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2024 WSL Championship Tour preview: Full schedule and surfers to watch

The 2024 season kicks off in Hawaii on 29 January with another nine stops on the agenda that covers seven countries across four continents. Discover the competition format, full schedule and stars to watch.

(Ryan Pierse)

Battle-ready surf champions, a slew of exciting rookies, and a countdown to the Olympic Games – the 2024 WSL Championship Tour season promises to make plenty of headlines.

All but one of the Tour's 10 stops take place before Paris 2024 and will be a chance for the top surfers in the world to test themselves before the Olympic surfing competition kicks off on the world-famous Teahupo’o wave in seven months.

The Championship Tour kicks off at the Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii on 29 January with 36 male and 18 female surfers set to compete during the regular season that spans seven countries. Fiji is back on the schedule after a seven-year break while the WSL Finals will once again take place in Lower Trestles, USA in September.

From champion surfers to up-and-coming rookies, competition schedule and format, here’s all you need to know about the 2024 season of professional surfing’s top circuit.

Format of the 2024 WSL Championship Tour

The regular Championship Tour season features nine events with 54 surfers set to take part before the mid-season cut-off in the second half of April.

Surfers will compete at five stops, in Hawaii, Portugal and Australia, before the cut-off. At that point the men’s field will be reduced to 24 top-ranked athletes and the female field to 12 athletes.

The remaining surfers will then compete in Tahiti, from 22 to 31 May, just over two months before the same venue hosts the Olympic surfing competition.

The regular season will wrap up with a return to Fiji’s Cloudbreak, a powerful left-hand barrel where athletes will have to surf waves that can reach as high as 20 feet in a bid to clinch the last spots in the WSL Final 5.

The world titles will once again be decided in a one-day, winner-takes-all competition with the season’s best surfers going head to head. The 2024 edition will mark the fourth time that Lower Trestles hosts the WSL Finals.

The Top 22 men and Top 10 women in the rankings will automatically qualify for the 2025 Championship Tour. The remaining spots - 10 for men and five for women - will be allocated to the top performers in the WSL Challenger Series. There will also be two wildcards on offer for men and one for women.

• How to qualify for surfing at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained
• Under the Teahupo'o spell: World's best surfers explain what makes the next Olympic venue so special

2024 WSL Championship Tour: Stars to watch

Brazil's Filipe Toledo and USA's Caroline Marks head into the 2024 season as the defending champions.

For Toledo, 2024 could be the biggest year yet. The Brazilian surfer is going for his third consecutive world title – a feat that would match the achievement of his compatriot Gabriel Medina  who has the most world titles after USA’s Kelly Slater . A reserve at Tokyo 2020 , this year Toledo also has the chance to win Olympic gold after earning a provisional Paris 2024 quota* through last season's WSL rankings.

One of Toledo's toughest competitors, Griffin Colapinto , promises to be an even bigger challenge in the upcoming season as he continues to hit new career milestones. The USA surfer topped the rankings for the first time in May 2023 and finished second overall in the regular season.

This season Colapinto will be joined by younger brother Crosby who is making his debut on the Tour. The brothers have travelled together to some competitions in 2023, but competing on the same Tour might prove the extra boost both surfers need to excel in 2024.

Griffin Colapinto is eager to win his first world title, having come close last season, similarly to Australia’s Ethan Ewing and Jack Robinson , who are also going for their first.

Robinson enjoyed his best year in 2023, winning the season opener in Hawaii and later the Tahiti Pro, before welcoming his first child in late December. Ewing finished as the runner-up last season with four podium finishes on the regular season and a solid performance in the WSL Finals.

Always a trophy contender, Medina just missed the WSL Final last season and is still hungry for that fourth world title. 

USA’s John John Florence is bidding for his third while the season's wildcard Slater wants to update the history books with a record-breaking 12th. As Slater underwent hip surgery in September, his form remains in question, though that would not make it any less exciting to watch the surfing legend in action.

Caroline Marks made the dazzling leap from wildcard to winner on the 2023 Championship Tour. From a shaky, ninth-place start to three victories in the second half of the season, including at Tahiti Pro, and upsetting Olympic champion Carissa Moore in the final head-to-head at Lower Trestles, Marks' world title campaign was a perfect example of grit. She now heads into 2024 with even more confidence.

Five-time world champion Carissa Moore announced earlier inJanuary that she will be stepping away from competitve surfing after the Paris Olympics.

Just days ahead of this season's first WSL event, eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore said that she will be taking a break from full-time competiton for a year. 

“I am planning to take this time as a refresh for myself physically, mentally, and enjoy following swells and free surfing in new places,” said Gilmore in a WSL press release. “I have some projects and trips I want to do, which haven’t been possible while traveling during the season. I am still passionate and dedicated to competing, and I have goals and dreams that I am still chasing - I’m excited for this year to activate those and I look forward to returning in 2025.”

Her fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons will add more fire to the circuit, with plenty of young talent in the mix as well.

Last season’s rookie Caitlin Simmers emerged as the breakthrough of the season. The USA teen won two stops, advanced to the WSL Final 5 and finished fourth overall.

Australia's Molly Picklum is another youngster impressing on the big stage. A rookie in the 2022 season, she missed the mid-season cut-off that year, but made a powerful return in 2023, never finishing below the Top 5 and advancing to the WSL Finals, which also secured her a provisional Paris 2024 quota*.

*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris 2024 Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.

Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.

