HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., USA (Thursday, July 27, 2023) - The world's best competitive longboarders are set to start their journey toward becoming the Longboard World Champions starting at Stop No. 1 on the World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour, the Huntington Beach Longboard Classic, which holds a waiting period from Saturday, July 29 through Sunday, August 6, 2023. World-class style and poise under pressure will be the focal point once more as 24 men and 24 women travel the globe in search of a World Title.
New Finals Format Introduced for 2023 WSL Longboard Tour
The first three events of the WSL Longboard Tour will count towards qualifying for the fourth and final event, the Malibu Longboard Championships. The Top 8 men and Top 8 women on the rankings will be given a spot in this one-day, winner-take-all event, which will determine the World Champions. Similar to the WSL Championship Tour Finals format, the competitors' points will go down to zero and they will be seeded into brackets, determined by their rankings, with priority given to the higher seed in the opening round. The winners of the Malibu Longboard Championships will be crowned the 2023 Longboard World Champions.
2023 WSL Longboard Tour Schedule
- Huntington Beach Longboard Classic (Huntington Beach, Calif., USA): July 29 - August 6, 2023
- Bells Beach Longboard Classic (Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia): August 30 - September 2, 2023
- Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic (El Sunzal, El Salvador): September 19 - 25, 2023
- Malibu Longboard Championships (Malibu, Calif., USA): October 3 - 13, 2023
Known as Surf City USA, Huntington Beach will host the first of four stops on the 2023 Longboard Tour. The iconic southside of the Huntington Beach Pier has provided a spectacular arena for competitions beginning in 1959 and continues to showcase some of the world's best surfers today.
Located 100 kilometers southwest of Melbourne in the heart of Torquay, Bells Beach is one of the most iconic waves in Australia and the world. Bells Beach sits in a bay between two headlands creating a natural amphitheater for the long and powerful right-hand wave that breaks along the reef point.
El Sunzal is the beach with some of the most surfing history in El Salvador and a favorite of longboarders. The long right point break is very consistent and breaks in deep water, allowing it to handle a range of swells.
First Point in Malibu is rich in surf culture and California heritage. It has long been regarded as one of the best point breaks in California, consistently breaking over a cobblestone reef and sand. Malibu will host the new one-day Finals format at the Malibu Longboard Championships, which holds a window from October 3 through 13, 2023.
Meet the 2023 Longboard Tour Competitors
The 2023 Longboard Tour will host 24 men and 24 women. Each 24-person field will be made up of the following:
Top 8 competitors from the 2022 Longboard Tour, 14 surfers selected from the WSL Regions (with at least one qualifying event per region), and Two event wildcards selected by the Tours and Competition Team.
Men's Division
Harrison Roach (AUS)
Kaniela Stewart (HAW)
Taylor Jensen (USA)
Declan Wyton (AUS)
Ben Skinner (GBR)
Kai Sallas (HAW)
Cole Robbins (USA)
Kaimana Takayama (USA)
Tony Silvagni (USA)
Kevin Skvarna (USA) - Season Wildcard
Steven Sawyer (RSA)
Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL)
Richie Cravey (USA)
Max Weston (AUS)
Matias Maturano Yubero (PER)
Nicolas Andrade ( ESP)
John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW)
Taka Inoue (JPN) - Season Wildcard
Kai Ellice Flint (AUS) - Season Wildcard
Ben Considine (AUS) - Season Wildcard
Chase Lieder (USA) - Season Wildcard
Eduardo Delpero (FRA) - Season Wildcard
Women's Division
Soleil Errico (USA)
Kelis Kaleopa'a (HAW)
Sophia Culhane (HAW)
Honolua Blomfield (HAW)
Chloe Calmon (BRA)
Mason Schremmer (USA)
Rachael Tilly (USA)
Tully White (AUS)
Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA)
Alice Lemoigne (FRA)
Natsumi Taoka (JPN)
Luana Soares (BRA)
Haley Otto (HAW)
Avalon Gall (USA)
Roisin Carolan (AUS)
Maya Glassenapp (REU)
Zoe Grospiron (FRA) - Season Wildcard
Maria Reyes (PER) - Season Wildcard
Kirra Molnar (AUS) - Season Wildcard
Liv Stokes (CAN) - Season Wildcard
Keani Canullo (HAW) - Season Wildcard
Crystal Hulett (RSA)
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Watch LIVE: Huntington Beach Longboard Classic and Wallex US Open of Surfing
The Huntington Beach Longboard Classic and Wallex US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico hold a competition window from Saturday, July 29, through Sunday, August 6, 2023. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL's YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL's broadcast partners.
The Wallex US Openof Surfing Presented by Pacifico and Huntington Beach Longboard Classic are proudly supported by Wallex.US, Pacifico, Cup Noodles, Hurley, 805 Beer, Red Bull, Sambazon, Shiseido, Surfshark, YETI, Aloha Collection, Aventon E-Bikes, Board & Brew, Boxed Water, Deville Canned Cocktails, Feelgoodz, Flexfit, Fuji Film, Huntington Surf & Sport, Jack's Surfboards, Nixon Watches, Pura Vida, Ralphs, Tractor Beverage Co, USAF 330th Special Warfare, Visit Huntington Beach, William Grant & Sons, Professional Teqball, Tractor Soda, Victoria White, and Youtheory.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.