Best WSL Fantasy Surfer Picks Tahiti 2026

It’s been a wild season of surfing this year. Upsets galore. Carissa and Steph returning with fire. Fantasy teams going to tatters before round three. With the adjusted format this year, there are less picks in the men’s and you’re forced to perform right from the first hooter. We’re loving the cut throat nature of it.

Now that the dust of adjustments has settled, we’re jumping back into offering our top picks, dark horses, and surfers to avoid. Here are your Best Fantasy Surfer Picks for Teahupoo 2026. It’s all about the tube lords and ladies.

Vahine Fierro
A past Chopes champ in Tier C? Well stick a bike valve up my butthole and call me pumped. Vahine Fierro is the undisputed Queen of Tahiti. She won in 2024, came 3rd in 2023 and recorded her ‘worst ever’ result here last year by getting a 5th. A 5th! She’s had an average year to date but is surfing incredibly and will turn everything around here. Get her in.

Caity Simmers

In the last 3 years at Teahupoo, Caity Simmers has made the final twice. That’s quite a strike rate at an event she’s sure to win at some point. I reckon this will be that year. Another surfer whose start to 2026 hasn’t been amazing, but give Caity some heaving pits and she’s most comfortable than just about any other female on the planet. Another safe bet, even in Tier A. 

Erin Brooks
This pint-sized pit viper is ready to sink her fangs into Teahupo’o’s heaving lips. She is phenomenal at this wave. While Erin hasn’t won in Tahiti, her lowest scoring heat here is 13.67 points. She lost on a 15+ total in the quarters last year! Another one in Tier C you should be stinging to get in your team. 

Kelia Gallina

It’s pretty crazy that this is the second time Kelia has been in this event, considering she’s just 13-years-old. She will eventually win Teahupoo one day, but this is not that year. She’s against Tyler Wright in round 1, which is a heavy draw. There are also two full-grown barrel queens in her tier to choose from as well. Stick with Erin and Vahine.

Kauli Vaast
Gold medalist at Teahupo’o and local icon. Kauli Vaast will be licking his chops with a solid forecast already on the horizon for his favourite wave on tour. He has been in fine form too, absolutely slaying in the less powerful waves so far. Now he’s in his true element, he’ll be hard to beat. 

Italo Ferreira
Italo has the energy of a supernova and is absolutely flaring this year. He’s 2nd on the ratings and won Chopes in 2024, making him an easy pick. While everyone will have their eyes on the likes of Gabriel Medina and Jack Robbo, he’s on the (slightly) easier side of the draw and has a bull run to the podium. Worth a pick.  

Eimeo Czermak
Just in case you only follow World Tour Surfing, let me give you a little rundown about this year’s wildcard Eimeo Czermak. The son of ocean god Neptune and water nymph Calypso, he was spat into the world from the belly of a Teahupo’o drainer. His superpowers include getting a perfect 20 in the trials and making the steepest drop ever in the history of surfing. Could win. 

George Pittar
You were probably expecting me to say Filipe Toledo or Alejo Muniz. And yeah, avoid them too, but the reason I’ve put in George is because he’s in Tier A. The guy charges and can ride a tube, but if you choose him instead of Medina, Italo, Miggy, Leo, or Yago, you have just had a long suck of the crack pipe. Has Cole Houshmand in his first heat too. Ouch.

Teahupo’o is a fickle mistress. At this kind of wave, anyone good enough to make tour is capable of making the drop, holding on for dear life, and getting vomited into the channel for a Yeti. There are no givens. There are some heavy match ups early in the mens too, so use that bracket tool the WSL have helpfully provided and pick your wins. Play the odds and you should be fine. Just don’t come crying to us if your dark horse ends up as glue on the reef.

And for anyone questioning our talents, here’s Lincoln perfect team below…