2025 Challenger Series Announced
We already knew changes were coming down the turnpike for the Challenger, as last year the Gold Coast Pro was re-promoted to CT status. There's also been a strong suspicion a revamped Challenger will garner the attention the Woz so wants.
'So what have they got in store for us?' we've been wondering out loud.
Well, as it happens, not much.
Next year's Changa is much the same as this year's, albeit without the Goldy Pro and Sydney switches to Newcastle. That's it.
There'll be five stops, so one less than last year, which means just three results will count towards qualification for the 2026 Championship Tour.
The overnight press release makes no mention of expanding the tour should other events come online, but we live in hope.
Meanwhile, the Longboard Tour has also announced its schedule with an identical circuit to this year:
- Huntington Beach, California, USA: July 26 - 30 (US Open festival window: July 26 - August 3)
- Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia: September 17 - 21
- Surf Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE: October 21 - 26
- El Sunzal, El Salvador: November 5 - 9
Comments
The slow death of competitive surfing. No money in the world of surfing sponsorship is being reflected in the amount of contests. More people are surfing than ever but less care about who is on the tour. Gone are the glory days of 1990-2008.
Seems like it
Hi Everyone, I prefer watching a QS or challenger heat as in the early rounds as they are 4 person heats - more waves more drama more priority blunder and lead changes. Imagine if the wsl went to four person heats do you think it would be better to watch? eg/Jack, Italo plus two low ranked surfers scrapping to get through round 1. More waves more action smaller comp running time etc. Interested to get everyones thoughts on this?
Surely this proves this mid-tier level of competition is not viable.
Agree. I'm a fan of the old QS 10,000s, 6,000s and 3,000s. Events all year round. Big variation in conditions. Everyone gets to compete against everyone.
I would like to see this format again, but only if CT surfers are not allowed to requalify the same year they fall off tour. Also no mid-year cut.
Worth noting the mid-year cut came after the concept of the Changa - they weren't created in tandem.
2020 was the first year and it started in March and ran to November - though cancelled after the first event due to the 'vid.
The mid-year cut came in 2022.
I agree they should ditch the cut so if a surfer falls off tour then, like the old days, they're off for the year.
The concept struggles. Trying to fit a mid-tier tour into half a year means whole surf seasons are missed and it also compromises the top-tier as it also has to be wrangled into a shortened year.
Yeah, the concept of the Challenger Series has failed.
as Bukowski once said, “Let it die.”
I think he was referring to Los Angeles, but it seems fitting
Not begrudging those that qualify via this beach break show, the narrow score spreads show it is a tough grind, but surely not a way to find the best surfers for the CT.
Grim.
swear ive seen the cafe across the road at narra promoting the comp since early this year when i was down there ?
"The Changa" - It aint gunna stick Stu.....
(Its kinda of like the the line from Mean Girls - "Thats so Fetch")
PS: Dony any blokes out there pretend they havent seen the movie!
Don't give a fuck if it sticks or not. It's shorter to type than Challenger and sounds better than CS.
Goodvibes : "Woke Gromz need a Hot Shot of illicit Changa!"
Huey : "Happily toking on my KASEBERGA Changa Peace Pipe right now!"
Surf God Stu : "Had a gut full of Starkie's CS Pub Crawl...pass the Changa Huey!"
Stu's Groupie tbb : "In awe of Stu's Wrath of the Day...quivering but still droolin'!"
Me 2 : "Feel like a Changa or two!"
WSL : "Don't forget to Flush!"
No, CS is fine.
We just need a redhead in those events and they can be the Change Ranga.
Changa. Changa!!!!
There, it stuck! Peace bru
I'm not on board with this. The fewer events there are, the more likely it is that qualification will amount to random chance (i.e., 1 fluke performance) rather than consistent showings across multiple venues. I think anyone who has done stats at uni would recognise that a smaller sample size (fewer events) increases the influence of outlier results.