Athletes on the 2024 WSL Championship Tour

Qualifiers based on the 2023 Championship Tour rankings Caroline Marks - USA Carissa Moore - Hawaii Tyler Wright - Australia Caitlin Simmers - USA Molly Picklum - Australia Lakey Peterson - USA Tatiana Weston-Webb - Brazil Gabriela Bryan - Hawaii Bettylou Sakura Johnson - Hawaii Sally Fitzgibbons - Australia

Qualifiers based on the 2023 Challenger Series rankings India Robinson - Australia Sawyer Lindblad - USA Alyssa Spencer - USA Isabella Nichols - Australia Luana Silva - Brazil

Wildcards Johanne Defay - France Brisa Hennessy - Costa Rica

Replacement Sophie McCulloch - Australia

Qualifiers based on the 2023 Championship Tour rankings Filipe Toledo - Brazil Ethan Ewing - Australia Griffin Colapinto - USA Joao Chianca - Brazil Jack Robinson - Australia Gabriel Medina - Brazil Yago Dora - Brazil John John Florence - Hawaii Leonardo Fioravanti - Italy Ryan Callinan - Australia Connor O’Leary - Australia Barron Mamiya - Hawaii Italo Ferreira - Brazil Kanoa Igarashi - Japan Ian Gentil - Hawaii Jordy Smith - South Africa Liam O’Brien - Australia Caio Ibelli - Brazil Matthew McGillivray - South Africa Callum Robson - Australia Rio Waida - Indonesia Seth Moniz - Hawaii

Qualifiers based on the 2023 Challenger Series rankings Cole Houshmand - USA Samuel Pupo - Brazil Jacob Willcox - Australia Crosby Colapinto - USA Eli Hanneman - Hawaii Imaikalani deVault - Hawaii Frederico Morais - Portugal Jake Marshall - USA Kade Matson - USA Deivid Silva - Brazil

Wildcards Kelly Slater - USA Miguel Pupo - Brazil

Replacement Ramzi Boukhiam - Morocco

Full schedule of the 2024 WSL Championship Tour

• Banzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii: 29 January – 10 February
• Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii: 12 – 22 February
• Peniche, Leiria, Portugal: 6 – 16 March
• Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia: 26 March – 5 April
• Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia: 11 – 21 April

Mid-season cut: From 36 male surfers to 24, 18 female surfers to 12

• Teahupo’o, Tahiti, French Polynesia: 22 – 31 May
• Punta Roca, La Libertad, El Salvador: 6 – 15 June
• Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 22 – 30 June
• Cloudbreak, Tavarua, Fiji: 20 – 29 August

WSL Final 5 determined

• WSL Finals: Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California, United States

Related content

Caroline marks secures paris 2024 spot for usa with 2023 wsl finals win as filipe toledo retains world title, tokyo 2020 alternate surfer filipe toledo: olympic qualification 'extra fuel' on mission to defend wsl world title, caroline marks: born to be world champion, teenage bets, tough love, journaling and a whole lot of mutual respect: the colapinto brothers are about to reunite as championship tour surfers, caitlin simmers: five things you might not know about the us teen surfing phenom.

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PRO WAKEBOARD TOUR / 2024

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Caers defends his Vesoul title!

FPT Vesoul is ON!

Sebastian Gux Rietvlei Action

Double up for Neubauer who wins the Foilstyle – Day 5 at the 2024 FPT Vieste

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5 Things We’ve Learned From the 2024 Championship Tour

Caity Simmers has led a complete power structure reorganiztion in women’s competitive surfing. Photo: Daniel Smorigo//World Surf League

With nine Championship Tour events complete and just the Fiji Pro and WSL Finals left of the 2024 season, we’ve more than enough data to look at the trends from another pro surfing lap around the sun. From the cut to the conditions, new world orders, depth of fields and wildcards, here’s what we’ve learned, and what we might find out. 

Jury Still Out On the Cut

The idea, and the execution, of the cut still bring as many problems as it solves. On the positive side, there’s now a more urgent narrative that comes with jeopardy in the early part of the season. I doubt, for example, that I would’ve been emotionally invested in a Round 3 heat between Miguel and Sammy Pupo at Margaret River if the loser wasn’t facing the existential threat of losing his CT place. The domination by John John Florence and Caity Simmers would have also previously seen the world title races effectively over by now, and all tension vacuumed from the race. 

On the flipside, some might argue that if one, or both, of those surfers don’t win at three-foot Trestles, questions will be raised over the legitimacy of the world champion. And for the remaining event in Fiji, all that’s really on the line now is the race for fifth place. And if the answer is whether Johanne Defay or Gabriela Bryan make the Finals, maybe the cut is asking the wrong questions. 

It’s All About the Forecast – It’s Always Been About the Forecast 

It’s reductive and obvious, but it doesn’t make it any less true; a surfing competition is only as good as the waves it gets. This year’s clutch, memorable moments came when the forecast delivered. At Pipeline, the epic conditions allowed the women to stick a flag in the sand. Pipe wouldn’t have been “for the fucking girls” if it wasn’t eight-foot and perfect. And while Portugal was mangled by a horrendous storm sitting 200 yards off Supertubes, and Saquerema by wobble-inducing bad banks, on the whole, the waves have largely been on the favorable side, with Bells, Margies and El Salvador at least offering opportunity and a level, if sloping, playing field. Mind you, it will be the Trestles forecast that ultimately decides whether 2024 is memorable, or not. Nature holds the cards. It has always been thus.  

