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The World Surfing Champion is a title awarded annually to the best competition surfer for the year, today based on points earned for placings at events on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) ASP World Tour . A qualification system decides who can compete on the tour, for a total of 44 men (the top 44 as they're called) and 16 women.

• 3.1 Champions
• 3.2 Most World Championships
• 4.1 Champions
• 4.2 Most World Championships
• 5.1 Champions
• 5.2 Most World Championships
• 7 References
• 8 External links

History [ ]

The earliest world titles were amateur events decided by a single event, open to all comers, and were held only intermittently. The first was at [[Manly, New South Wales Manly in Sydney in 1964. The second was held in Lima, Peru in 1965.

From 1973 to 1975, there was no amateur championship held. The International Surfing Federation had been unable to establish a format or sponsorship and concurrent with this the new professional era was dawning.

1968 World Champion Fred Hemmings, retired from competition and began his career as an event promoter and ran the Smirnoff Rip Curl World Pro/Am that became the defacto professional World Championship from 1970 through 1975. The winners were; 1970: Nat Young (Australia), 1971: Gavin Rudolph (South Africa), 1972: Paul Neilsen (Australia), 1973: Ian Cairns (Australia), 1974: Reno Abellira (Hawaii) and 1975: Mark Richards (Australia).

In 1976 the International Professional Surfing (IPS) organisation was formed by the 1968 champion, turned promoter, Fred Hemmings . It put together an annual tour of 12 events around the world with a points system for event placings to decide a ratings winner at the end. This is the format used today by the ASP.

Peter Townend and Ian Cairns devised the points scoring system, shamelessly (as PT put it) appropriating the way Formula One motor racing did it. Townend also ended up the winner that first year (1976) with Cairns finishing in second.

In early years the title brought honour but only modest financial rewards in extra sponsorship etc, and not all professional surfers had it as their goal. In 1979 for instance when Mark Richards won he hadn't even attended all the events, reckoning it better to concentrate on his board shaping business than travel for the South African leg.

In 1982, following a less than positive experience with the IPS at the new Op Pro, Ian Cairns formed the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) which crowned its first champion, Tom Carroll , in 1983. The ASP continues as the worldwide sanctioning body for professional surfing.

In 1999, Mark Occhilupo 's win was a remarkable comeback. He'd been on the tour about 10 years earlier but had abandoned it, then returned stronger than ever.

In 2001 the ASP cut the tour short after the World Trade Center attacks of 9/11 , on surfers' fears for their safety at competitions. The ratings leader C. J. Hobgood was declared the championship winner.

Records [ ]

As with almost every any sport there's an element of fortune needed in surfing competitions. The competition format, types of waves and human judging all have an effect, which leaves plenty of room for speculation about excellent surfers who never won a title, or could have won more.

Mark Richards ' record of 4 titles above and below 1979 to 1983 stood until 1997 when Kelly Slater took his 5th. It was joked that it'd taken so long Richards was scarcely remembered by young fans and was known to them only as "that guy whose record Kelly beat". Slater's 7th win in 2005 made him both the youngest and oldest champion.

Frieda Zamba , Wendy Botha and Lisa Anderson all took 4 women's titles. Anderson was followed by dominance and 6 titles by Layne Beachley .

Men's World Tour [ ]

Champions [ ], most world championships [ ], longboard world tour [ ], women's world tour [ ], see also [ ].

• U.S. Open of Surfing

References [ ]

• Surfa.com.au
• Mark Richards: A Surfing Legend , authorised biography by David Knox, 1992, ISBN 0-207-17489-X .
• Sean Doherty , MP: The Life of Michael Peterson , Harper Collins, 2004, ISBN 0-7322-7609-8 .
• http://www.aspworldtour.com/2007/stats_champions.asp?rView=w
• http://www.isasurf.org/ev_d_wc.php

External links [ ]

• Official site
• ASP world tour news
• WPS worldprosurfers.com, world tour locations, photos, facts, videos and up to the minute surf reports

es:ASP World Tour eu:ASP World Tour fr:ASP World Tour pt:ASP World Tour

• 1 Mike Hynson
• 2 Bill Hamilton
• 3 Simon Baker

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Surfing World Champs

Competitive surfing has been going on for decades now. From the 1960s on, we've seen the greatest surf champions in the world battle it out on various tours across the globe.

