The 2023 World Surf League was the 46th season of all iterations of the tour circuit for professional surfers. Billabong Pipe Masters will be the first round of the tour.[1]
For the third time, the season will end at Lower Trestles, in San Clemente, USA, with the top five seeded men and women from the season going head to head to determine the champion at the WSL Finals.[2]
The 2023 season will also contribute towards qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics, where surfing will make its second appearance as an Olympic sport. The top ten surfers in the men's final standings and the top eight surfers in the women's final standings will earn quota places at the Olympics, subject to a maximum of two men and two women per NOC.[3]
Qualifier Athletes
The first five events of the 2023 Championship Tour will be contested by the WSL top 36 men and top 18 women.
The top 36 men consist of:
The Top 22 finishers from the 2022 Championship Tour rankings
The Top 10 finishers on the 2022 Challenger Series rankings
Two WSL season wildcards
Two event wildcards
The top 18 women consist of:
The Top 10 finishers on the 2022 Championship Tour rankings
The Top 5 finishers on the 2022 Challenger Series rankings
Two WSL season wildcards
One event wildcard
The 2023 CT season will start with 36 men and 18 women. Halfway through the season, the field will be reduced to 24 men and 12 women. The top-ranked surfers will automatically requalify for the 2024 CT, as well as continue on to the second half of the Tour, where they will be joined by one men's and one women's season-long wildcard, and one men's and one women's event wildcard. [4]
Women's 2023 Championship Tour Qualifiers
Top 10 Qualifiers from 2022 Championship Tour Rankings
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Carissa Moore (HAW)
Johanne Defay (FRA)
Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
Brisa Hennessey (CRI)
Lakey Peterson (USA)
Courtney Conlogue (USA)
Tyler Wright (AUS)
Gabriela Bryan (HAW)
Isabella Nichols (AUS)
Top 5 Qualifiers from 2022 Challenger Series Rankings
Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
Macy Callaghan (AUS)
Molly Picklum (AUS)
Caitlin Simmers (USA)
Sophie McCulloch (AUS)
WSL Season Wildcards
Caroline Marks (USA)
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
WSL Replacement
Teresa Bonvalot (PRT)
Men's 2023 Championship Tour Qualifiers
Top 22 Qualifiers from 2022 Championship Tour Rankings
Filipe Toledo (BRA)
Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Jack Robinson (AUS)
Ethan Ewing (AUS)
Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Griffin Colapinto (USA)
Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Connor O'Leary (AUS)
Callum Robson (AUS)
Samuel Pupo (BRA)
John John Florence (HAW)
Matthew McGillivray (ZAF)
Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Kelly Slater (USA)
Barron Mamiya (HAW)
Nat Young (USA)
Jake Marshall (USA)
Kolohe Andino (USA)
Jadson Andre (BRA)
Seth Moniz (HAW)
Jackson Baker (AUS)
Top 10 Qualifiers from 2022 Challenger Series Rankings
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Rio Waida (IND)
Maxime Huscenot (FRA)
Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
Ian Gentil (HAW)
Joao Chianca (BRA)
Liam O'Brien (AUS)
Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
WSL Season Wildcards
Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Yago Dora (BRA)
WSL Replacement
Carlos Munoz (CRI)
Schedule
The championship series will consist of the following events, subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
Event Wild Card Surfers do not receive points for the WSL. Their results on each event are indicated on the above table but no ranking points are awarded.
Kelly Slater received the WC for the 2023/24 and as a former World Champion, his points for the remaining of the season will count.
Miguel Pupo received the WC for the 2024 season, due to injury at the Bells Beach event. Miguel and Kelly are the WSL Season Wildcards at CT 2024.
(Q) The athlete has qualified for the Final Five
(E) The athlete has no chance of qualifying for the Final Five
(O) The athlete has qualified for the Olympic Games, pending ratification from its NOC
Event Wild Card Surfers do not receive points for the WSL. Their results on each event are indicated on the above table but no ranking points are awarded.
Johanne Defay received the WC for the 2023/24 and as a former Final Five, her points for the remaining of the season will count.
Johanne and Brisa are the WSL Season Wildcards at CT 2024.
(Q) The athlete has qualified for the Final Five
(E) The athlete has no chance of qualifying for the Final Five
(O) The athlete has qualified for the Olympic Games, pending ratification from its NOC