The Men’s Field Lacks Serious Depth  

In the Men’s especially, a lack of depth, coupled with a lack of jeopardy after the cut, has led to most of the early rounds lacking any real quality or drama. After the top eight (Florence, Colapinto, Robinson, Ferreira, Ewing, Dora, Smith and Medina) there is a serious drop-off in class and experience. The Moroccan rookie Ramzi Boukhaim has offered a point of difference, Cole and Crosby showed signs of their incredibly high ceilings, but the rest are a mix of established journeymen (O’Leary, Callinan, Fioravanti) and younger mid-table pros (Moniz, Marshall, O’Brien, Mamiya). All are, obviously, incredible surfers, but with no wunderkinds or athletes with world title aspirations, the current crop lacks depth and dynamism. 

The Women’s Generational Transformation

In contrast, the women’s field has undergone the first real radical transformation in over a decade. With Moore and Gilmore on sabbatical, and Tyler Wright again suffering medical issues, there is a massive hole in the shape of the surfers that have won 15 of the last 16 world titles. That may have been an issue if the void hadn’t been filled by the best group of young talent since Steph and Riss changed the game back in the noughties. Caitly Simmers, Molly Picklum and Caroline Marks, plus Gabriel Bryan and Brisa Hennessy have suddenly and forcefully taken over the wheel. “Watching those young girls surf Pipe and Teahupo’o had had me thinking whether I’ll come back at all,” Steph Gilmore told The Inertia . “They’ve just raised the bar so high, so quickly. It’s a whole new ball game.”

Erin Brooks at Snapper Rocks. She’s sure to make noise in Fiji. Photo: WSL

Flies in the Ointment

The announcement of Kelly Slater, Erin Brooks and Sierra Kerr as wildcards for Fiji could produce the first real spoilers of the calendar year. With the very notable exception of Vahine Fierro’s win at Teahupo’o, no wildcards have made a serious impact at any of the CT events. It seems the top seeds have had too much firepower and experience for all local wildcards or invitees, no matter what their relationship with the wave. Fiji, however, could be very different. 

With Kelly (probably) surfing his last CT event at his favorite wave, the narrative Klaxon is on high volume and the spoiler alert writes itself. Both Brooks and Kerr have been earmarked as potential future world champions, and despite their extreme youth have already forged serious reps in barreling, heavy waves. Coming full circle back to the cut chat, in the past their inclusion could have had massive world title implications. That potential for real drama has been removed, but all the surfers going for a top-five spot won’t want to draw any of these wildcards. 

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Foster's Pro Surfing Tour

American pro surfing circuit, founded in 2002, run under the auspices of Surfing America and sponsored by Foster's brewery. Foster's Pro Surfing Tour (FPST) events are all part of the international World Qualifying Series circuit, which is the stepping stone to the World Champi- onship Tour. The FPST was, in part, created as an alternative to the 1999-founded Professional Surfing Tour of America, ...

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5 steps to a successful professional surfing career

Part of this story

Jordan Smith

A powerful regular-footer from durban in south africa, jordy smith is a regular winner on the world surf league championship tour..

Kolohe Andino

Multiple usa national champion, kolohe andino, is one of the most followed, photographed and successful surfers on the planet..

Caroline Marks

A multiple national champion and the youngest female to compete in a world surf league event, caroline marks is surfing’s young phenom..

Ian Walsh is a man who has tackled a variety in the sea and knows that it’s all about keeping things interesting.

Kanoa Igarashi

Japanese surfer kanoa igarashi feels as natural on a board as he does on his own two feet. for him, the ocean is his home..

Leonardo Fioravanti

The leading light of italian surfing, leonardo fioravanti is one of the most consistent performers on the wsl championship tour..

Travel with surf star Kanoa Igarashi for insider access to the World Championship Tour.

That’s caroline, caroline marks is just a normal young woman – who also happens to be the face of surfing’s future., my last two winters, strap in as lucas chumbo, ian walsh and naxto gonzález push limits and break boundaries in big wave surfing..

• 1 Do it yourself
• 2 Work with the best photographers in the game
• 3 Develop an open mind and a hunger to learn
• 4 Study your craft
• 5 Become a global citizen

Do it yourself

Reckless Isolation

Kolohe Andino and his best friends score perfect waves during the summer of 2020.

The full house sign went up early at the Brooklyn premiere

© Jason Le Cras/Stab

Work with the best photographers in the game

Jordy Smith making magic in Margaret River

© Trevor Moran/Red Bull Content Pool

Jordy Smith flares in West Oz

© Trevor Moran

Caitlin Simmers charging beyond her years at The Box

Griffin Colapinto laying down a solid West Oz groove

Michel Bourez digs in at Pipeline

Mick Fanning locks in somewhere in Portugal

Kolohe Andino surfs JBay his own way

Develop an open mind and a hunger to learn

Caroline Marks lets rips in the warmup en route to a big win at Narrabeen

© Peter Boskovic

Study your craft

Join one of big wave surfing’s most renowned athletes on his quest for progression in high-risk environments.

Ian Walsh, right at home at Jaws

© Zak Noyle

Ian Walsh, Shane Dorian & Greg Long

© Red Bull Content Pool

Become a global citizen

Japanese Kanoa Igarashi and Italian Leo Fioravanti share an Aussie moment

Continue your surfing studies here

In “That’s Caroline,” a Tight-Knit Family Soars, …

How big wave icon ian walsh turned his methodical …, kanoa igarashi: the free one, want more of this.