Trying to win an argument about who championed the ISF back in 1970 or who came out on top in the '95 ASP?

If so, you've come to the right place.

Come dive in with us as take a look at the long history of surfing championships and the pro and amateur winners of various tours from the 1960s until now!

History Of World Wins

The ISA was renamed the ISF between 1963 and 1973.

Before the ISF, there weren't any true world surfing champions.

The institution still exists in La Jolla, CA, where it is headquartered, though you can find one-off events held throughout the year in various locations.

In many ways, the ISA paved new paths for surf champions across the globe, allowing the world to see surfers as true athletes.

• 1964 Winners:  Bernard "Midget" Farrelly (AUS), Phyllis O'Donnell (AUS)
• 1965 Winners:  Felipe Pomar (PER), Joyce Hoffman (USA)
• 1966 Winners:  Nat Young (AUS), Joyce Hoffman (USA)
• 1968 Winners:  Fred Hemmings (HAW), Margo Godfrey (USA)
• 1970 Winners:  Rolf Aurness (USA), Sharon Webber (USA)
• 1972 Winners: Jimmy Blears (HAW), Sharon Webber (USA)

The Smirnoff World Pro-AM Surfing Championships didn't come around until 1969.

Event promoter and former pro surfer Fred Hemmings was to thank for this particular event.

The first Smirnoff World Championship was held in Santa Cruz, CA, though the competition was eventually moved over to North Shore, Oahu.

These surfing championships lasted until 1977, before Fred Hemmings teamed up with Randy Rarick to start the IPS.

• 1969 Winners:  Corky Carroll (USA), Margo Godfrey (USA)
• 1970 Winner:  Nat Young (AUS)
• 1971 Winner: Gavin Rudolph (RSA)
• 1972 Winner: Paul Neilsen (AUS)
• 1973 Winner: Ian Cairns (AUS)
• 1974 Winner: Reno Abellira (HAW)
• 1975 Winner: Mark Richards (AUS)
• 1976 Winners: Mark Warren (AUS), Jericho Poppler (USA)
• 1977 Winners:  Reno Abellira (HAW), Jericho Poppler (USA)

The IPS or International Professional Surfers was developed by former surfers Randy Rarick and Fred Hemmings back in 1976. It started as a small contest circuit throughout South Africa, Australia, and Hawaii. 

This was the very first world surfing competition to introduce man-on-man heats. As a result, Fred and Randy were able to get some of the best surfing champions to join this world tour.

The IPS is known today as the original organization for surfing.

It was also one of the first surfing events that offered a substantial monetary prize for men's and women's heats. The event lasted until 1983.

• 1976 Winner: Peter Townsend (AUS)
• 1977 Winners:  Shaun Tomson (RSA), Margo Oberg (HAW)
• 1978 Winners:  Wayne Bartholomew (AUS), Lynn Boyer (HAW)
• 1979 Winners: Mark Richards (AUS), Lynn Boyer (HAW)
• 1980 Winners: Mark Richards (AUS), Margo Oberg (HAW)
• 1981 Winners:  Mark Richards (AUS), Margo Oberg (HAW)
• 1982 Winners:  Mark Richards (AUS), Debbie Beacham (USA)

Ahhh, the golden years of surfing...

In 1983, surfer Ian Cairns led a revolt against the IPS to create the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals).

Looking at the history of surfing as a sport, the ASP was the longest-lasting pro organization with some of the most tremendous success.

Many surfers thank the ASP for providing surfing with media visibility, increasing cash prizes for surfing events, and spreading the sport worldwide.

