WSL Injury Report: Ewing and Colapinto Overcome Major Surgeries as Slater Eyes Return

The modern World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour demands a physical toll that rivals any high-impact contact sport. As aerial maneuvers push higher and wave selections grow heavier, the human body is subjected to immense compressive forces and violent wipeouts. Yet, the 2026 season is being defined not by the injuries themselves, but by the miraculous medical comebacks of the tour's top contenders.[4]

Leading the charge is Australian powerhouse Ethan Ewing, who is currently dominating the 2026 circuit after surviving a horrific spinal injury. During a warm-up freesurf at Teahupo'o, Ewing suffered a brutal wipeout on the shallow reef, fracturing his L3 and L4 vertebrae. Initial fears suggested his career might be in jeopardy, with spinal injuries of that nature typically requiring extensive surgery and prolonged rehabilitation.

"When I first did it, I thought, 'I'm not going to be surfing for a long time,'" Ewing admitted during his recovery, noting how lucky he was to avoid spinal cord damage. Instead of folding, Ewing embarked on a grueling, meticulously documented physiotherapy regimen. His return to elite form—showcasing his signature silky-smooth rail work without a hint of hesitation—has been hailed by analysts as one of the grittiest comebacks in Australian sports history.

Meanwhile, current World Title threat Griffin Colapinto is surfing with a newly repaired hip after quietly enduring a severe injury for half a season. The Californian tore his right hip labrum from "11 to 1 o'clock" after a heavy compression landing on the infamous Margaret River end section. Believing it was merely a pinched muscle, Colapinto surfed through the pain, nearly winning multiple events on a torn joint.[1][3]

Following an off-season MRI that revealed the true extent of the damage, Colapinto underwent surgery with renowned specialist Dr. Warren G. After a rigorous two-to-four-month recovery window, Colapinto has returned to the 2026 Championship Tour looking sharper and more flexible than ever. His ability to seamlessly transition back into high-flying aerials proves that his surgically repaired hip is holding up to the tour's extreme demands.[1][3]

Off the Championship Tour, 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater is navigating his own bizarre string of injury setbacks. Slater, who has been managing chronic scoliosis, suffered broken toes during a heavy session at Cloudbreak. The injury was later compounded by a freak accident at a New Zealand golf tournament, where a sleepwalking Slater tumbled down a flight of stairs, narrowly avoiding catastrophic injury.[2]

"I didn't know where I was, eyes closed, feeling the wall, and then I fell down the stairs... I almost died," Slater recounted of the New Zealand incident. Despite the setbacks, the 54-year-old icon has refused to officially hang up his jersey. Slater is currently undergoing intensive physical therapy, officially targeting a return to competition at the prestigious Da Hui Backdoor Shootout.[2]

The successful returns of Ewing and Colapinto underscore a massive shift in professional surfing's approach to sports medicine. A decade ago, fractured vertebrae or torn labrums often signaled the twilight of a surfer's peak performance years. Today, advanced biomechanical screening, dedicated physical therapists, and specialized wave-pool training camps are allowing athletes to rebuild their bodies and return to the water stronger than before.[4]