How To Become A Pro Surfer – The Definitive Guide

Think professional surfing could be in your future, or are you trying to determine what it could mean as a parent?

You’re in the right spot; we will give you an honest snapshot of what it takes to become a professional surfer, including the good, the bad and the ugly.

Let’s dive straight in with one of pro surfing’s most sobering facts.

You’ve Got To Start Early

All the surfers on the championship tour started surfing very young.

It may be harsh, but if you’re not surfing regularly by age 10, your chances of a professional career are minimal.

This isn’t so true if you want to become a big wave surfer.

Relying as much on bravery as it does on athletic skill, most advanced surfers can have a stab at successfully riding big waves.

But getting stuck in early is key if we’re talking about the high-performance acrobatics we see on the WSL.

Surf As Much As Possible

Part of becoming a pro relies on you spending as much time on a surfboard as humanely possible.

Yes, you need to mix in other forms of training, but there will never be a better way of improving your surfing than just surfing.

We’re talking onshore slop, massive storm surf, anything you can successfully paddle out in and even some stuff you can’t.

You never know what will happen during a comp, and developing your skills and all wave types will put you ahead of the game.

Surfing daily should be the goal, conditions provided, of course.

Work With A Surf Photographer

You could be the best surfer in the world, but you’re just a local legend if you’re not getting clips or pics.

Your chances of getting Taylor Steele are fairly low, so family members and friends will have to do for now.

Chances are, if you’re surfing is doing the talking, you’ll get approached leaving the water at some point.

These guys and girls are your best friends.

Many make surf photography their passion, and if you’re a good subject, you can quickly get a dedicated photog on the beach covering your every wave.

Find A Sponsor

Now you’ve got some good media circulating; your next task is to find a way into the surf industry.

This will come as sponsorship from one of the hundreds of different surf brands .

For groms, it normally starts with free clothing before moving on to boards, wetsuits, fins etc.

If you get enough exposure, you can work your way up to being paid to surf.

This is perfect for helping to enter comps and fund your training.

Travel To Surf

Your professional surfing career will take you worldwide, so surfing abroad is a must.

If you want to become a pro, you need to surf well in all types of waves, which means travelling.

We’re taking big waves, reeling point breaks , slabs and everything in between.

If your home waves are warm water, head to some cold water surfing destinations and get used to riding waves with a wetsuit.

Enter Surf Competitions

Next up is putting yourself into a competitive scenario to see how you stack up against other surfers your age.

Free surfing differs greatly from the pressure you feel when you have to rip in a time window with other surfers and priority rules.

You need to get yourself accustomed to all of the rules of surfing competitions and the different tactics you can use to win heats.

This’ll also give you a great idea of where your skill level sits compared to your competitors, and who knows, you might net some prize money.

Surf With Other Professional Surfers

Surfing with other sponsored surfers is a great way of challenging yourself and pushing it to the next level.

Pros are naturally competitive, and you’ll do your best surfing with other rippers.

The same’s true for big wave surfing, where you need the comradery to take on massive waves.

Look After Your Physical & Mental Health

Surfing every day, and travelling the world, takes a toll on your body and your mind.

You’ll need some real mental fortitude if you want to go pro, from missed flights, last-minute accommodation, and dealing with losses.

Consider time away from the ocean, even if it’s just for a few days; this can help reset your mind and rally your willpower.

Next, we move on to the physical rigours of surfing every day.

From repetitive strains to torn ligaments, surfing is no joke regarding injuries.

Head over to our guide on surfing and injuries for a sobering look at what can go wrong on a surfboard.

Consider A Coach

A surf coach can help digest your surfing in and out of competition and recommend steps for improvement.

This can vary from advice on form and technique to heat tactics and time management.

Better yet, they’re a friendly, reliable face in your corner which can give you the confidence you need to progress through comps.

If you can’t get your hands on a coach locally, you can use an online coach like OMBE Surf .

Start Building Your Brand

In previous years surfing skills formed the primary deciding factor in whether a surfer was a good fit for a sponsor.

But in today’s world of social media and endless content, providing a marketable brand has never been so important.

By brand, I mean personal brand; how do your audience and the general surfing world perceive you? Hell, do they even know you?

Building great social profiles will be an awesome start here, with the possibility of some extra money on the side if things go well.

Try to start networking with anyone in the surf industry, be friendly and approachable and don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to new people.

Understand It’s A Hard Road To Become A Professional Surfer

Now we’ve covered what you need to do; we need to talk about the harsh reality of trying to make a living out of surfing.

Thousands of surfers think they can make it to the world stage.

But in reality, there are less than 50 men and women that actually surf on the CT.

And some of them aren’t even rocking stickers on the nose of their surfboards.

The industry as a whole isn’t spending a lot of money, and it doesn’t look like changing anytime soon.

Don’t let me dissuade you, but understand that this is not an easy road in life despite appearing like a dream come true for the majority.

Now we’ve covered the nitty gritty, let’s jump into the Internet’s most pressing questions about going pro.

How much do aspiring pro surfers get paid?

As an aspiring pro, you might only get free gear, but if you’re lucky, you could get north of $1000 per month from the right sponsor. 

How much can a pro surfer make?

This varies so much with global stars like Slater and Medina worth well into the millions, but some surfers on tour and completely self-funded, with William Cardoso and Ian Gentil being perfect examples.