While the ASP was controversial in many ways, it was the breaking ground for several surfing champions that became role models for many famous surfers today.

Throughout the '90s and early '00s, the popularity of surfing skyrocketed. As a result, many refer to it as the "golden era" of surfing.

• 1983 Winners:  Tom Carroll (AUS), Kim Mearig (USA)
• 1984 Winners:  Tom Carroll (AUS), Freida Zamba (USA)
• 1985 Winners:  Tom Curren (USA), Freida Zamba (USA)
• 1986 Winners: Tom Curren (USA), Freida Zamba (USA)
• 1987 Winners:  Damien Hardman (AUS), Wendy Botha (RSA)
• 1988 Winners:  Barton Lynch (AUS), Freida Zamba (USA)
• 1989 Winners:  Martin Potter (UK), Wendy Botha (RSA)
• 1990 Winners:  Tom Curren (USA), Pam Burridge (AUS)
• 1991 Winners: Damien Hardman (AUS), Wendy Botha (RSA)
• 1992 Winners:  Kelly Slater (USA), Wendy Botha (RSA)
• 1993 Winners:  Derek Ho (HAW), Pauline Menczer (AUS)
• 1994 Winners:  Kelly Slater (USA), Lisa Andersen (USA)
• 1995 Winners:  Kelly Slater (USA), Lisa Andersen (USA)
• 1996 Winners:  Kelly Slater (USA), Lisa Andersen (USA)
• 1997 Winners:  Kelly Slater (USA), Lisa Andersen (USA)
• 1998 Winners:  Kelly Slater (USA), Layne Beachley (AUS)
• 1999 Winners:  Mark Occhilupo (AUS), Layne Beachley (AUS)
• 2000 Winners:  Sunny Garcia (HAW), Layne Beachley (AUS)
• 2001 Winners: C. J. Hobgood (USA), Layne Beachley (AUS)
• 2002 Winners:  Andy Irons (HAW), Layne Beachley (AUS)
• 2003 Winners:  Andy Irons (HAW), Layne Beachley (AUS)
• 2004 Winners:  Andy Irons (HAW), Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
• 2005 Winners: Kelly Slater (USA), Chelsea Georgeson (AUS)
• 2006 Winners:  Kelly Slater (USA), Layne Beachley (AUS)
• 2007 Winners:  Mick Fanning (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
• 2008 Winners:  Kelly Slater (USA), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
• 2009 Winners:  Mick Fanning (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
• 2010 Winners:  Kelly Slater (USA), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
• 2011 Winners:  Kelly Slater (USA), Carissa Moore (HAW)
• 2012 Winners:  Joel Parkinson (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
• 2013 Winners:  Mick Fanning (AUS), Carissa Moore (HAW)
• 2014 Winners:  Gabriel Medina (BRA), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

World Surf League

ZoSea purchased ASP back in 2013, renaming it the World Surf League (WSL).

Today, the World Surf League organizes and runs pro surfing tours throughout the world, differentiating it from the International Surfing Association (ISA), which certifies surf schools and instructors and runs the World Surfing Games.

It wasn't until 2015 that the new WSL logo that we all know and love came about.

The WSL has both men's and women's surfing champions in longboard, shortboard, and big wave categories.

You'll also find a few specific men's and women's championships, including the World Longboard Championships, The Big Wave Tour, and the World Junior Championships.

Beyond the main WSL HQ in Santa Monica, CA, you'll find WSL 0ffices in Japan, New York City, Hawaii, Brazil, South Africa, France, and Australia.

FUN FACT:  2016 was the first year in more than a decade that the men's world championship went to a Hawaiian.

