Pro surfing fans who follow the world’s best competitive surfers are in for a wave of change.
The World Surf League on Friday announced the cancellation of the 2020 competitive year due to the coronavirus pandemic and a new schedule planned for the 2021 season.
“After careful consideration and extensive discussions with key stakeholders, we have made the decision to cancel,” WSL CEO Erik Logan said in an announcement. “While we firmly believe that surfing is amongst the sports best suited for competition to be held safely during the age of unresolved COVID, we have huge respect for the ongoing concerns of many in our community as the world works to resolve this.”
The 2021 tour is actually expected to kick off this November in Maui for the women and in December in Oahu, Hawaii for the men, subject to approval by the state of Hawaii and local government agencies, as well as effective protocols that allow for safe international travel, WSL officials said.
Hawaii remains among the most strict when it comes to traveling into the islands, with quarantine requirements still in place for people coming into the country.
The final event of the season will change, instead of a world champion earning the most points throughout the season, it will instead finish with “The WSL Finals,” a new single-day world title event in September 2021.
The finals will include the top five women and top five men following the 10-event championship tour season, with a battle for the titles in a new surf-off format at one of the world’s best waves – what spot that is was not specified in the announcement.
Also new this year is an equal number of women’s and men’s competitive tour events for the first time in the sport’s history, with 10 events for each. In past years, women typically have a fewer events, but in recent years the World Surf League, which is based in Santa Monica, has attempted to create equal playing fields, including matching prize money for men and women.
The women will now join the men at Teahupo’o, Tahiti, one of the world’s most iconic locations with challenging waves known for monstrous barrels. The surf break is slotted to be the venue for the 2024 Olympics.
It’s the first time the World Tour women have competed at the same time as the men at Teahupo’o since 2006.
“I’m really excited about these new format changes,” two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright said in a statement. “As someone that has spent a lot of time out with injury and on the couch in the last few years as a professional spectator, I feel that change is good and needed.
“Having Tahiti come back on the schedule will be interesting and challenging,” Wright said. “It will take us a few years to get our feet and positioning in. However, with the next generation of strong and talented women coming through I think we’ll soon have Tahiti specialists.”
2021 Championship Tour Season, which would be subject to change depending on coronavirus conditions:
Shiseido Maui Pro presented by ROXY: Maui, Hawaii, Nov. 25-Dec. 6, 2020
Billabong Pipe Masters: Oahu, Hawaii, Dec. 8-20, 2020
MEO Pro Portugal: Peniche, Portugal, Feb. 18-28, 2021
Corona Open Gold Coast presented by Billabong: Queensland, Australia, March 18-28
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: Victoria, Australia, April 1-11
Margaret River Pro: Western Australia, Australia, April 16-26
Oi Rio Pro presented by Corona: Saquarema, Brasil, May 20-29
Surf Ranch Pro: Lemoore, California, June 10-13
Quiksilver Pro G-Land: Indonesia, June 20-29
Corona Open J-Bay: South Africa, July 7-19
Outerknown Tahiti Pro: Teahupo’o, Tahiti, Aug. 26-Sept. 6
The WSL Finals: Sept. 8-16
There will also be a few specialty events starting next month called the “WSL Countdown” in order to “bring world-class competitive surfing to our fans during a time of restricted international travel.” The regional events will be more like exhibitions verses contests, featuring top surfers in the USA, Australia, France and Portugal.
One of the events will be held at the Surf Ranch in Lemoore, near Fresno. The “Rumble at the Ranch” will showcase a mixed-gender team format event in August.
In Australia, the Australian Grand Slam will feature strike mission events at the Gold Coast and Margaret River over September and October. In France and Portugal, the Euro Surf Cup will feature regional stars in late September and early October.
For more info on changes, live broadcasts and updates, go to WorldSurfLeague.com.
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July 17, 2020 at 11:50PM
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World Surfing League announces 2020 season canceled, changes for pro surfing in 2021 - OCRegister
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