Surfing Competitions: How Do They Actually Work? + Guide

Anything related to surfing is cool. The ocean is a given. Who wouldn’t agree that the ocean is cool, especially during warmer days? 

Surf brands that market apparel, gear, and anything surf related are in and a lot of people are into them even when they don’t know how to surf. That is just how appealing surfing is to the world. 

With that said, I bet you would agree that surfing events and competitions aren’t the last on the list of cool things! They are fun to watch. They give us thrills and excitement. They connect us to our surfing heroes. To top it off, it just feels good to see people slay on the waters. 

Surfing Competitions: How Do They Work?

The world of surfing is fun. But, when it comes to competitions and events, it can be quite confusing. You would not want to look clueless the next time you attend a surfing event so we’re breaking it down for you. 

After this, you will be ready to talk about heats, priorities, and wildcards like you really know what you are talking about. Not just ready but confident to understand and talk about it. 

Rules and Regulations

As with a lot of competitions, surf ones work comparatively the same way – there are those big international events, then the national ones. Generally, there are heats that a surfer needs to hit to step to the next round.

WSL (World Surf League) synchronizes the annual tour of pro surf competitions taking in men’s and women’s CT (Championship Tours), the QS (Qualifying Series), the Longboard Championships, the Junior Championships, the Big Wave Tour, and the XXL Big Wave Awards. 

The rules are not too complicated although it is worth getting to understand as you watch the sport. Pretty much, these rules are in place to guarantee athletes’ safety, competition fairness, and more importantly, to encourage the best surfing experience in the field of live competition.   

WSL basics are:

• Judging and points
• Rankings 
• Priority
• Interference
• Heat Restart 
• Doping and Drug Use

Judging and Points

Surfing events are composed of rounds that are made up of heat. Heat comprises two to four participants at a time – all coming from a pre-determined competition zone. They have between twenty to thirty minutes max to catch and ride the best waves possible. 

These surfers should lock in their two highest-scoring waves – both out of likely 10 points for a possible 20-point heat total. A group of 5 judges will score each wave on a scale of 1 to 10. For each ride, both the highest and the lowest scores are discounted into which the rider will receive the average of all scores. 

Scoring the waves will be based on the following elements:

• Commitment and level of difficulty
• Original and progressive maneuvers
• Arrangement of major maneuvers
• Variety of maneuvers
• Speed, power, and flow

These elements are judged by the following scales: 

• 0.0 – 1.9: Poor
• 2.0 – 3.9: Fair
• 4.0 – 5.9: Average
• 6.0 – 7.9: Good
• 8.0 – 10.0: Excellent

Rankings

Each surfer gets points based on their individual performance. The better they perform, the more points they get. These points get accumulated from every tour. For instance, on CT, the surfer that gets 10,000 points places 1st, 8,000 points places 2nd, and so on. 

These make up their CT Rankings. By the end of the year, the male and female surfers with the highest points get to the top of the rankings and become the WSL Champions. 

 

Priority

The unconditional right of way to catch any waves is given to the surfer with priority. Other surfers present in the heat can paddle and catch the same wave provided that they do not impede the scoring possibility of the surfer with priority. 

Surfer loses priority once they snag a wave/or paddles for it but misses it. If two or more surfers are catching a wave, the first one to make it to the take-off zone gets the priority. 

Interference

During the heat where surfers can chase the same wave considering the rule of priority, the surfer who hampers the scoring potential of the one with priority will be awarded an interference penalty. Most of the time, it results in their heat score getting calculated only based on their best-scoring wave. 

This is not applicable for BWT (Big Wave Tour) though. In this case, if a surfer causes double interferences during a heat, they will be barred from the heat. 

Heat Restart

Exclusive to BWT, the heat restart rule can be directed by a judge in case no one catches a wave by the first 10 minutes of heat. 

Anti-Doping Rule

It was just in 2012 when WSL instituted Anti-Doping Policy. This aims to cover the use of both performance-enhancing and illicit substances. The rule applies not just to the surfer but to their active support staff, too. 

You may find WSL’s full rule book here. 

Events and Competitions

Surfing competitions started in a relaxed and lenient way. The first held surfing events were friendly races run by Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Club and the then-existing local surfing club. Photography during such events tickled the fancy of a lot of surfers and it began attracting surfers from all around Corona del Mar and all the spots that held surfing events. 

At present, more than 45 events are running every year around the world. They happen at both well-known and less popular surfing destinations for pro and amateur surfers. They have covered life and are sponsored by corporate and TV ads. 