• 2015 Winners:  Adriano De Souza (BRA), Carissa Moore (HAW)
• 2016 Winners: John John Florence (HAW), Tyler Wright (AUS)
• 2017 Winners:  John John Florence (HAW), Tyler Wright (AUS)
• 2018 Winners:  Gabriel Medina (BRA), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
• 2019 Winners:  Italo Ferreira (BRA), Carissa Moore (HAW)
• 2021 Winners:  Gabriel Medina (BRA), Carissa Moore (HAW)

Ryan Ballard

Contributing Author

Author:  Ryan Ballard

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Surfers Hype

The history of professional surfing and complete list of world champions, last updated on: january 23, 2023.

The complete list of surfing world champions

• This list only includes;  the winners of the World Championship Tour (CT).

A history of surf champions

Professional surfing has taken place for 57 years , and through half a century, it has gone through a lot of change. The evolution of the sport is incredible, and so are the athletes competing on The Championship Tour. 

Winning the world title is the ultimate goal for any professional surfer, and we have experienced many outstanding athletes throughout the history of surfing. Every surfer who has won The Championship Tour has left an impact on their generation and will go down in history.

The five eras of professional surfing

Professional surfing has taken place since 1964, and this period of competitive surfing can be into five different eras.

Profesional surfing came to life back in 1964 after The International Surfing Association (ISA) was founded. During this first era of professional surfing, six men and women became World Champions between 1964 and 1973.

The ISF paved the road for professional surfing and the commercial aspect, as the first organization to arrange professional surfing events where they crowned elite surfers with The World Champion title.

In 1969, a new organization called the Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Championships got founded by the former pro surfer, Fred Hemmings. In 1973 it became the official World Championship for elite surfers, where it took place on Oahu’s North Shore – the birthplace of modern surfing.

It became a relatively short run in the era of professional surfing, as The Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Championships only got to crown three official world champions.

1976 – 1982

However, Fred Hemmings’ influence on professional surfing wasn’t over,

he simply had a bigger vision for the Championship event. In 1976 he started the International Professional Surfers (IPS), together with Hawaiian surfers Randy Rarick. 

With this new format, they organized a small circuit of events around the world, making it the first-ever  world championship tour . The IPS World Circuit took place in Hawaii, Australia, and South Africa. 

They made an international ranking system that would encourage the best surfers around the world to get involved. They also introduced the man-on-man heat format, as we know it today, as well as decent prize money for The Champions. 

International Professional Surfers (IPS), is considered the original world governing body of elite surfing on a professional plan. However, a revolt led by Ian Cairns resulted in the foundation of the ASP World Tour, still considered by many to be the most influential Pro Surfing Tour of our time.

1983 – 2014

Former surfer Ian “Kanga” Cairns, developed a concept with a stronger focus on joint ownership and control of the sport for event organizers and the surfers on tour. This new way of thinking became the organization we know as, Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). 

In the mid-1990s, ASP evolved into the “Dream Tour” concept, where the focus shifted from hosting events in the metropolitan areas to finding the best destinations with high-quality surf, despite its remote locations. 

The philosophy of the “Dream Tour” has played an important role in the popularization of the sport, together with the internet which has helped build media visibility. 

In this era, we have seen  some of the all-time best surfers , counting names like; Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Andy Irons, Layne Beachley, Mick Fanning, and Carissa Moore.

2015 – Present

In 2013, the ASP World Tour got purchased by ZoSea and rebranded, The World Surf League (WSL). It became official in 2015 when we saw the first World Surf League Championship Tour. 

ZoSea has taken the sport of surfing even further by its way of commercializing it and making it more mainstream and popular among people around the world. We are stoked about the future of the sport and the positive impact that ZoSea will leave on it. 

Nowadays we have:

• The International Surfing Association (ISA ): Which is the world governing authority for all the disciplines within surfing, counting regular surfing, SUP, bodyboarding, etc. The organization regulates the sport and certifies surf schools and surf instructors. The organization also creates a bridge between the sport of surfing and the Olympic movement, as it is recognized by the International Olympic Committee. In 2020 surfing reached a big milestone, as it became an official sport at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
• The World Surf League (WSL):  Is the governing body for elite surfers. They organize and run professional events to showcase and crown the best talent in a variety of formats. The World Surf League crowns surf champions in a series of tours like; shortboard, longboard, and big wave surfing, in both male and female divisions.

