Seth Moniz wins first Championship Tour event at Teahupo’o
NXTbets Pro | Published On: November 12, 2026
Moniz’s breakthrough win
Seth Moniz delivered a breakthrough result at Teahupo’o in Tahiti, winning his first Championship Tour event after a difficult season. He said he had not won a heat during the difficult run leading into the event and that his ratings were struggling before the trip to Tahiti. That made the victory stand out even more. Moniz did more than survive the pressure of the event. He beat world No. 1 Yago Dora along the way, then closed it out by defeating his friend Griffin Colapinto in the final. Moniz called the win a major momentum shift and said it improved his position for the rest of the year. He also said it helped his prospects for better seeding and requalification. The Teahupo’o win gave Moniz a chance to regain confidence in his campaign.
Teahupo’o waves
Moniz said the heavy waves at Teahupo’o suited his surfing. Moniz said he stayed focused throughout the event, and that steadiness carried him through the event until he reached the final. His win came after a season in which he had little to point to in terms of results, so the surfing itself mattered as much as the outcome. The victory became a turning point for his season. Moniz left Tahiti with a major momentum shift.
Fatherhood’s impact
Moniz said becoming a father changed his perspective and lowered the pressure he felt heading into the event. That shift mattered because he entered Teahupo’o determined to win with his first child due soon. The timing gave the week a personal urgency, but he said fatherhood also helped him see the situation differently. Instead of carrying every result as a burden, he leaned on support from his wife, daughter, family and coach Dougie and kept moving through the event with a clearer head. The win carried personal meaning beyond the event title. Moniz framed it as a step forward in a season that had been slipping away and a chance to regain confidence. The first Championship Tour victory also gave the result added meaning as he looked ahead.