As an example of potential results across the 5 events:
Competitor A: 10,000, 3,320, 1700, 700, 700. That's 15,020 points, 9 heat wins all season
Competitor B: 4,745, 4,745, 4,745, 4,745, 4,745, That's 14,235 points, 15 heat wins all season
Does athlete A really deserve to get in over athlete B despite one solid showing and only 3 heat wins from the final 4 events?
point well made
Seems pretty fair as they both won 5 '2man' heats and they are pretty much on the same points. 2 man heats are way more of an indication of the better surfer progressing than a 4 man heat which seems to be more about survival and is a wave-catching competition.
How does this shit show of poor quality locations give meaning to cutting those on the CT and replacing them with more competitive and skilled surfers for the next years CT. Pathetic !
I'll stick my neck out and say no surfer in the world looks at that line-up of venues and thinks, "man I'd love to surf there". Changa slop tour, and precisely the reason why we have bunch of very average Brazzos hitting the CT in 25
If you think merewether is a shit wave , then honestly you're off your head.
In June wow prepare to be shocked
On its day its one of the best setups on the east coast.
You can't just hold every contest at reef breaks
With 3 second barrels
2 foot to twenty foot should decide the best surfer in the world .
There's a bunch of Brazilian surfers in the mix because they put in the effort, have drive and yes know what the judges like to see.
Anywhere can be good on a miracle day. Mostly though, it’s a 4/10 wave. I seem to remember the last WSL comp there was won by Medina taking off left on a right hander and throwing a punt off the incoming section. Yawn. Happy to be wrong if the stars align but I stand by my comment that no one dreams of one day travelling to Newy to surf
I think you're both correct.
No-one dreams of travelling to Newcastle to surf.
But Merewether is an unreal wave.
More importantly (from an event perspective) it's a very consistent, reliable location that works from 2ft to 12ft. So with the event being held in June - prime time for southerly swells, which is a great direction (remembering Newcastle is one of the better south swell magnets on the eastern seaboard) - I'd have high confidence that they'll see some excellent waves.
Fuck it'd be good if they score some big classic and groomed winter Mereweather.
Fingers crossed.
adding onto this, I have lived and surfed in newcastle for almost everyday for over 10yrs. Merewether is by far and wide the fattest good wave in newcastle out of the lot. On most swells you can surf the main beaches up to 10ft but ive found that merewether is so popular because of the names that have come from there ie matt hoy, mark richards, ryan, jacko, morgs, simon robinson. The key factor is that they are locals of merewether and not the surrounding beaches.
adding onto this, there are other amzing surfers coming from newcastle like conner lee and his dad, a guy from south oz teale vanner and lewie dunn who are every bit as good but dont get the recognision and the breaks arent recognised on top of that like redhaead and newcastle beach
haha. I'd be saying this if Mereweather was my local too.
Well played sir.
I think most of the names that have come from Merewether have more to do with the boardriders club than the break itself. Most of them have lived and surfed around all of the surrounding areas.
A lot of guys signed up from different local club choices because it was seen as a jumping off spot to a career given the competitiveness and talent pool the club gained over the years.
I'll play devils advocate and say that if you're living in a van as a surfer, travelling, Newcastle is arguably the best location on the east coast! If you also account for the crowds, I'd say it's the best surf city in Australia as well. If you ignore crowds, nothing beats the GC.
The point is that at least one of the five stops should be a wave of consequence. A point of difference.
5 beachies is not varied enough. It's also boring.
I second that.
Focusing on the Aussie scene in order:
CT events: VIC, QLD (in MAY!!!), WA.
CS event: NSW - Newcastle in June after North Narra dropped.
Pity those Northie lefts we never got to see work in recent years - needs a summer slot. Sad for all those bemoaning the dearth of lefts on tour.
I'd back Merewether in June for sure though.
Remembering as well, these Aussie events all rely on government support - and maybe that's changed in NSW. Newcastle Surfest has real community support (more than anywhere I'd reckon) and is staged each year irrespective of WSL status.
Says something about the WSL (and fans) that they've halved the NSW locations on the mid-tour.
Sure it is not the dream tour, but that's the point. Do the hard yards at the classic, historical locations which are for good reason where a lot of the (very proud) Aussie surf culture was born.