WSL Surf competitions

As mentioned above, The World Surf League consists of many different tours, where The Championship Tour is the biggest and most known of its kind, that draws the most commercial and media coverage.

As for 2021, this is the complete list of all the different tours organized by The World Surf League: 

• Men’s Championship Tour
• Women’s Championship Tour
• Men’s Challenger Series
• Women’s Challenger Series
• Men’s Qualifying Series
• Women’s Qualifying Series
• Men’s Big Wave Tour
• Women’s Big Wave Tour
• Men’s Longboard Tour
• Women’s Longboard Tour
• Men’s Junior Tour
• Women’s Junior Tour
• Specialty Events
• Vans Tripple Crown

More updates from The Championship Tour >>

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WSL 101: Your guide to the World Surf League

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• 1 What is the WSL?
• 2 How do surfers qualify for the WSL tours?
• 3 Can I become a WSL surfer?
• 4 How many surfers compete on the WSL?
• 5 Who are some famous WSL surfers?
• 6 How do WSL heats work?
• 7 How is a WSL heat scored?
• 8 How does the WSL Mid-Year Cut work?
• 9 What do the different colour WSL jerseys mean?
• 10 What's the WSL 2024 Championship Tour schedule?
• 11 Who is the current WSL champion?
• 12 History of the World Surf League
• 13 IPS World Champions
• 14 The creation of the ASP
• 15 ASP World Champions
• 16 The World Surf League – surfing's governing body since 2015

What is the WSL?

How do surfers qualify for the wsl tours.

Newly qualified Championship Tour surfer Leo Fioravanti celebrates in style

© Ryan Miller

Introducing surfing's 2019 world champion, Italo Ferreira

© WSL/Ed Sloane

Can I become a WSL surfer?

How many surfers compete on the wsl, who are some famous wsl surfers.

Kelly Slater, commanding the crowd

© Steve Sherman

Trophy room, much?

© Corey Wilson/Red Bull

Get to know the WSL's stars

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

Jack robinson is the australian surfer with the world …, griffin colapinto speaks after his world surf …, how do wsl heats work.

The US Open beach scene is like nothing else in surfing

© Jimmy Wilson

Judging tower, Fijian style

How is a WSL heat scored?

Jordy Smith, damn near perfect

© Trevor Moran

How does the WSL Mid-Year Cut work?

Molly picklum: what it takes.

Follow surfer Molly Picklum's tumultuous rookie year at the elite level of surfing on the WSL World Tour.

What do the different colour WSL jerseys mean?

Griffin Colapinto back in action and defending the yellow jersey at Bells

© Aaron Hughes/World Surf League

Enjoy more surfing content

Mind over matter can be a powerful concept – just ask …

Surfer kanoa igarashi: the global citizen who's most …, what's the wsl 2024 championship tour schedule.

• Event 1: Lexus Pipe Pro – January 29 - February 10, Haleiwa, Hawaii
• Event 2: Hurley Pro Sunset Beach – February 12-22, Oahu, Hawaii
• Event 3: MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal – March 6-12, Peniche, Portugal
• Event 4: Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach – March 26 - April 5, Torquay, Australia
• Event 5: Western Australia Margaret River Pro – April 11-21, Margaret River, Australia
• Event 6: SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro – May 22-31, Teahupo'o, Tahiti
• Event 7: Surf City El Salvador Pro – June 6-15, La Libertad, El Salvador
• Event 8: VIVO Rio Pro – June 22-30, Saquarema, Brazil
• Event 9: Corona Fiji Pro – August 20-29, Tavarua, Fiji
• Lexus WSL Finals: September 6-14, San Clemente, USA

Trophy time for Molly Picklum and Jack Robinson at Sunset Beach

© Tony Heff/World Surf League

Who is the current WSL champion?

