#world surf league

The World Surf League released the schedule for the 2026/27 Challenger Series, as well as announcing the addition of a new category of events, the Qualifying Series 6,000 International. The Challenger Series, together with the new QS 6,000 International events, will provide the pathway to compete on the elite Championship Tour for the 2027 season. 

“It’s pretty wild. I always tell people I have a friend that’s a pro snowboarder who grew up in Maui,” said professional surfer Cody Young.

Three-time World Champion John John Florence has announced that he will defer his return to the World Surf League, Championship Tour for another year. Florence, who was awarded the WSL Season Wildcard, has decided to withdraw from the 2026 CT and extend his break from full-time competition to continue to focus on his family and travel.

Carissa Moore (HAW) and Maui’s Eli Hanneman claimed victories at the Florence Pipe Pro Presented by HTA on Saturday, a World Surf League Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series men’s and women’s QS 2,000-level event.

Kiara Goold and Finn McGill claimed wins Saturday in pumping 8- to 12-foot surf at the HTA Sunset Pro, a men’s and women’s World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 2,000-level event featuring many of Hawaiʻi and Tahiti Nui’s top rising talents.

Maui surfer Eli Hanneman came out firing at the US Opening of Surfing in the same form he won with in 2023, posting a 14.67 heat total in the Round of 64 on Friday.

The Corona Cero Open J-Bay, Stop No. 10 on the World Surf League 2025 Championship Tour, kicked off its opening day in three-to-five foot surf at Supertubes.

For Maui surfers Imaikalani deVault, Ian Gentil and Jackson Bunch, Margaret River marked the end of their 2025 CT run.

Maui’s last remaining Championship Tour surfer Imaikalani deVault kept his season alive yesterday at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, defeating CT rookie Alan Cleland Jr. (Mexico) to advance to his first quarterfinal of the year.

The lowest-ranked surfer still in the draw, Imaikalani deVault (HAW), defeated defending Western Australia Margaret River Pro winner and heavy event favorite Jack Robinson (AUS) in the Round of 32 to keep his Championship Tour dreams alive for another day.

The 21st annual Ian Walsh Menehune Mayhem youth surf contest will take place May 17–18, 2025, at Hoʻokipa Beach Park.

The World Surf League Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series returns to Tahiti for the Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro, a men’s QS 1000, beginning March 3 through 7. This marks the final event of the men’s Hawaiʻi/Tahiti QS season to determine who will secure their place among the 2025 Challenger Series.

Four Maui surfers make their return to Pipeline on Oʻahu’s North Shore for the World Surf League’s first CT event of the year: the Lexus Pipe Pro 2025

A masterclass in approaching Haleiwa unfolded in Quarterfinal Heat 3 of the World Surf League’s The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro, featuring standout surfers Joshua Moniz (HAW), Kauli Vaast (FRA), Ian Gentil (HAW), and Kainehe Hunt (HAW).

Oʻahu’s Eweleiula Wong and Luke Tema each claimed wins at the World Surf League The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro, a men’s and women’s Qualifying Series 1000, in iconic Sunset Beach conditions on Monday.

Maui, Hawaii duo Levi Young (HAW) and Kai Lenny (HAW) will take on Justin Roberson (HAW) and Todd Coffey (HAW) to kickstart men’s Round of 96, Heat 1.

The World Surf League Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro, a men’s and women’s QS 1000, continues to wait for opening day start as event organizers have called Wednesday, Oct. 30, and Thursday, Oct. 31, OFF. A projected swell for the weekend could see competition get underway with the event needing three days to run. 

Haʻikū’s Nora Liotta has a chance to reach another milestone in her young surfing career this week as she aims to defend her title in the World Surf League’s Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro.

On Wednesday in Brazil, Maui’s own Jackson Bunch became the last surfer to make the cut for the World Surf League’s 2025 Championship Tour, as Marco Mignot eliminated Levi Slawson in the quarterfinals at the Corona Saquarema Pro presented by Banco do Brasil.

Kelis Kaleopaʻa (HAW) and Kaniela Stewart (HAW) won titles in the Local Motion Surf Into Summer At Home In The Hawaiian Islands, over a heavily-contested field on Wednesday. Ala Moana Bowls provided three-to-four conditions for Kaleopaʻa and Stewart, alongside their longboard contingent, to showcase style and poise under pressure, according to the World Surf League. In the end, it was South Shore sweep for the two competitors as Waikīkī’s reigning WSL Longboard Champion, Kai Sallas (HAW) and American Samoa’s Sive Jarrard (ASM) earned runner-up finishes. PC: Tony Heff Photography / WSL