I can see wide-stance Brazzos who are great at air reverses in 1-2 ft slop making up the bulk of qualifiers from this tour.
Exactly
It happened this year
Judge’s pathetic
Power rail surfing out the door as soon as wind goes onshore
As if dollars for surfers isnt hard enough to find. But what company in their right mind will spend big dollars on a WSL surfer, who potentially may only be on tour for 6 months, mid year cut !
Surfers want to be on tour for 12 months. Sponsors prefer 12 months. Fans prefer 12 months.
Give them a fair go. They earnt the right to be there !
Reckon Jules still wants a wildcard to that??
At least the first comp at home...
More comps please, more QS comps please, It means all of the shit head groms and their shit head parents are away most of the time, alot more relaxing.
More comps please.
I'm not so negative on it.
If the contestants are aiming for the CT they have to do all the trick stuff anyway so if the venues aren't great it is still relevant.
Each of those venues can actually get pretty good with reasonable consistency so all surfers should have a chance to show their wares in good quality surf. AND when that opportunity arises they have to make it count.
With that in mind and with only five contests they will have to get serious from the get go. Get your fitness, equipment and contest game in order. Only five contests, only three(?) count, don't fuck up.
That "pressure cooker" atmosphere won't be reserved for the end of the season. Dud out in contest one and expect to feel the heat from that point forward. Could you see Dog Marsh or Snake Patterson telling their surfer that contest one doesn't matter. No way.
Equal spread of contests. Only one in each of the five countries with contest sites. Fair as it can be.
I actually really like the CS. Almost more engaging than the CT at times particularly with an overall point score and that qualification shuffle coming into the final events. Hold that in any sort of decent surf and you got me.
And that is actually my final point. Over the last few years the CS has been "dudded" surf wise in more than their fair share of events. You would have to think that luck will turn sometime soon.
That's what needs to swing, Lets get some really good conditions and send them out into quality waves at these venues and that is well and truly good enough. They will rip. There will be airs and stuff but there will be solid rail work as well.
If Fanning or Slater or Medina as young bucks were surfing this series they wouldn't be whinging, they would be working out how to win and win they would.
"Each of those venues can actually get pretty good with reasonable consistency so all surfers should have a chance to show their wares in good quality surf. "
Strongly disagree there, especially with condensed waiting periods and big fields to get through.
They are overwhelming crappy with very rare moments of goodness.
The probability is that the comps will be held in crappy surf, such as we have seen.
We will have to agree to disagree.
Only familiar with Newcastle and Sydney really, but have to disagree also.
Last few comps haven't been in prime season, so we haven't seen the classic Northie left or Merewether rights ..either ladies or off the Point. Mostly Dixon park at Newie, but there are better options. Then we've had munching beachies at Carpark and crappy Alley for Northie. The good days at both beat HUntington's best ever dayby a factor of ten ...no great claim, but hey.
Notwithstanding, these spots have days that are worth persisting with for the sake of the Aussie competitive scene and surf history. So I'm sad to see Northie downdraded.
There was one year, (can't remember exactly) when Brett Simpson i think, won the Huntington comp and it was big. And very watchable. Possibly 8-10foot if i remember. Probably unlikely it'll ever happen again, but....should the planets align, proper size can save Huntington.
Jeez, four feckin beach breaks, what a joke. It's worse than the worst of the early IPS/ASP days. At least those competitors had Hawaii and a proper Triple Crown to look forward to. Come on WSL, and those working to secure co-sponsors, lift your game please. We all want to see the Tripe Crown back, even if its incorporated into the Challenger series to have it all done and dusted before the calendar year finishes pre-Christmas. That would be exciting. Then start afresh with the new Championship tour in January. Hawaii would take centre stage again, rightfully so. End of year, then start of year. No brainer.
@wbat
Getting sent on that tour by SA is better than the shovel, but a whole lot more stressful. Loving your optimism though.