Can you still go pro at 30 years old?

Realistically, no. By 30, you’re already on the way down in terms of physical fitness, and while Kelly Slater may still be surfing into his 50s, he started at a very young age.

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Olympic Surfing: A visual guide for the 2024 Paris (Tahiti) venue

Surf's up in Tahiti for this year's Paris 2024 Olympics.

Surfing makes its second appearance as an Olympic competition since it debuted in the Tokyo 2020 Games. French Polynesia's island of Tahiti will host the event for four days between July 27 and Aug. 5.

Tahiti is about 9,700 miles away from Paris – one of the largest distances between an Olympic host city and a medal event. Here's what else you need to know about the location, judging and the surfers this year:

Where is the Olympic surfing venue?

The surfing venue is on the French Polynesian Islands in the middle of the South Pacific, about 3,700 miles from Australia. Tahiti is the largest island in the Society Islands with massive swells and powerful waves. The best break is off the shores of Teahupo’o (sounds like tay-uh-hoo-pow-ow), a village of about 1,500 people.

It will be the temporary home for 48 Olympic surfers, including American Carissa Moore, the defending women's gold medalist.

Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them.  

More Olympic visual graphics: Volleyball under the Eiffel Tower? Horse riding at Versailles? Mapping the Paris Olympics

Teahupo'o combines a lush, tropical topography with barrel riding, where surfers travel at high speeds inside the hollowed-out waves.

“It’s one of the most magical places in the world,’’ said Caroline Marks, a member of the U.S. Olympic team and the 2023 WSL Women's World Tour Champion. “It can be a pretty scary wave, but also so incredible."

Why are waves considered "heavy"?

Any extremely dangerous wave is referred to as "heavy" by surfers. This includes extremely powerful waves that hurl tons of water toward the shore and onto unlucky surfers. It has been said that the waves off the southern Tahitian shore of Teahupo'o are the strongest in the world, according to NASA's Earth Observatory .

The steepness of a wave depends on the depth and slope of the ocean floor during its final 150 feet of travel before breaking in shallow water. The timing and size of the wave are also important elements.

More: Meet the special agent guarding the U.S. Olympic surfing team in Tahiti

When does the Olympic surfing event begin?

The competition will take place over four days determined by the best wave conditions within a 10-day window, which runs from July 27 to Aug. 4.

The Paris Olympics will be broadcast on NBC, USA Network, GOLF Channel, CNBC and E!. Check your local TV listings for events and times. Events will also stream on Peacock.

Surfing schedule at the 2024 Paris Olympics

The men's and women's fields will each be made up of 24 surfers. The two competitions will follow similar formats: three rounds, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.

Surfing tricks and maneuvers

Teahupo’o's waves are known for their massive towering barrel waves. Surfers can expect to see waves as high as 26 feet, which are heavy and hollow and can break fairly quickly. Because large waves are expected, surfers may need to limit their maneuvers.

Here are some examples of moves done by pro surfers in ideal wave conditions.

How Olympic surfing is judged?

Five judges will watch the surfers execute tricks and maneuvers on the waves. They will be scored on the line they choose on the wave – the path they take – and where they do maneuvers on the wave, which is key to generating power and speed.

The most critical portion of a wave is the section where it's the steepest. The closer a maneuver is done near the critical zone, the more points the surfer can earn.

The judges are mostly interested in whether the surfer is pushing the limits and performing creative tricks like aerials and tail slides.

The scoring

◾ Each heat can vary from 20 to 35 minutes – depending on the wave conditions.

◾ The judges' highest and lowest scores are eliminated for each wave, leaving an average of three for the surfer's score.

◾ A surfer's overall score is the combined scores of their two best waves.

◾ With 10 points awarded for a flawless ride, a perfect heat consists of 20 points overall.

CONTRIBUTING Josh Peter/USA TODAY

SOURCE Olympics.com , SurfingToday.com , NASA's The Earth Observatory and USA TODAY research

The 2024 Surf Tournaments in El Salvador: Surf City El Salvador Pro Starts on June 6th

Once again, the 2024 Surf Tournaments in El Salvador will bring attention to the excellent Salvadoran surfing spots and the Surf City El Salvador project. This year, the country will host four top-level international surfing competitions.

The remaining surf tournaments in El Salvador for 2024 are the WSL Surf City Pro and the ALAS Surf City Pro Tour. The ISA World Junior Surfing Championship ended in May.

• WSL Surf City Pro

ALAS Surf City Pro Tour

•     ▼Completed▼

ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

Isa world longboard championship.

SEE ALSO: El Salvador Tourism: A Journey Through Pristine Beaches, Colorful Towns, and Enchanting Parks

World Surf League Surf City El Salvador Pro

Once again, El Salvador will be hosting the World Surf League (WSL) Surf City El Salvador Pro competition. The surf tournament is scheduled for June 6 to 15 at Punta Roca Beach in La Libertad.

The 2023 World Surf League Surf City El Salvador Pro concluded with Brazilian surfer Brazilian Felipe securing the top spot in the men’s division, while Caroline Marks from the United States emerged victorious in the women’s division.

Once more, the ALAS Surf City Pro Tour is set to be the final surfing competition of the year in El Salvador. The surfing event is scheduled to unfold in Eastern El Salvador from November 16 to 30.

The 2023 ALAS Surf City Pro Tour was a spectacular four-day surfing spectacle at Las Flores Beach in Eastern El Salvador.