John John Florence

Tyler Wright

Gabriel Medina

Stephanie Gilmore

Italo Ferreira

Filipe Toledo

History of the World Surf League

Mark Richards at Haleiwa in 1976

© John Witzig

IPS World Champions

Peter Townend

Shaun Tomson

Margo Oberg

Wayne Bartholemew

Lynne Boyer

Mark Richards

Debbie Beacham

The creation of the ASP

The ripple effect: cooly kids.

How has Coolangatta, population 5k, produced more surfing champions than anywhere else on Earth?

Kelly Slater and Andy Irons

© Pat Stacy

ASP World Champions

Frieda Zamba

Damien Hardman

Wendy Botha

Barton Lynch

Martin Potter

Pam Burridge

Kelly Slater

Pauline Menczer

Lisa Andersen

Layne Beachley

Mark Occhilupo

Sunny Garcia

Sofia Mulanovich

Chelsea Georgeson

Mick Fanning

Joel Parkinson

The World Surf League – surfing's governing body since 2015

Caitlin Simmers's "first proper Pipe wave", timed perfectly on finals day

© Brent Bielmann/World Surf League

The smiling faces of the deadly Brazilian Storm

© Renato Tinoco

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SURF COUNTY, USA : SURF TOUR

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Huntington Beach is Big Stop on the 1990 World Circuit

The ASP world tour consists of 21 events in nine countries. A surfer competing in all 21 events will travel roughly 79,000 miles, or three times around the globe.

The European Grand Prix will be the richest leg of the 1990 ASP World Tour: six events / $495,000

The Gunston 500 in Durban, South Africa, is one of only two events remaining from the inaugural 1976 tour. The other, Coca-Cola Classic, is in Sydney, Australia.

Mark Richards of Australia holds the men’s record for most world championships, winning four in a row, 1979-82. Frieda Zamba of the United States holds the most women’s titles with four.

Australia has produced 10 of the 14 men’s world champions. The United States has produced 11 of the 13 women’s world champions.

ASP TOUR HISTORY The Assn. of Surfing Professionals tour was founded in 1983 to replace the International Professional Surfing tour, which determined the world champion from 1976 to ’82. The ASP provides a uniform system for scoring, judging and event guidelines for the 21 stops on the tour.

OP PRO HUNTINGTON BEACH (Event 7) The Op Pro has been the United States’ largest surfing event since its inception in 1982. It is also the oldest ASP event on the mainland.

