LOS ANGELES, Calif., USA (Wednesday, April 24, 2024) - The 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series fields are set with the seven regions sending their top contenders for a chance at 2025 Championship Tour (CT) qualification. Returning faces and fresh threats prepare to battle at six stops across the world in hopes of turning their dreams to reality. A men's field of 80 competitors join 48 women at these events with only the Top 10 men and Top 5 women earning their place among the world's best at season's end.
First Stop, Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro presented by GWM
The famed point break of Snapper Rocks returns to kick off the 2024 Challenger Series beginning April 27 - May 4 for the Bonosy Gold Coast presented by GWM. A fresh class of Challenger Series contenders joins returning qualification threats and those who fell off the CT from the Mid-season Cut. This marks the first of six stops that take these contenders around the globe including South Africa, the United States, Portugal, and Brazil.
2023 Challenger Series Schedule
Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM (Queensland, Australia): April 27 - May 4, 2024
GWM Sydney Surf Pro Presented by Bonsoy (New South Wales, Australia): May 9 - 16, 2024
Ballito Pro (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa): July 1 - 8, 2024
US Open of Surfing (Huntington Beach, USA): August 3 - 11, 2024
EDP Vissla Pro Ericeira Presented by Estrella Galicia (Ericeira, Portugal): Septemer 29 - October 6, 2024
Corona Saquarema Pro presented by Banco de Brasil (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): October 12 - 20, 2024
An all-important start will see the top contenders from each of the WSL's seven regions take on proven elite beginning April 27 at one of the world's best righthand, sand-bottom point breaks of Snapper Rocks. Careers have been made and dismantled at this iconic break with each of the previous Challenger Series victors either requalifying or qualifying as a rookie for the CT.
Following an all-important start on the Gold Coast, the Challenger Series contenders then head for the rugged beauty of North Narrabbean for the GWM Sydney Surf Pro presented by Bonsoy beginning May 9 - 16 to see who takes control of the rankings leaving Australia.
Surfing's Familiar Faces Clash With Emerging Stars
The 2023 Challenger Series will host 80 men and 48 women at each event, comprised of athletes from the following groups:
- 12 men and seven women from the CT who did not make the Mid-season Cut,
- 10 men and five women from the previous year's Challenger Series rankings,
- Three men and two women who were CT surfers in the prior season that did not requalify for either the CT or the Challenger Series,
- 49 men and 30 women as allocated by the seven WSL regions (Australia/Oceania, Asia, Africa, Europe, Hawaii/Tahiti Nui, North America, and South America), and
- The men's 2022 World Junior Champion,
- The women's 2022 World Junior Champion, and
- Five men's and three women's wildcards per event.
Field break down
After hard-fought seasons on the 2023/2024 QS in their respective regions, the likes of Zoe Benedetto (USA), Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW), Shion Crawford(HAW), Sara Wakita (JPN), Kian Martin (SWE), Tiago Carrique (FRA), and Luke Slijpen (RSA) claimed their maiden regional victories for their place among the Challenger Series contenders. They lead the charge alongside fellow regional victors including former CT competitors Ian Gouveia (BRA) and Paige Hareb (NZL), plus Joel Vaughan (AUS), Michael Dunphy (USA), Taina Hinckel (BRA), and Yolanda Hopkins (POR).
2024 Championship Tour Competitors Relegated to Challenger Series
Luana Silva (BRA)
Isabella Nichols (AUS)
Alyssa Spencer (USA)
Samuel Pupo (BRA)
Ian Gentil (HAW)
Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Kade Matson (USA)
Jacob Willcox (AUS)
Frederico Morais (POR)
Callum Robson (AUS)
Eli Hanneman (HAW)
Kelly Slater (USA)
Deivid Silva (BRA)
Top 5 Challenger Series Requalifiers
Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Nadia Erostarbe (EUK)
Erin Brooks (CAN)
Vahine Fierro (FRA)
Sophie McCulloch (AUS)
Ellie Harrison (AUS)
Top 10 Challenger Series Requalifiers
Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
Mateus Herdy (BRA)
Jackson Baker (AUS)
Marco Mignot (FRA)
Jett Schilling (USA)
Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
Joan Duru (FRA)
Nolan Rapoza (USA)
George Pittar (AUS)
Reef Heazlewood (AUS)
Jadson Andre (BRA) 2023 CT
2024 Challenger Series Regional Qualifiers
Africa
Jessie van Nieker (RSA)
Anastasia Venter (RSA)
Sarah Baum (RSA) - Regional Wildcard
Luke Slijpen (RSA)
Paul Sampson (RSA)
Tide Lee Ireland (RSA)
Luke Thompson (RSA)
Adin Masencamp (RSA) - Regional Wildcard
Asia
Sara Wakita (JPN)
Anon Matsuoka (JPN)
Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN)
Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN) - Regional Wildcard
Kian Martin (SWE)
Riaru Ito (JPN)
Rinta Oooto (JPN)
Joh Azuchi (JPN)
Hiroto Ohhara (JPN)
Ketut Agus (IDN) - Regional Wildcard
Australia/Oceania
Paige Hareb (NZL)
Philippa Anderson (AUS)
Rosie Smart (AUS)
Saffi Vette (NZL)
Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) - Regional Wildcard
Joel Vaughan (AUS)
Dakoda Walters (AUS)
Alister Reginato (AUS)
Jarvis Earle (AUS)
Tully Wylie (AUS)
Oscar Berry (AUS)
Winter Vincent (AUS)
Mikey McDonaugh (AUS) - Regional Wildcard
Europe
Yolanda Hopkins (POR)
Teresa Bonvalot (POR)
Tessa Thyssen (FRA)
Janiere Gonzalez Etxabarri (ESP)
Francesca Veselko (POR) - Regional Wildcard
Tiago Carrique (FRA)
Charly Quivront (FRA)
Kauli Vaast (FRA)
Guilherme Ribeiro (POR)
Jorgann Couzinet (FRA)
Kai Odriozola (ESP)
Justin Becret (FRA) - Regional Wildcard
Hawaii
Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW)
Erin Brooks (CAN)
Eweleiula Wong (HAW)
Zoe McDougall (HAW) - Regional Wildcard
Shion Crawford (HAW)
Jackson Bunch (HAW)
Mihimana Braye (PYF)
Robert Grilho (HAW)
Kai Matin (HAW)
Cody Young (HAW)
Kai Paula (HAW) - Regional Wildcard
North America
Zoe Benedetto (USA)
Talia Swindal (USA)
Kirra Pinkerton (USA)
Bella Kenworthy (USA)
Leilani McGonagle (CRC) - Regional Wildcard
Michael Dunphy (USA)
Alan Cleland (MEX)
Lucca Mesinas (PER)
Owen Moss (USA)
Josh Burke (USA)
Ryan Huckabee (USA)
Levi Slawson (USA)
Dimitri Poulos (USA) - Regional Wildcard
South America
Tainá Hinckel (BRA)
Laura Raupp (BRA)
Sophia Medina (BRA)
Daniella Rosas (PER) - Regional Wildcard
Ian Gouveia (BRA)
Heitor Mueller (BRA)
Lucas Silveira (BRA)
Cauã Costa (BRA)
Luel Felipe (BRA)
Rafael Teixeira (BRA)
Edgard Groggia (BRA)
Alejo Muniz (BRA) - Regional Wildcard
Watch LIVE
All competitions will be broadcast LIVE onWorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL's broadcast partners.