In the men’s competition, Bryan Perez from El Salvador won the Open Men, and Tony Silvagni from the United States won the Longboard Men division. Noel de la Torre from Chile won first place in the under-18 category, and Thiago Passari from Argentina won the under-14 division.

In the women’s competition, Melanie Giunta from Peru won the Open Women, and Lia Diaz of Costa Rica won the Longboard Women division. Catalina Zariquiey from Peru won both the Women’s Under 14 and Under 18 divisions.

2024 Completed Surf Tournaments in El Salvador

The International Surfing Association (ISA) announced the return of the World Junior Surfing Championship to El Salvador; the country hosted this prominent tournament in 2022 at la Bocana & El Sunzal surf spots.

Surf City El Salvador will host the world’s top junior surfers for the second time during the 20th edition of the championship, following the landmark event in 2022. The 2024 Junior Surfing Championship is set to take place from May 3rd to the 12th.

I am so excited to see the return of the world’s best junior surfers to the incredible waves of Surf City El Salvador. The peak of La Bocana and the amazing point break of El Sunzal have delivered so many important moments in surf history these past few years and there are many more yet to come. Fernando Aguerre, ISA President.

The Surf City El Salvador ISA World Longboard Championship concluded with Hawaiian surfers dominating the competition . Hawaii secured a complete victory in the men’s and women’s divisions.

Hawaiian’s Honolua Blomfield and Kai Sallas claimed the women’s and men’s gold medals respectively, which earned Hawaii the team gold medal as well.

In the women’s division, gold went to Hawaiian Honolua Blomfield, silver to Rachael Tilly from the USA, and bronze to Natsumi Taoka from Japan.

Kai Sallas from Hawaii won the gold, Silver went to Taka Inoue from Japan, and Rodrigo Sphaier from Brazil got the silver.

The triumph of Honolua Blomfield and Kai Sallas in their respective divisions secured gold for Hawaii in the team competition. Japan earned the silver medal, while France took home the bronze.

The surf tournaments in El Salvador are held at some of the best surf spots in El Salvador and Central America, such as Punta Roca, El Sunzal, La Bocana, Las Flores, and El Zonte. These beaches are part of the Surf City El Salvador project and are some of the best beaches in El Salvador .

Tour companies in El Salvador.

Best Surf Spots in El Salvador: Exploring the Ultimate Beaches for Surf You Can’t Miss!

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2024 WSL Championship Tour: VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona

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Dunlap Becomes First Player in PGA Tour History to Win as an Amateur and a Pro in the Same Year

Nick Dunlap became the first player in PGA Tour history to win as an amateur and a professional in the same year, rallying Sunday for a two-point victory in the Barracuda Championship

TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Nick Dunlap became the first player in PGA Tour history to win as an amateur and a professional in the same year, rallying Sunday for a two-point victory in the Barracuda Championship.

In January at The American Express in La Quinta, the 20-year-old Dunlap — then a sophomore at the University of Alabama — became the eighth amateur to win a tour event and the first in 33 years. He turned professional days later.

“I never thought that I would have my name next to that, but it’s definitely an honor,” Dunlap said about the amateur-pro double. “It’s been a little tough after AmEx. You kind of lose a little bit of confidence and wonder if you can do it again.”

On Sunday at Tahoe Mountain Club in the only PGA Tour event that uses the modified Stableford scoring system, Dunlap took the lead with a 55-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th.

Players receive eight points for a double eagle, five for eagle and two for birdie. A point is deducted for bogey and three for double bogey.

“I hadn’t made an eagle yet this week, so that was kind of the goal, and just play aggressive, not reckless,” Dunlap said. “This course, it allows you to make a lot of birdies if you’re in position.”

Dunlap added a birdie on the par-4 17th, cutting the dogleg with a 304-yard drive and chipping to 3 feet.

Nine points behind leader Mac Meissner entering the day, Dunlap had 19 points in the bogey-free round to finish with 49. He birdied six of the first 12 holes on the tree-lined Old Greenwood course.

“The only sour thing about this is that winning moment goes quickly,” Dunlap said. “It doesn’t stay as long as you may think, just because tomorrow I’m flying to Minnesota and trying to repeat and do the exact same thing.”

Vince Whaley finished second, making a 17-foot birdie putt on par-4 18th for a nine-point day.

“I didn’t hit it very good the whole day and I kind of kept myself in it with the short game,” Whaley said. “Then missed a couple I felt like I could have made coming in.”

Patrick Fishburn had 46 points, holing a 10-footer for birdie on 18 to cap a 12-point round.

“It was a great week,” Fishburn said. “This is probably one of my favorite stops of the year.”

Meissner was fourth at 44. He closed a five-point round with a bogey.

“I’m definitely pretty bummed,” Meissner said. “It was a frustrating day. I had a couple good looks early for birdie through the first 10 holes and didn’t capitalize. It was just tough.”

Taylor Pendrith and Patrick Rodgers tied for fifth at 43.

With two events left in the regular season, Dunlap jumped from 95th to 63rd in the FedEx Cup standings. The top 70 will advance to the playoffs.

“It’s been a goal,” Dunlap said. “It’s, honestly, one of the reasons I played here.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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WSL Announces Landmark Fully-Integrated 2022 Championship Tour And Challenger Series Calendar

Wednesday, August 4, 2021 Updated: Thursday, August 5, 2021

The World Surf League today announces the 2022 Championship Tour (CT) and Challenger Series (CS) calendars, the inaugural season for the fully redesigned Tours and Competition framework, establishing the key venues and dates for the world's best surfers moving forward. The all new format features a combined men's and women's schedule for the first time, as well as the introduction of a mid-season cut, a new defining moment for professional surfing.