I’ve travelled the world and this country surfing. A million east coast sojourns and not once popped into Newy. Hung around Ericera for a while and surfed Ribiera once for the novelty it kind of looked like Bells (it is not) and whilst in on the Durban Coast surfed the many dozens of spots without considering Ballito.
Not one of those spots are quality in the context of the surfing word.
But they are very contestable particularly when conditions line up moderately well.
‘Contestable’ - seems like a bit of a throw away word surfing comp organiser use to put some kind of positivity on conditions.
Like saying the water is ‘wet’ or the beach is ‘sandy’
So the fact you've never been to Newie surely lowers the value of opinion on it, wouldn't you say?
Re: Newy
You could say that but there’s a reason I haven’t sought it out.
It’s an urban surf zone, which to me says crowds and made up of mostly the kinds of waves you can see anywhere along the east coast. Its premier wave(s) when on appear to be a poor man’s version of other places I’d usually seek out.
Don’t get me wrong, Newy seems like a great place, perhaps one of the best surf towns we’ve got if you include the rest it has to offer.
Just not the kind of place I’m pencilling in for me next surf trip.
There's a reason these places have nurtured champion surfers, but yeah, I get it, not bothering with an hour detour off the Pacific Hwy on those million East Coast trips, eh?
Maybe one day if there for other reasons or to see somewhere new.
I get it we all have our affinity with different zones for different reasons.
My moniker may give you further clue as to why Newy hasn’t made the list.
I’ve surfed Cenny Coast and around Nelson bay region (there for other reasons). Just not in town there.
No worries, man ...just winding you up.
Solitude is an admirable pursuit which I also enjoy. But ask anyone from round there (I only lived there a couple of years), Merewether, Bar Beach and Main Beach can provide high quality waves, not to mention several other spots within a few kms.
Bit more variety than the North Coast, too.
It’s funny cause I actually have a reason to visit the region in the next 12 months. I’ll report back ;)
Bet I love it
Plenty of isolated spots within a few kms of town, but you made need a local with a 4WD.
Probably best to just have a look at everything on the trail from from the Hunter harbour entrance North of Nobby's to Merewhether because that's all urban, then get a local to give you some tips on other spots - carefully, mind you, but you may well be surprised.
They need to find better waves.
Only 1 Hawaii event across the top 2 tiers, why is that?
The 5 stops are what they are, but a Haleiwa ender with top 4 results count would be better.
Heya @belly.
I was listening to a podcast...fuck, can't remember what it was....but they were kinda hinting that the reason the Hawaiian comps aren't happening is a difference of opinion between someone at the WSL and the Hawaiian locals.
Shame that the woz can't put their egos aside for the benefit of all if that's the case. It's a very conspicuous absence from this time of year when you're normally tucking into early morning Hawaiian comps before your day begins. They've had pumping waves too.
That's an uninspiring year of waves for the potential competitor coming up trying to map out a career path in surfing. It's like they are trying to steer them towards freesurfing and youtube.
Spend a fortune to surf most likely shit to average onshore waves all over the world, or, emulate Nathan Florence and co? Spend the same $ chasing quality waves around the world with a few cameras and a youtube account. Preferable to both sponsors and surfers.
ron your last para makes a very good point.
Give me the slab tour any day.
Newy is really bad don’t come here to surf but come to look like you surf and just fit in with the in crowd man. There’s no waves in that area worth looking for particularly in June. Expect nada…it’s really disappointing to hear they are bringing the circus in June
No being from a surfing contest background (opposite end of the spectrum in fact ) but having grommets who surf and being witness to the local boardriders and school "surf acadamy " mindset maybe gives me a different perspective.
Local Margs talent training / totally focusing on surfing shitty waves and squeezing as many turns in ( not matter how shit it may look ) to go to Perth and places with average surf to compete, totally cobbling talent from the get go . Demoralising no doubt .
The non compy kids see it , one saying "we re not learning to surf in order to go surf shitty Perth, we are planning on going to go surf Hawaii and gland "
Takes a Jack Robbo who came from outside the system to stand out , where 1000,s of hot groms and all the millions spent through Surfing WA /Australia just have not .