Championship Tours

The WCT (World Championship Tour) is the peak-level circuit. This is where the likes of Kelly Slater, Julian Wilson, Filipe Toledo, Stephanie Gilmore, Coco Ho, and Carissa Moore belong. In WCT, the surfers’ goal is to bag the best-ranking position by the end of the year.

Who makes it to the WCT?

In the men’s division, they are: 

• The 22 highest-ranking surfers of the CT 
• The top 10 QS surfers get to enter the CT
• 2 wildcards per competition

In the women’s division, they are:

• The 10 highest-ranked on the CT 
• The top 6 QS surfers get to enter the CT
• 1 wildcard per competition

Event	Location	Men/Women
Corona Open Gold Coast	Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia	Men and Women
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach	Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia	Men and Women
Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro	Margaret River, Western Australia	Men and Women
Quiksilver Pro G-Land	G-Land, Banyuwangi, Indonesia	Men and Women
Oi Rio Pro	Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Men and Women
Corona Open J-Bay	Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa	Men and Women
Tahiti Pro Teahupo’o	Teahupoʻo, Tahiti	Men
Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Pro	Lemoore, California, US	Men and Women
Quiksilver Pro France	Capbreton, Hossegor, Seignosse, Landes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France	Men
MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal	Peniche, Portugal	Men
Billabong Pipe Masters	Banzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii	Men
Roxy Pro France	Capbreton, Hossegor, Seignosse, Landes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France	Women

Challenger Series

Event	Location	Men/Women
Sydney Surf Pro	Manly Beach, NSW, Australia	Men and Women
Corona Piha Pro	Piha, Waitakere, New Zealand	Men and Women
Vans US Open of Surfing	Huntington Beach, California, US	Men and Women
Pantin Classic ABANCA GALICIA CLASSIC SURF PRO	Playa Pantin, Valdoviño, Galicia, Spain	Men and Women
EDP Billabong Pro Ericeira	Ribeira D’Ilhas, Ericeira, Portugal	Men
Hawaiian Pro	Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii	Men
Vans World Cup of Surfing	Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii	Men

Qualifying Series

The WQS (World Qualifying Series) is the event where the bulk of professional surfers compete. Their common goal is to make the most points possible so they can join the elite circuit – the WCT (World Championship Tour). 