The WSL will have a three-tier competition framework that emphasizes developing young talent more locally via the seven Regional Qualifying Series, on which emerging men's and women's surfers will battle to earn a spot on the newly-formed global Challenger Series. Once on the CS, they will have the opportunity to qualify for elite CT where the best surfers on the planet compete for the undisputed World Title.

The 2022 WSL CT will include 10 regular-season events in seven countries, starting in January at the world-famous Pipeline in Hawai'i, for the first-ever men's and women's joint event at that legendary break. The CT will return to G-Land, Indonesia, which is back on the CT for the first time in 24 years for the men and for the first time ever for the women, and conclude in August at the infamous Teahupo'o in Tahiti before the second-annual Rip Curl WSL Finals in September, where the WSL Final 5 men's and women's surfers will face off for the undisputed World Title.

"The WSL exists to steward and celebrate the world's best surfing and this redesigned Tours and Competition framework is historic in many ways, serving as the core engine of our business," said WSL CEO Erik Logan. "In collaborating with our surfers and partners on delivering events like the Billabong Pro Pipeline, the MEO Portugal Pro, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, the Quiksilver Pro G-Land, the Oi Rio Pro, the Margaret River Pro and others, we're thrilled to announce one of the most exciting WSL Championship Tour calendars in history for next season and set the framework for the sport for years to come."

2022 WSL Championship Tour Schedule*

• Pipeline, Hawai'i - January 29 - February 10
• Sunset, Hawai'i - February 11 - 23
• Peniche, Portugal - March 3 - 13
• Bells Beach, Australia - April 10 - 20

Margaret River, Western Australia - April 24 - May 4

Mid-Season Cut - 36-man and 18-woman fields reduced to 24-man and 12-woman fields.

• G-Land, Indonesia - May 28 - June 6
• Trestles, USA - June 15 - 22
• Saquarema, Brazil - June 27 - July 4
• Jeffreys Bay, South Africa - July 9 - 18

Teahupo'o, Tahiti - August 11 - 21

WSL Final 5 determined to battle for the undisputed men's and women's World Titles.

• Rip Curl WSL Finals, location TBA - September 7 - 18

"Next year's combined CT schedule starts at the Billabong Pro Pipeline and concludes in Tahiti and adds back incredible venues like G-Land and Jeffreys Bay," Logan continued. "Surf Ranch has been featured on the CT calendar since 2018 and we'll be taking a year off from the basin in 2022. We will continue to innovate with the world's best artificial wave technology and we are excited for a return to our wave system in 2023 and beyond."

The 2022 CT season will start with 36 men and 18 women, and then be reduced to 22 men and 10 women after the mid-season cut. The top-ranked surfers will continue on to the second half of the tour (where they will be joined by two men's and two women's wildcards) and automatically requalify for the 2023 CT. The smaller fields in the back half of the year will create more compact and exciting events, with only the best conditions in the event window, and more matchups featuring the biggest stars on tour. The surfers who miss the cut will be relegated to the CS, which commences immediately following CT stop five in Western Australia, where they will have the opportunity to earn back their slot on the following year's CT.

"We believe we have arrived at a structure for our tours that makes great sense and is a massive upgrade for fans, partners and athletes throughout the pro surfing ecosystem," said Jessi Miley-Dyer, SVP of Tours and Head of Competition. "It's awesome that both the Championship Tour and Challenger Series will have a fully combined men's and women's schedule, as well as an equal number of events, for the first time in 2022. We've been really deliberate in working with our stakeholders to build calendars that are driving the world's best surfing, have great venues and create the best possible platform moving forward. We've had overwhelming feedback from our surfers and partners in the development of the eight-stop WSL Challenger Series, including incredible events like the Vans US Open of Surfing and the Quiksilver and ROXY Pro France. We couldn't be more excited about 2022 and beyond."

"With the new mid-season cut, every event counts," said WSL Surfers Representative, Conner Coffin. "The fact that someone could lose their place on tour after five events really ups the stakes and is going to push everyone to surf really hard."

"It's amazing to be part of such an incredible moment for women's surfing," said WSL Surfers Representative, Tatiana Weston-Webb. "2022 will be remembered as the first year we'll have a combined tour for men's and women's, including an equal number of events. I'm very excited to surf the best waves in the world, and make history together with all of the CT surfers."

The WSL Challenger Series

The second of three competitive tiers for the world's best surfers, the 2022 WSL Challenger Series will feature 96-man and 64-woman fields, drawn from the seven WSL Regional Qualifying Series around the world. CS surfers will compete for a chance to advance to the elite WSL CT in 2023, with surfers counting their best five of eight results on the Challenger Series in hopes of finishing in the Top 10 men's and Top 5 women's spots by the end of the season.

The 2022 WSL CS will consist of eight events, beginning at Snapper Rocks on Australia's Gold Coast, Australia from May 7 - 15 and concluding in Haleiwa, Hawai'i, from November 26 - December 7.

