Kauli Vaast has secured his spot on the Championship Tour 2026, the circle of the world’s best surfers that everyone dreams of reaching. The Tahitian surfer qualified during the last stop of the Challenger Series in Newcastle. The stress was palpable just minutes before the official announcement because the stakes were high. The WSL wrote on social media, “We will see a much happier Kauli coming out of the water!”
Consistently ranking high in several competitions, Vaast arrived in Australia with a significant lead. His consistency throughout the season allowed him to build his qualification step by step. The spot in Newcastle is familiar to him, as he reached the final there last year. After several disappointments, he finally achieved his goal two years after his Olympic victory, taking the final step.
This qualification now opens the doors to the World Surf League Championship Tour, where the best surfers in the world compete on the most iconic waves. For Kauli Vaast, the goal now shifts to competing regularly among the world elite and establishing himself among the best. From Olympic champion to world champion, there is only one step left.
Vaast follows in the footsteps of Michel Bourez, who was on the Tour from 2009 to 2021. He joins the two Tahitian women, Vahine Fierro, and the youngest surfer ever to qualify for the tour, Tya Zebrowski.