RATINGS SYSTEM The ratings levels range between 1A (lowest) and 5A (highest) and are determined by the prize money awarded at the events. Each rating level is worth 400 points to the winner. For example, a winner of a 1A event earns 1,000 points while a 2A winner earns 1,400. (m=men’s, w=women’s, lb=longboard) 1 O’Neill/Pepsi Classic Santa Cruz March 6-11 3A-m/w-$135,000 2 Bundaberg Rum Surfmasters Burleigh Heads, Australia April 2-8 3A-m/lb-$156,000 3 Rip Curl/Coca-Cola Classic Bell’s Beach, Australia April 10-16 2A-m/w-$90,000 4 Coca-Cola Bottlers Classic Sydney April 17-22 3A-m/w/lb-$156,000 5 Gunston 500 Durban, South Africa July 4-8 2A-m-$90,000 6 Life’s A Beach Pro Oceanside July 10-15 4A-m/w/lb-$112,000 7 Op Pro Huntington Beach July 29-Aug. 4 2A-m/w-$90,000 8 Quicksilver Lacanau Pro Lacanau, France Aug. 14-19 2A-m/w-$90,000 9 Rip Curl Pro Landes Hossegor, France Aug. 21-26 2A-m/lb-$90,000 10 Arena Surfmasters Biarritz, France Aug. 28-Sept. 2 2A-m/w-$90,000 11 Pukas Pro Zarautz, Spain Sept. 4-9 2A-m/w-$45,000 12 Seland Pro Sopelana, Spain Sept. 12-16 2A-m/w-$90,000 13 Buondi/Instinct Pro Ericeira, Portugal Sept. 18-22 2A-m/w-$90,000 14 Marui Pro Hebara, Chiba, Japan Oct. 4-8 4A-m/2A-w-$195,000 15 Alternative International Barra Beach, Brazil Oct. 16-21 2A-m/lb-$90,000 16 Hering Joquina Beach, Brazil Oct. 23-28 2A-m-$156,000 17 Body Glove Masters Margaret River, Australia Nov. 6-11 3A-m/w/lb-$150,000 18 BHP Stell International Newcastle Beach, Australia Nov. 20-25 3A-m/w-$135,000 19 Hard Rock Cafe World Cup Haleiwa, Hawaii Nov. 28-Dec. 6 2A-m-$90,000 20 Marui Pipeline Masters Pipeline, Hawaii Dec. 7-15 2A-men-$90,000 21 Billabong/Sunset Beach Pro Sunset/Mobile, Hawaii Dec. 16-29 5A-m/w-$235,000 WINNERS (Event 1) Men: Tom Curren Women: Frieda Zamba WINNERS (Event 2) Men: Tom Curren Women: Lisa Anderson WINNERS (Event 3) Men: Tom Curren Women: Lisa Anderson WINNERS (Event 4) Men: Rob Bain Women: Wendy Botha WINNER (Event 5) Men: Damien Hardmann WINNERS (Event 6) Men: Martin Potter Women: Pam Burridge TOP DOLLAR Total Tour Money 1989: $2.24 million 1982: $65,900 1976: $340,900 Source: ASP Media Guide

LOCALS AND FAVORITES AT THE OP

Rob Bain, Australia:

Bain, who finished fifth at last year’s Op Pro, is leading the world tour point standings this year by 900 points over Gary Elkerton of Australia. Bain, 27, made his professional debut in 1984 with a 17th-place finish at the Op Pro. Bain has finished ninth in the season points standings the last two years.

Lisa Anderson, Florida:

Anderson is currently in second place in the overall point standings. She hadn’t won an event before this season, but has two victories in the first five contests this year. Anderson, 21, was a standout gymnast and softball player in high school.

Jeff Booth, Laguna Beach:

Booth was known for his athletic and academic achievements at Laguna Beach High School. He fought off mononucleosis and a late-season slump last year to finish 23rd on the world tour. Booth, 20, finished 33rd at last year’s Op Pro.

Pam Burridge, Australia:

Burridge, a former model and top junior swimmer in Australia, is leading the point standings with 6,814. She finished second on the world tour last season for the fourth consecutive year. Burridge, 25, also has recorded a number of songs for an Australian band.

Richie Collins, Newport Beach:

Collins, the defending Op Pro champion, is currently 16th in the tour’s point standings and is coming off his best overall finish, eighth, last season. He finished in a three-way tie for fifth at the Life’s a Beach competition at Oceanside July 15. He is one of the more radical surfers on the tour.

Tom Curren, Santa Barbara:

After a year’s layoff from the tour, Curren’s seeking his third world title. He is the most dominant surfer on the tour this year, winning the first three events before sitting out the Life’s a Beach event. He finished second to Richie Collins of Newport Beach at last year’s Op Pro.

Mike Parsons, Laguna Beach:

Parsons, 25, finished 28th on the world tour last season and was fifth at the Op Pro. He is currently 24th in the point standings with 3,640. He was ranked No. 1 by the National Scholastic Surfing Assn. before turning pro in 1984. He’s also worked as an amateur surf contest judge.

Frieda Zamba, Florida:

The four-time world champion overcame a bout with the flu to defeat Kimm Mearig in the finals of last year’s Op Pro. Zamba won the first stop on the tour this year at Santa Cruz.

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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.

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