off, and just clicked that air, and barely got it. When it comes to the Challenger Series, I usually just try to surf, but it's fun to get into the points and know what it will take to qualify." The women's heat was packed with some of North America's standouts, including multi-CT wildcard and 2018 World Junior Champion, Kirra Pinkerton (USA), the youngest Super Girl winner Ruby Stringfellow (USA), current Challenger Series competitor Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN), and rising QS threat Happy Sager (USA). San Clemente's own Pinkerton established herself right away, powering her forehand attack to a 6.00. Sager had a quick start to take over the lead, but Pinkerton fired once again midway through the bout to post a 7.33 and take command, holding her place atop the trials until the final horn and making her fourth CT appearance.

"There's only so many feelings you get once in your life, and only so many times you get to surf in your backyard for a CT, and this is one of those times when it feels very special," said Pinkerton. "It was tricky, and I definitely made a few mistakes, but it was fun, and I'm so stoked to get a chance again. I couldn't tell where I was sitting with all the tents, so I was trying to line up and just find a good opportunity. "

WSL Fantasy Surfing Practice Session Features World's Best

Spectators on the beach and around the world got an opportunity to see what the world's best have in store at Lower Trestles for the dedicated Training Day. This offered insight to the WSL Fantasy Players into who's trying new equipment, what the level is at, and who may carry their teams to victory at the Lexus Trestles Pro. 

For more information about the 2026 Lexus Trestles Pro, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Lexus Trestles Pro Men's Trials Results:
HEAT 1: Hayden Rodgers (USA) 12.10 DEF. Levi Slawson (USA) 11.66, Ian Crane (USA) 10.27, Luke Wyler (USA) 8.90

Lexus Trestles Pro Women's Trials Results:
HEAT 2: Kirra Pinkerton (USA) 13.33 DEF. Happy Sager (USA) 9.77, Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) 8.67, Ruby Stringfellow (USA) 7.90

2026 Lexus Trestles Pro Women's Round 1 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Brisa Hennessy (CRC)
HEAT 2: Alyssa Spencer (USA) vs. Tya Zebrowski (FRA)
HEAT 3: Anat Lelior (ISR) vs. Vahine Fierro (FRA)
HEAT 4: Yolanda Hopkins (POR) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
HEAT 5: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Francisca Veselko (POR)
HEAT 6: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Bella Kenworthy (USA)
HEAT 7: Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) vs. Eden Walla (USA) 
HEAT 8: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Kirra Pinnkerton (USA) 

2026 Lexus Trestles Pro Men's Round 1 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Luke Thompson (RSA) vs. Matthew McGillivray (RSA)
HEAT 2: Eli Hanneman (HAW) vs. Hayden Rodgers (USA)
HEAT 3: Joel Vaughan (AUS) vs. Oscar Berry (AUS) 
HEAT 4: Mateus Herdy (BRA) vs. Taj Lindblad (USA)