Predictions: Lakey Peterson and Jordy Smith Lead Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro 2026

The 2026 Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro is set to bring the Championship Tour back to one of surfing’s most recognisable venues, with the Gold Coast once again offering a high-profile early-May checkpoint for both the men’s and women’s shortboard fields. With Wyldata predictions already available, the event arrives with clear favourites, a few tightly packed contender groups, and enough depth to make this one of the more interesting surf previews on the calendar.

What the predictions say before the event

Wyldata’s latest projections point to a competitive women’s draw led by Lakey Peterson, with Sally Fitzgibbons, Gabriela Bryan, and Tyler Wright all close enough to keep the picture fluid. That is a useful way to frame the event: there may be a model leader, but the spread among the top names still suggests a contest that can shift quickly once heats begin.

The men’s side is just as compelling. Wyldata’s model gives Jordy Smith the strongest starting position in the available projections, while Miguel Pupo, Griffin Colapinto, and Connor O'leary form the immediate chase group. In other words, the event is not short on headline names, but it also does not look like a one-surfer lock from the data.

Athletes to watch on the Gold Coast

On the women’s side, Lakey Peterson enters the preview at the top of the model and naturally becomes one of the central figures to watch. Sally Fitzgibbons also stands out as an Australian name with strong projected relevance, while Gabriela Bryan and Tyler Wright add further weight near the top of the projected order. That mix gives the women’s competition a useful combination of established quality and local storyline value.

The men’s draw has a similarly strong blend. Jordy Smith leads the projection set, but Miguel Pupo and Griffin Colapinto are close enough behind to keep the conversation open, while Connor O’Leary remains firmly in the main contender bracket. Beyond that front group, names like Kanoa Igarashi, Filipe Toledo, Italo Ferreira, and Jack Robinson strengthen the sense that this field has real depth.

Why this event matters

The Gold Coast has long carried weight as a surf stop because of its history, visibility, and the way strong performances there can shape the tone of a season. For readers using WhoRanked as a guide, the most interesting part of this preview is not just who sits first in the model, but how compressed the upper tiers remain in both draws. That usually points to an event where matchups, heat rhythm, and execution matter as much as headline status.

It is also worth noting that predictions should be read as probabilities, not promises. Wyldata’s numbers are useful for highlighting favourites and pressure points in the field, but the value of the preview is in the shape of the contest, not in pretending the result is already decided. That is especially true in surf, where small margins and changing conditions can alter the picture quickly.

What to watch when competition starts

The clearest pre-event storyline is whether the top projected names can actually convert that status once the event begins. Lakey Peterson and Jordy Smith both come into the Gold Coast with the model pointing in their direction, but the surrounding groups are strong enough that neither side of the draw looks straightforward. That balance should make Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro 2026 one of the better prediction-led previews of the current surf run.

Results, rankings, stats & predictions provided by: https://wyldata.com

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Article Sources: https://wyldata.com/api/whoranked/events/bonsoy-gold-coast-pro-2026/details/ | https://wyldata.com/api/whoranked/events/competition/?competition_id=29586 | https://wyldata.com/api/whoranked/events/competition/?competition_id=29585

Image Source: WSL / Hannah Anderson