Newy is a great S swell magnet, as Ben pointed out, so they should get heaps of swell.
Whether they get consistent quality is another thing- it's pretty open to wind- it's no Snapper say, where S'ly-SE'ly winds blow offshore all day every day.
The bigger issue though is nothing in the Changa is testing skill sets in reef break/barreling waves and a fair chunk of the CT is held in those types of waves.
Hell, it doesn't even really test for quality point break surfing skill sets.
It's just not representative for selecting CT surfers.
Too much talent is quitting, or getting bogged down in wave catching contests in shitty surf where results are decided by what are, in effect, coin tosses.
That benefits no-one.
Exactly. Everyone knows these places can have their day but with no waiting period what are the odds it's decent? 10% chance? if that.
Someone please explain to me why the whole series shouldn't be around Indo in winter? So should the WSL for that matter.
Every pro surfer goes there multiple times a year already so it's effectively less travel cost. Best place in the world to get waves and dirt cheap. Rippable rights and lefts, Barreling rights and lefts. What more do you want? It would be better than the bloody world tour.
Indo had a great year, yet there are reasons why they don't do alot of ct comps there. $
Ol mate ziffy ain't a fool, he's always getting others to pay to play.
As well as fronting tons of capital to keep this tour going.
I'm pretty sure Huntington has been on tour for the last 45 years.
Heck I'm not sure if you've been to Hawaii lately, it's run by influencers nowadays surfing is not at the forefront there right now.
It's almost impossible for surfers to find affordable accommodation .
Yet I'm honestly not sure why they don't hold a cs comp at a reef break.
The most perplexing thing was asked by Lopez and Peter when they scheduled the gland comp.
" who picked those dates ?" they inquired
"You were never going to score with those tides moon cycle."
Twas a great question answered with akward silence and pauses from prodan .
If everyone here would just google "changa +surf contest" or something similar, we could all be part of the revolution....
This is what they missing out on by not having Haleiwa as the Final Event on the CS (absolute no brainer).
Go to 6 mins 20 to see comp waves.
Method to the Madness...Mid way thru tour Review Detour...
Pulled up here to reveal Patterns in WSL Data...
Wave Quality / Pro Performance / Scores seem to be deteriorating under WSL
If the Comp data reveals 25% downward trend then that needs review...
Exactly what tbb has been quietly doing...
Today these reviews merge...but it's too much & too soon for tbb to absorb.
tbb feels it's only fair to share this data trend so crew are all on the same page.
Coz in their own way the crew own this data as they scream it out loud everyday.
Needs many open minds to explore variations on a theme...can read Charts in so many ways!
We're Ok to start with the Here and Now
City Beach Insta Pop Up Changa > Barred 2 XXXX Gigs = (7 reduced to 5 Comps)
Exotic Online Gaming Hunger Games CT > gobbles up 2 XXXX Gigs (10 now 12 Dream Corp Comps)
tbb will chart how this plays out on WSL Diary...
CS donates 2 Comps > Expanded CT front end will naturally delay & shorten the CS Tour...(Like this)
4th May 2022 WA 5 (cut) 3 day race to start CS1 on 7th May
30th April 2023 WA 5 (cut) 6 day race to start CS1 on 6th May
21st April 2024 WA 5 (cut) 6 day race to start CS1 on 27th April
Now watch slowly & Carefully....
27th May 2025 WA 7(later cut) but still the 6 day race to start delayed Mid Year CS1 on 2nd June
So we all see CS eating it's own tail falling further behind it's own Calendar in real time.
But wait! There's more, or less actually, as each CS comp window is slowly closing as it eats it's tail.
Companion Data reveals WSL squeeze in more Comps by delivering less Comp time.
By reducing Priority Comp Windows > either by / for > Cost > Sponsors > Logistics > Insurance
ASP Promoted all access 48m/18w > wsl print 36m/18w Postcards + 10m/5w City CS Insta Teens
Meaning tbb is supposing the CS Insta movers'n'shakers are lighting up City Beach Chain Sponsors.
