Gath Sports Welcomes WSL Championship Tour Star Morgan Cibilic to the Team

A New Chapter Built on Performance, Innovation and a Shared Passion for Safety

For more than three decades, Gath Sports has stood alongside some of the world’s most progressive water athletes, supporting those willing to push the limits while promoting a simple but powerful message: performance and safety can go hand in hand.

Today, Gath Sports is proud to announce a major milestone in that journey with the official signing of Morgan Cibilic to the Gath Team.

One of Australia’s most exciting professional surfers, Morgan joins a legacy that stretches back to 1989, when Gath introduced the world’s first purpose-built surfing helmet. Since then, generations of elite surfers, windsurfers, bodyboarders, kayakers and water athletes have trusted Gath in some of the most challenging waves on the planet. The brand has been worn by surfing icons including Tom Carroll, Gary Elkerton, and members of the legendary McNamara family, whose commitment to riding some of the world’s biggest and most dangerous waves perfectly reflects the Gath philosophy.

Today, that legacy continues with the addition of a new generation of athlete.

From Angourie to the Championship Tour

Raised between Angourie and Merewether in New South Wales, Morgan Cibilic has built a reputation as one of the most stylish and powerful surfers on the World Surf League Championship Tour.

His breakthrough season came in 2021, when he stunned the surfing world by finishing inside the world’s Top 5 while earning both WSL Rookie of the Year and Australian Male Surfer of the Year. After fighting his way back through the Challenger Series, Morgan returned to the Championship Tour in 2026 stronger, more experienced and more determined than ever.

Recent career highlights include:

• 2nd – New Zealand Pro (2026)
• 2nd – Lexus Pro Pipeline Challenger Series (2026)
• 3rd overall – Challenger Series (2026)
• 3rd – Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (2025)
• 5th – Burleigh Heads Pro (2025)

Known for his ability to generate incredible speed and attack critical sections with confidence, Morgan feels most at home doing what every surfer dreams of:

“My favourite thing in surfing is to find good waves and get barreled with my mates.”

His home breaks remain Snapper Rocks and Duranbah (D-Bar)—two world-class waves that have helped shape his powerful approach to modern surfing.

 

 

A Partnership Built on Shared Values

For Gath, choosing team riders has never been about results alone.

Character, authenticity and a genuine passion for the ocean have always been equally important.

From the very first conversation with Morgan, it became obvious that he represented everything Gath stands for.

Real person.

Real emotions.

Real conversations.

Professional surfing may look like a dream lifestyle, but every Championship Tour athlete understands the reality behind the scenes. Every event, every heat and every wave can change the course of a season. Success and disappointment often sit only one wave apart.

Morgan’s grounded personality, work ethic and respect for the ocean made the decision an easy one.

Safety Without Compromise

As the Championship Tour heads towards some of the world’s most challenging waves—including Teahupo’o, Cloudbreak, and eventually Pipeline—the conversation around athlete safety has never been more important.

For Morgan, wearing a helmet isn’t about fear.

It’s about confidence.

“Safety in the water is important to me because I’m looking for longevity in my career. I also love feeling comfortable in the water when the waves start getting serious, so I can put my best foot forward when a good one comes through.”

That mindset perfectly aligns with Gath’s mission of helping athletes perform at their highest level while reducing unnecessary risk.

Morgan on Joining the Gath Family

Morgan first experienced Gath during the Pipeline event in Hawaii, where he immediately noticed how natural the helmet felt in the water.

“I’m excited about this partnership with Gath. I first used Gath in Hawaii at the Pipeline Pro, and safe to say after a good run to second in the event I built a great relationship with Gath.

I was pleasantly surprised with how ‘normal’ it felt wearing one in the water. The ear holes in the helmets are a game changer.”

 

Words from Federico Infantino – Gath Sports Marketing & Team Manager

“I first caught up with Morgan during the WSL event in Margaret River. We simply had a genuine conversation—nothing scripted, nothing prepared, just two people talking about surfing, competition and life.

From that moment I personally did everything I could to bring Morgan onto the Gath Team because I knew he represented exactly what Gath has always been about.

Our athletes aren’t chosen only because of results. They’re chosen because they’re genuine people with the right values. Morgan fitted naturally into that culture.

Professional surfing is one of the toughest sports in the world. People often see the travel and perfect waves, but they don’t see the sacrifices, the pressure and the constant uncertainty. You’re always living on a very thin line where one event can change everything.

Morgan understands that, and he approaches it with humility, professionalism and passion.

Beyond competing on the Championship Tour, he’ll help us continue spreading the message about the importance of wearing helmets in heavy waves around the world—from Teahupo’o to Cloudbreak, Pipeline and everywhere in between.

He’ll also play a key role in the future of Gath, working closely with our development team to test and refine the next generation of helmets. Having feedback from athletes competing at the highest level is invaluable as we continue pushing innovation while staying true to the values that have defined Gath since 1989.”

 

Equipped for Every Condition

Throughout the partnership, Morgan will be wearing the Gath EVA Hat and Gath Neo Hat during training sessions and competition whenever conditions and event regulations allow. Designed specifically for high-performance surfing, both helmets provide the lightweight comfort, unrestricted hearing and trusted protection that have made Gath the helmet of choice for generations of water athletes.

Beyond competition, Morgan will also play an important role in Gath’s product development program by extensively testing the GEDI and SFC helmets in a wide range of ocean conditions. His experience competing at the highest level of professional surfing, from everyday training sessions to some of the heaviest waves on the Championship Tour, will provide invaluable real-world feedback to help refine the next generation of Gath helmets and continue driving innovation for surfers around the world.

 

Looking Ahead

Morgan’s arrival marks another exciting chapter for Gath Sports as the company continues its commitment to supporting elite athletes while advocating for greater safety across surfing and action water sports.

As surfing continues to evolve and athletes push performance into increasingly critical conditions, Gath remains committed to developing innovative Australian-made helmets that allow surfers to perform with confidence.

Welcome to the team, Morgan.

The future is looking exciting.

Photo by Scott Winer @fijichili