The inaugural WSL Philippines Pro at Siargao Island’s Cloud 9 delivered an exciting new venue for fans and competitors, but it was a controversial interference call that left the surf world buzzing. And one that may reverberate all the way to the world-title race.
Five-time world champion Carissa Moore was leading 2024 champion Caity Simmers in Tuesday’s women’s semifinal at the hollow, slabby, and dangerously shallow reefbreak. Simmers needed a 6.67. Then, with roughly two minutes remaining, both surfers paddled for the same wave—and everything unraveled from there.
Watch the scene unfold below.
According to World Surf League Vice President of Tours and Competition Renato Hickel, the confusion began one wave earlier. Judges were reviewing a possible blocking incident, which prompted the priority judge to switch priority from Moore to Simmers.
“As he decided to change priority to red (Simmers), the surfers were already committing to the paddle of the next wave,” Hickel explained in a WSL breakdown. He added that Caity had checked the priority indicator, while Carissa presumably had not.
It all happened in a matter of seconds.
Related: Fireworks at Cloud 9 as Gabriel Medina and Caity Simmers Win Big
Then, Moore took off on the next wave, but Simmers now held priority. Officials issued a Priority Interference 2 penalty, removing the offending ride and her second scoring wave. What had looked like a semifinal victory became a 9.43–5.67 defeat.
The ruling raises an uncomfortable question: If priority changed while both surfers were already paddling, did Moore have a reasonable chance to react?
Under the WSL’s interpretation, the priority display favored Simmers. But the timing of the switch—and whether it was communicated clearly enough—remains the controversy, not Simmers’ conduct.
Moore didn’t hide her disappointment.
“Extremely hard to swallow. I haven’t felt this frustrated with this sport in a long time,” Moore wrote in her post-event Instagram caption.
Still, she urged followers not to direct negativity toward anyone, expressed pride in her performance, and thanked her family and the people of the Philippines.
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Simmers, meanwhile, pushed through an ankle injury requiring seven stitches and defeated Isabella Nichols 12.00–10.77 in the final, claiming her first victory of 2026.
With the world title to be decided at Pipeline in December, the priority call could prove consequential far beyond Cloud 9.
Following the Philippines Pro, Caity sits just beneath Riss on the rankings at number three, heading into the final event of the year: the Lexus Pipe Masters (Dec. 8-20).
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