Key Takeaways
- The World Surf League (WSL) has announced the 2023 Championship Tour with combined men’s and women’s events and a mid-season cut.
- The 2023 season will play a key role in qualifying surfers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
- The Tour will feature ten regular season events across various international locations and will conclude with the Rip Curl WSL Finals in September.
- Surf Ranch will feature again, showcasing the world’s largest human-made waves.
- Stephanie Gilmore and Filipe Toledo emerged as the champions of the 2022 Tour.
Santa Monica, CA–The World Surf League (WSL) announced the 2023 Championship Tour schedule featuring a combined men’s and women’s events, ten regular season events, a mid-season cut after the Championship Stop No.5, and the third annual Rip Curl WSL Finals.
2023 WSL Championship Tour Schedule Announced
Per the announcement, the Championship Tour 2023 season will also be the route to qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games — the second time ever that surfing will be in the Olympics.
The ranking at the end of the 2023 season will determine the 18 of 48 spots available at the Olympics, which consists of 10 men and eight women.
The Championship Tour will return to Surf Ranch, which has the world’s largest high-performance, human-made waves. The events will start on January 29 and end on September 15.
WSL 2023 location and dates
- Billabong Pro Pipeline, Hawaii, from January 29 – February 10
- Hurley Pro Sunset Beach, Hawaii, from February 12 – February 23
- MEO Portugal Pro, Portugal from March 8 – March 16
- Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Australia, from April 4 – April 14
- Margaret River Pro, Australia, from April 20 – April 30
Qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics Through Surfing
Mid-Season Cut: 36-man and 18-woman fields reduced to 24-man and 12-woman fields.
- Surf Ranch Pro, the USA from May 27 – May 28
- Surf City El Salvador Pro, El Salvador from June 9th – June 18th
- Rio Pro, Brazil, from June 23 – July 1
- Corona Open J-Bay, South Africa, from July 13 – July 22
- SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro, French Polynesia, from August 11 – August 20
WSL Final 5 determined to battle for the men’s and women’s World Titles.
- Rip Curl WSL Finals, Lower Trestles, USA, from September 7 – September 15
Professional surfing now focuses on the 2022 Challenger Series, where surfers compete for the chance to make the 2023 Championship Tour.
EDP Videos Pro Drivers will be the following location for the series, which opens from October 1 to October 9, 2022.
“We are proud of the new framework we’ve developed and seen play out over the course of this season with great success,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, SVP of Tours and Head of Competition, in a report announcing the schedule. “The 2023 schedule provides the best possible platform and will continue to drive the world’s best surfing. Seeing the women return to Tahiti for the first time in 16 years in August was incredible, and I’m proud to confirm that 2023 will continue to see equal events, venues, and prize money with this fully combined schedule.”
Champions Crowned in the 2022 WSL Tour
The 2022 Tour wrapped up on September 16, with Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore winning in the women’s division and Brazil’s Filipe Toledo winning in the men’s division.
Gilmore made a new record for women’s surfing. While Toledo, who has already won 13 Championships Tour events, finally added a world title to his name.
What We Think
The WSL’s announcement heralds an exciting year ahead for surfing, balancing tradition with innovation. By combining men’s and women’s events and offering equal venues and prize money, the WSL sets a progressive standard for sports.
The inclusion of the Surf Ranch event highlights a blend of natural talent with technological advancements. As the surfers set their sights on Olympic qualification, the 2023 Championship Tour promises to be not just a showcase of the world’s best surfing, but a pivotal moment in the run-up to Paris 2024.
