The World Surf League (WSL) has unveiled a significant revamp of its Championship Tour (CT) format, set to take effect in 2026. This overhaul marks a return to the iconic Pipe Masters as the season finale, a move that aims to enhance the competitive landscape of professional surfing as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Key Takeaways
- The Pipe Masters will return as the season-ending event, awarding 15,000 points, 1.5 times more than standard events.
- The format will eliminate the controversial Final Five and non-elimination rounds, increasing the stakes for every heat.
- The women’s CT field will expand from 18 to 24 surfers, promoting greater inclusivity.
- The season will consist of nine regular-season events followed by two postseason events before the Pipe Masters finale.
New Championship Tour Format
Starting in April 2026, the CT will feature a total of 12 events, beginning in Australia and culminating at Pipeline in Hawaii. The new format is designed to create a more engaging and competitive environment for both surfers and fans. Here’s how the season will be structured:
- Regular Season Events: Nine events will take place, featuring 36 men and 24 women.
- Postseason Events: After the regular season, the field will be narrowed to 24 men and 16 women for two postseason events in Portugal and Abu Dhabi.
- Final Event: The Pipe Masters will see the full field return, where the top surfers will compete for the prestigious title and the world championship.
Changes to Scoring and Seeding
The new format introduces a cumulative ranking system that emphasizes consistent performance throughout the season. Here’s how the scoring will work:
- Surfers will carry their best seven results from the nine regular-season events into the postseason.
- The final rankings will be determined by the best nine results from all 12 events, including the two postseason events and the Pipe Masters.
- The top eight surfers heading into the Pipe Masters will receive advantageous seeding in the draw, allowing them to compete with a strategic edge.
Enhanced Stakes and Opportunities
The WSL aims to elevate the competitive nature of the tour by removing non-elimination rounds, meaning every heat will result in an elimination. This change is expected to lead to more thrilling performances and higher stakes from the very beginning of each event.
Additionally, the expansion of the women’s field to 24 surfers is a significant step towards greater representation and opportunity in the sport. This move aligns with the WSL’s commitment to inclusivity and growth within professional surfing.
Celebrating Surfing’s Legacy
As the WSL prepares to celebrate 50 years of professional surfing, the return of the Pipe Masters as the season finale is a nod to the sport’s rich history. WSL CEO Ryan Crosby emphasized the importance of Pipeline in the surfing community, stating, "Pipeline has always held a special place in surfing history, and our fans have made it clear they want to see our sport’s most critical moments unfold there."
The 2026 Championship Tour schedule will include the following locations:
- CT1: Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
- CT2: Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia
- CT3: Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia
- CT4: Punta Roca, El Salvador
- CT5: Saquarema, Brazil
- CT6: Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
- CT7: Teahupo’o, Tahiti
- CT8: Cloudbreak, Fiji
- CT9: Lower Trestles, California, USA
- CT10: Surf Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- CT11: Peniche, Portugal
- CT12: Pipe Masters, Hawaii, USA
With these changes, the WSL is poised to redefine the competitive landscape of professional surfing, ensuring that every event matters and every performance has the potential to make history.
Sources
- [World Surf League admits horrible mistake, drops "final five" and moves Pipeline back to season ender in ’26!
- BeachGrit](https://beachgrit.com/2025/05/world-surf-league-admits-horrible-mistake-drops-final-five-and-moves-pipeline-back-to-season-ender/), BeachGrit.
- World Surf League revamps Championship Tour format, putting Pipe Masters in the spotlight, NBC Sports.
- World Surf League Scraps Final 5 Format, Will End Season at Pipeline in 2026, The Inertia.
- World Surf League returns to Pipeline end-of-year event, big changes for 2026 – Orange County Register, Orange County Register.
- WSL Returns to Pipeline for Championship Tour Finale Starting in 2026, Shop Eat Surf Outdoor.