Event	Location	Men/Women
Corona Open China	Wanning, Hainan Island, China	Men and Women
Sunset Open	Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii	Men
Pro Taghazout Bay	Anchor Point, Taghazout Bay, Morocco	Men
Volcom Pipe Pro	Banzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii	Men
Carve Pro	Maroubra, Sydney, Australia	Men and Women
SLO CAL Open at Pismo Beach	Pismo Beach, California, US	Men and Women
Cabreiroá Pro Las Americas	Las Americas, Tenerife, Canary Islands	Men and Women
Oi Hang Loose Pro Contest	Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil	Men
Mothernest Great Lakes Pro	Boomerang Beach, NSW, Australia	Men and Women
Vissla Central Coast Pro	Avoca Beach, NSW, Australia	Men
SLO CAL Open at Morro Bay	Morro Bay, California, US	Men and Women
Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro	Rangiroa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia	Men
Surfest Newcastle Pro	Newcastle, NSW, Australia	Men
Sydney Surf Pro	Manly Beach, NSW, Australia	Men and Women
Ron Jon Quiksilver Pro	Shepard Beach Park, Cocoa Beach, Florida	Men
Corona Piha Pro	Piha, Waitakere, New Zealand	Men and Women
Barbados Surf Pro	Soup Bowl, Bathsheba, Barbados	Men and Women
Seat Pro Netanya	Kontiki Beach, Netanya, Israel	Men
Jack’s Surfboards Pro	Huntington Beach, California, US	Men and Women
Caparica Surf Fest Pro	Praia de Caparica, Lisbon, Portugal	Men and Women
Pro Santa Cruz	Praia da Fisica, Santa Cruz, Portugal	Men
Rip Curl Pro Argentina	Playa Grande, Mar del Plata, Argentina	Men and Women
Nelson Mandela Bay Surf Pro	Pipe/Pollock Beach, Port Elizabeth, South Africa	Men and Women
Royal St Andrews Hotel Port Alfred Classic	East Beach, Port Alfred, South Africa	Men and Women
Gold Coast Open	Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia	Men and Women
Thirsti Cape Town Surf Pro	Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa	Men and Women
Maui and Sons Arica Pro Tour	El Gringo, Arica, Chile	Men
Vic Bay Classic	Victoria Bay, Western Cape, South Africa	Men and Women
Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing	Pipe/Pollock Beach, Port Elizabeth, South Africa	Men and Women
Nias Pro	Nias, Lagundri Bay, Indonesia	Men and Women
Vans Surf Open Acapulco	Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico	Men
Simeulue Pro	Dylans, Simeulue Island, Aceh, Indonesia	Men and Women
Krui Pro	Ujung Bocur, Krui, Indonesia	Men and Women
Vans US Open of Surfing	Huntington Beach, California, US	Men and Women
Pantin Classic ABANCA GALICIA CLASSIC SURF PRO	Playa Pantin, Valdoviño, Galicia, Spain	Men and Women
Vans Pro	Virginia Beach, VA, US	Men
Cimaja Pro	Cimaja, West Java, Indonesia	Men and Women
WRV Outer Banks Pro	Nags Head, North Carolina, US	Men and Women
Senegal Pro	Surfers Paradise, Dakar, Senegal	Men
Shonan Open	Kugenuma Beach, Shonan, Japan	Men
Azores Airlines Pro	Sao Miguel, Portugal	Men
So Sri Lanka Pro	Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka	Men
EDP Billabong Pro Ericeira	Ribeira D’Ilhas, Ericeira, Portugal	Men
Central Japan Open	Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, Japan	Men and Women
Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup	Cloud 9, Siargao Island, Philippines	Men
Oaxaca Pro	Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico	Men
Mandurah Pro	Mandurah, Western Australia, Australia	Men
Salvador Surf Classic	Praia de Stella Maris, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil	Men
Cape Naturaliste Pro	Cape Naturaliste, Yallingup, Western Australia	Men and Women
Hyuga Pro	Ogurahama Hyuga-shi, Miyazaki, Japan	Men and Women
Phillip Island Pro	Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island, Australia	Men
Thomo QS in Memory of Bill Thomson	Soup Bowl, Bathsheba, Barbados	Men
Hawaiian Pro	Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii	Men
Taiwan Open of Surfing	Jinzun Harbour, Taitung, Taiwan	Men
Vans World Cup of Surfing	Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii	Men
Maui and Sons Pichilemu Pro	Punta de Lobos, Pichilemu, Chile	Women
Sisstrevolution Central Coast Pro	Avoca Beach, NSW, Australia	Women
Doyle Partners Women’s Pro	Newcastle, NSW, Australia	Women
Papara Pro Open Tahiti	Paparā, Tahiti, French Polynesia	Women
Super Girl Pro	Oceanside Pier, California, US	Women

Big Wave

Event	Location	Men/Women
Jaws Championship Pe’ahi	Pe’ahi, Maui, Hawaii	Men and Women
Nazare Challenge	Nazaré, Leiria, Portugal	Men

Longboard Tour

Event	Location	Men/Women
Noosa Longboard Open	Noosa, Queensland, Australia	Men and Women
Longboard Pro Espinho	Espinho, Porto, Portugal	Men and Women
Oi Longboard Series	Praia de Stella Maris, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil	Men and Women
Whalebone Classic	Cottesloe, Perth, Western Australia	Men and Women
Oi Longboard Series	Florianópolis, Santa Catarina , Brazil	Men and Women
Longboard Classic New York	Nassau County, New York, US	Men and Women