The 2022 WSL Challenger Series Schedule*

• Gold Coast, Australia - May 7 - 15
• Manly, Australia - May 17 - 24
• Ballito, South Africa - July 20 - 27
• Huntington Beach, USA - July 30 - August 7
• Ericeira, Portugal - October 1 - 9
• Landes, France - October 15 - 23
• Piha, New Zealand - November 5 - 13
• Haleiwa, Hawai'i - November 26 - December 7

Snapper Rocks has served as the opening CT event since 1998 and with the two Australian CT events in 2022, the famed righthand point will host an international field in the high-quality surf month of May, igniting the WSL CS schedule each season moving forward.

The New Regional Qualifying Series

The critical foundation to the WSL's new three-tier competition framework, the Regional Qualifying Series enables young surfers to develop close to home, without the expense and burden of global travel, before competing internationally on the global CS and eventually, for those who perform, the elite CT.

"The regionalized Qualifying Series provides more opportunities to celebrate local stars and reduce the economic pressure for surfers as they work towards qualifying for the Challenger Series, and ultimately the CT," said Logan.

The seven Regional Qualifying Series (QS) are: Africa, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, Hawaii, North America and South America, qualifying men's and women's surfers from each region to the CS and an opportunity to earn a place amongst the world's best on the CT. More information on the QS schedule to follow.

COVID-19 Protocols

*All tour stops and dates are subject to change due to applicable COVID-19 related restrictions, including global travel restrictions.

The health and safety of athletes, staff, and the local community are of the utmost importance and the WSL has a robust set of procedures in place to keep everyone safe. These plans are unique to each Tour stop.

World Surf League

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Mark Carnevale dies at age 64 a week after former PGA Tour winner worked radio at Scottish Open

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Mark Carnevale, a former PGA Tour winner who had been calling tournaments for Sirius XM Radio, died Monday, a week after working his last tournament, the PGA Tour said. He was 64.

The tour did not disclose a cause, only saying that he died suddenly.

Carnevale won the 1992 Chattanooga Classic and was voted PGA Tour rookie of the year. He later won on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour.

He was best known recently for being one of the lead announcers for Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio since 2005, and he most recently called the action from the penultimate group at the Scottish Open. He was scheduled to work the 3M Open this week in Minnesota.

“He was a member of that elite club, a PGA Tour winner, and then he held numerous roles within the industry, most recently as a significant voice in PGA Tour Radio’s coverage,” Commissioner Jay Monahan said. “Mark knew the game and did a terrific job of conveying insights from his unique point of view — and with an engaging wit and sense of humor.”

The son of a college basketball coach, Carnevale was born in Annapolis, Maryland, while Ben Carnevale was coaching at Navy. The family later moved to Williamsburg, Virginia, and Carnevale played college golf at James Madison.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Nick Dunlap wins Barracuda Championship, becomes first player in PGA TOUR history to win as amateur and pro in same year

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TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Nick Dunlap became the first player in PGA TOUR history to win as an amateur and a professional in the same year, rallying Sunday for a two-point victory in the Barracuda Championship.

In January at The American Express in La Quinta, the 20-year-old Dunlap, then a sophomore at the University of Alabama, became the eighth amateur to win a TOUR event and the first in 33 years. He turned professional days later.

“I never thought that I would have my name next to that, but it’s definitely an honor,” Dunlap said about the amateur-pro double. “It’s been a little tough after AmEx. You kind of lose a little bit of confidence and wonder if you can do it again.”

On Sunday at Tahoe Mountain Club in the only PGA TOUR event that uses the Modified Stableford scoring system, Dunlap took the lead with a 55-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th.

Nick Dunlap buries a 55-foot eagle putt to take the lead at Barracuda

Players receive eight points for a double eagle, five for eagle and two for birdie. A point is deducted for bogey and three for double bogey.

“I hadn’t made an eagle yet this week, so that was kind of the goal, and just play aggressive, not reckless,” Dunlap said. “This course, it allows you to make a lot of birdies if you’re in position.”

Dunlap added a birdie on the par-4 17th, cutting the dogleg with a 304-yard drive and chipping to 3 feet.

Nick Dunlap extends lead with birdie on No. 17 at Barracuda

Nine points behind leader Mac Meissner entering the day, Dunlap had 19 points in the bogey-free round to finish with 49. He birdied six of the first 12 holes on the tree-lined Old Greenwood course.

“The only sour thing about this is that winning moment goes quickly,” Dunlap said. “It doesn’t stay as long as you may think, just because tomorrow I’m flying to Minnesota and trying to repeat and do the exact same thing.”

Vince Whaley finished second, making a 17-foot birdie putt on par-4 18th for a nine-point day.

“I didn’t hit it very good the whole day and I kind of kept myself in it with the short game,” Whaley said. “Then missed a couple I felt like I could have made coming in.”

Patrick Fishburn had 46 points, holing a 10-footer for birdie on 18 to cap a 12-point round.

“It was a great week,” Fishburn said. “This is probably one of my favorite stops of the year.”

Meissner was fourth at 44. He closed a five-point round with a bogey.

“I’m definitely pretty bummed,” Meissner said. “It was a frustrating day. I had a couple good looks early for birdie through the first 10 holes and didn’t capitalize. It was just tough.”

Taylor Pendrith and Patrick Rodgers tied for fifth at 43.

With two events left in the regular season, Dunlap jumped from 95th to 63rd in the FedEx Cup standings. The top 70 will advance to the playoffs.

Nick Dunlap's interview after winning Barracuda

“It’s been a goal,” Dunlap said. “It’s, honestly, one of the reasons I played here.”