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WSL 101: what it is, and how it works

WSL 101: what it is, and how it works

SURF CULTURE7 months ago1K Views

I don’t really watch the pro surf competitions. But I’m always curious how stuff works. So in today’s episode we’re diving under the hood of the WSL—the World Surf League.

???? Where did the WSL come from?

If you’ve ever watched a pro surf comp, you’ve probably heard of the World Surf League, or WSL. But it wasn’t always the slick, drone-shot, globally streamed production we know today. The WSL has roots going back nearly 50 years, to a time when professional surfing was scrappier, looser, and almost entirely driven by surfers themselves.

???? The IPS era

It all started in 1976, when two Hawaiians, Fred Hemmings and Randy Rarick, launched the International Professional Surfers—or IPS—circuit. It was the first attempt to create a unified world tour, stringing together competitions across countries and continents. Surfers could finally rack up points across a season, instead of relying on one-off wins to make a name for themselves.

???? The ASP shake-up

But by the early ’80s, some athletes felt the IPS lacked structure and vision. So in 1983, a breakaway group led by Australian surf legend Ian Cairns formed the Association of Surfing Professionals—the ASP. This is when things really started to click. The ASP brought in clearer judging criteria, man-on-man heats, priority rules, and a proper tour format.

Through the ’90s and 2000s, it was the ASP era that gave rise to household names like Kelly Slater, Lisa Andersen, Andy Irons, and Layne Beachley. Pro surfing was finally being taken seriously—and according to the reports, it was thrilling.

???? Enter the WSL

Then, in 2013, everything changed again. A company called Zosea Media bought the ASP, with financial backing from billionaire surf fan Dirk Ziff. Two years later, in 2015, the ASP was rebranded as the World Surf League.

Along with the name change came a massive overhaul in how pro surfing was marketed, produced, and shared. We’re talking slick livestreams, professional commentary, social media storytelling, and eventually—equal prize money for men and women by 2019.

????️ What the WSL runs today

Today, the WSL runs everything from the elite Championship Tour to the Challenger and Qualifying Series, plus big wave events and special showcases like The Eddie. They’ve even dabbled in reality TV with The Ultimate Surfer.

???? How it’s changing in 2026

Oh yeah, the 2026 Championship Tour is getting a major shake-up. The season will run from April to December, kicking off in Australia and wrapping up where it all should—Hawai‘i. That finale will be the legendary Pipe Masters, now restored as the crown jewel of the Tour.

???? Expanded tour, new format

The tour features 12 stops, including fan favorites like Jeffreys Bay, Teahupo’o, Cloudbreak, and Lower Trestles.

And for the first time, the women’s CT roster is expanding from 18 to 24 surfers, while the men stay at 34.

Here’s how it’ll work: Surfers will compete in nine regular season events. From there, the field narrows down to 24 men and 16 women, who’ll head into two new postseason events—Surf Abu Dhabi and Peniche in Portugal.

Then comes the grand finale at Pipeline, with all the original CT surfers rejoining the mix.

❌ No more second chances

There are no more second chances—non-elimination rounds are gone. If you lose, you’re out.

And Pipeline isn’t just symbolic—it’s now the highest-stakes event on Tour, awarding 15,000 points instead of the usual 10,000. The top eight men and women heading into Pipe will get deeper seeds in the draw, giving them a strategic advantage.

The WSL says these changes are about honoring surfing’s roots while raising the stakes. They also confirmed that Vans has officially handed over the rights to the Pipe Masters, and will now serve as the event’s apparel and footwear partner.

???? What’s with the jerseys?

Talking about apparel, what’s with the jerseys?

Red = Higher seed
Yellow = Current world #1

And why even have jerseys? Because bright colors help judges identify surfers in the water.

????‍⚖️ How do they judge the heats?

What else do the judges care about? I mean, how they’re scoring surfers in heats.

It’s based on:

Commitment and degree of difficulty
Innovative and progressive maneuvers
Combination and variety of maneuvers
Speed, power, and flow

???? Prize money breakdown

If you do well, there’s money to be had. You’re not competing, so you’re probably not going to care how much you can get at each stage of this rung-climbing event. In total, about $11 million is at stake.

But if you end up in the Final 5…