Junior Tour

Event	Location	Men/Women
Hydralyte Sports Surf Series Qld Pro Junior	Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia	Men and Women
Sunset Pro Junior	Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii	Men and Women
Lake Mac City Pro Junior	Redhead Beach, NSW, Australia	Men and Women
Sydney Surf Pro Junior	Manly Beach, NSW, Australia	Men and Women
Papara Pro Junior Tahiti	Paparā, Tahiti, French Polynesia	Men and Women
Ron Jon Quiksilver Junior Pro	Shepard Beach Park, Cocoa Beach, Florida	Men
Piha Pro Junior	Piha, Waitakere, New Zealand	Men and Women
Junior Pro Espinho	Espinho, Porto, Portugal	Men and Women
Nelson Mandela Bay Surf Pro	Pipe/Pollock Beach, Port Elizabeth, South Africa	Men
Royal St Andrews Hotel Port Alfred Classic	East Beach, Port Alfred, South Africa	Men
OI Pro Junior Series	Praia de Stella Maris, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil	Men and Women
Hydralyte Sports Surf Series pres by Hyundai – NSW Pro Junior	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Men and Women
E.Leclerc Pont-L’Abbé Junior Pro La Torche	La Torche, Finistere, Bretagne, France	Men and Women
Iquique Pro Junior	Playa Cavancha, Iquique, Chile	Men
Thirsti Cape Town Surf Pro	Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa	Men and Women
Hydralyte Sports Shoalhaven Pro Junior	Shoalhaven, NSW, Australia	Men and Women
Vic Bay Classic	Victoria Bay, Western Cape, South Africa	Men
Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing	Pipe/Pollock Beach, Port Elizabeth, South Africa	Men and Women
Ballito O’Neill SMTH Shapes Pro Junior	Ballito, South Africa	Men and Women
Junior Pro 40	Capbreton, Hossegor, Seignosse, Landes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France	Men and Women
Skullcandy Pro Junior	New South Wales, Australia	Men and Women
Shonan Magic Junior	Kanagawa, Kanagawa, Japan	Men and Women
Vans US Open of Surfing	Huntington Beach, California, US	Men and Women
Vans Pro Junior	Virginia Beach, VA, US	Men
OI Pro Junior Series	Florianópolis, Santa Catarina , Brazil	Men and Women
Seal Point Pro Junior	Cape St. Francis, Eastern Cape, South Africa	Men and Women
Hydralyte Sports Surf Series VIC Pro Junior	Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia	Men and Women
Newport Pro Junior	56th Street, Newport Beach, California	Men and Women
Ise Shima Pro Junior	Kohnohama, Ise Shima Mie, Japan	Men and Women
WSL Hawaii Pro Junior at Turtle Bay Resort	Turtle Bay, Oahu, Hawaii	Men and Women
Live Like Zander Junior Pro	Soup Bowl, Bathsheba, Barbados	Men and Women
Mancora Junior Pro Peru	Piura, Talara, Peru	Men and Women
WSL Junior Championships	Jinzun Harbour, Taitung, Taiwan	Men and Women
Ron Jon Roxy Junior Pro	Shepard Beach Park, Cocoa Beach, Florida	Women
Heroes de Mayo Iquique Pro Junior	Iquique, Chile	Women
Pena Little Monster	Praia da Taíba, Ceará, Brazil	Women

Specialty Events

Event	Location	Men/Women
Cell C Goodwave	New Pier, Durban, South Africa	–
Nudie Australian Boardriders Battle Final	New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia	–
Red Bull Airborne Gold Coast	Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia	–
Red Bull Airborne Brazil	Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	–
Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang	Pecatu, Bali, Indonesia	–
Men’s Duct Tape Invitational	Huntington Beach, California, US	Men
Women’s Duct Tape Invitational	Huntington Beach, California, US	Women
Red Bull Airborne Series	Huntington Beach, California, US	–
Surf de Nuit Anglet	Chambre d’Amour, Anglet, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France	–
Red Bull Airborne Series France	Capbreton, Hossegor, Seignosse, Landes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France	–
Vans Triple Crown of Surfing	Oahu, Hawaii, US	–

 Vans Triple Crown

Event	Location	Men/Women
Hawaiian Pro	Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii	Men
Vans World Cup of Surfing	Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii	Men
Billabong Pipe Masters	Banzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii	Men

Conclusion

Now that you have an idea of how everything goes in surfing events and competitions, you may now follow your darling surfers when the big league events they are in are on – whether live or on the broadcast. This time, you have some tangible clue of what is going on. 

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: Who are leading the boards for Championship Tours?

A: Preseason leaders as of writing (June 25, 2020) are:

• Men:

1. Italo Ferreira
2. Gabriel Medina
3. Jordy Smith
4. Filipe Toledo
5. Kolohe Andino

• Women

1. Carissa Moore
2. Caroline Marks
3. Lakey Peterson
4. Stephanie Gilmore
5. Sally Fitzgibbons

Q: How are waves scored?

A: A panel consisting of 5 judges, scores each wave on a scale of 1 to 10. Each scoring ride is discounted and the surfer gets the average of the remaining 3 scores. There are no limits on the number of waves that can be scored, but it will boil down to the two best-scoring waves. Each score is to be added together to become the surfer’s heat total. 

Q: Are scoring different between CT and QS events?

A: No. Scoring applies the same for both events. 

Q: What events does the WSL coordinate?

A: Almost majority of surfing events are coordinated by WSL. Such are: 

• Championship Tours (CT)
• Qualifying Series (QS)
• Big Wave Tour
• Longboard Championship
• Junior Championship
• Masters Championship
• WSL Awards and Big Wave Awards

Related Resources

• Surfboards for Beginners
• Triathlon Wetsuits
• Surfboard Brands