Charting reduced logistics for expanding split tours (City-beach Grog Licenses (vs) Exotic Resort Rorts)
See City Beach fees rising > Reducing access > Comp windows = More Online STEM Insta Activations
Govts are shaping & racing WSL Aukus Jock Drone / Squadrons Insta STEM Recruitment Hubs
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2024/qs/339/us-air-force-super-gi...
But corporatizing Yuppie Insta Teens comes at a price of massaged Unisex Generic Performance
Smaller sideshow windows reducing comp wave quality as lower tighter chix scores win the day!
Wild card Wacs Model can press [#7] To roll a Black Hawk in 2ft slop to win Aukus Unisex WOTD
Watch'n'Weep as Windows close to blur Grom Kook as 20 to 1 cashcow on WSL Sports Bet Pro Tour.
In fact the recent CT tour omissions & extensions light up...soon as Govt's box tick online gaming.
So crew can be excused if they feel a Bookie is Charting the Tour for favourable outcomes.
Sure...the whole point of sharing is to review this in reverse for equally how easy a Pro falls off the CT.
Didn't anyone notice the Champ fade to oblivion overnight, or was it last week...no matter!
# of Competitors asp 66 > CT 54 > CS 96
Days > asp CT CS7 CS5
Hawaii 13...13...13...12
Aust....13....11....9.....8
France 12....12....9...n/a
Port.....12....11....9.....7
S.A......12....10....8.....7
US.......12......9.....9.....6
Bra........9.......9.....8.....9
Indo....14.....11
Tahiti..12.....10
Fiji.......14.......9
Pool......4.......3 (*Night Sessions)
As said tbb is merely sharing this locked in 25% Downgrade.
No doubt the crew sense similar across wave quality, design, performance & scores.
tbb shared this chart as it verifies what crew already suspect...25% drop across the board.
Hence we get 25% more Judging Angst...as the scores blur closer each day with Chix overtaking men!
tbb shared that Women outscored men in all recent WSL Premium-Average Finals Days.
That's a sign of this Ward Chart's new norm...(Race to Bikini Bottom...never said that!)
Please don't take tbb's word on it...as said the Data can read whateva ya like...
Hodads may read the 25% drop keeps surfing relevant...others say it' boosts the Chix faster!
Whateva ya want...make up yer own outcomes as each are equally relevant.
Exactly why tbb pulled back...Happy to share but let the crew call it how they see it!
As tbb no longer rides boards...you can be assured the Data is neutral by intent, in purest raw form.
CS > CT Xmas Break 2021/22 was 53 days > Reduced CS > CT blows out to 2023/24 =100 days
Normally don't mean much but for the First Cab off the Rank is actually a Seat of yer pants ride.
Important : High Risk #1 CT Pipe mandates CS Pros to step up to CT Pipe Master grade real fast...
CS > CT Pros have already clocked up higher Xmas Big Wave injury Rate > Wiping out whole Seasons.
How long a list ya want...we'll run outta room...all know how many & who...and why it needs to be said.
CT Pros Xmas Break Training in CT Comp #2 Surf Abu Dhabi Pool : CS Erin + CT Kanoa / *Jack / *Ethan
Note even VIP Pros can't block book this Pool & they hang all day for any spare 10min cancel...(True!)
Lighter women skate faster & longer than menfolk's 15% long haul penalty on same pool freight line!
Beefy Men Folk are no match for the pageantry of Sparkly Tinkabells animating a drawn out WOTD.
It's almost as if the Judges are defaulted to obligate an Oz Post parcel penalty.
Sorry mate...yer to much of a drag on our precious Wave Foil...15% WOTD surcharge.
Read & see more of this Wave Pool #2 Comp > Chix Score anomaly / Pro availability here...
https://www.swellnet.com/news/form-guide/2024/08/16/abu-dhabi-chosen-cha...
Can't really apologize for lengthy WSL review detour coz it's a detour for the crew to navigate.
So it's as long as it needs to be to Chart CS < > CT data patterns that Chart what we already knew!
Crew know tbb's bipolar can ramp this... but we'll just leave it as a WSL Ward Chart...for now! Sick!