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, gears, 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 in 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, 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 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 heats. Heat comprises of two to four participants at the 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. 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 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 of BWT, the heat restart rule can be directed by a judge in case no one catches a wave by the first 10 minutes of a 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 ran by Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Club and the then existing local surfing club. Photography during such events tickled the fancy of a lot of surfers that it began attracting surfers from all around to 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 are covered live 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 the professional surfers compete. Their common goal is to make the most points as 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:
- Italo Ferreira
- Gabriel Medina
- Jordy Smith
- Filipe Toledo
- Kolohe Andino
- Women
- Carissa Moore
- Caroline Marks
- Lakey Peterson
- Stephanie Gilmore
- 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
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