Women's Championship Tour Expands Field
Six years ago, the WSL announced a new initiative: Starting in 2019, each WSL-controlled event would offer equal prizemoney between men and women.
Though a noteworthy initiative, the fields still weren't entirely equal. On the CT, for instance, the women fielded 18 surfers per event - exactly half the men.
The rationale, provided by then-CEO Sophie Goldschmidt, was that the process was transitonal and the WSL were waiting for the depth of talent to increase.
Molly Picklum, Pipeline Pro, 2024 (WSL/Heff)
Overnight, the WSL announced they were making good on that statement. In 2026, they would increase the women's field per event to 24 surfers per event. The numbers will be made up of the Top 14 surfers from the CT, the Top 7 qualifiers from the Challenger Series, two WSL Season Wildcards, and one Event Wildcard.
At present that breakdown is Top 10 surfers from the CT, Top 5 from the Challenger Series, plus one Season Wildcard and one Event Wildcard.
Unfortunately for Nadia Erostabe and Luana Silva - who placed sixth and seventh on this year's Challenger Series - the change comes into effect in 2026. The early announcement allows surfers to prioritise focus for the coming year.
“I couldn’t be more proud of where the level of women’s surfing is currently at,” said Sally Fitzgibbons, a 15-year CT veteran. “Growing the Tour is the next logical step in that natural progression. All over the world, women are stepping it up every time they hit the water, and on Tour, we’re seeing intense heats and fierce rivalries."
Comments
the current crop already has big holes in it. if you look at the top 5 on challenger series even vahine does not have the full bag of tricks. this is just more evidence DEI does not reward achievement. the american election is the first in a string of corrections to this woke mind virus. i will quote ronda rousey (a now delusional muppet)but at her peak was the highest paid fighter in the UFC she said........dana doesnt pay me the most in the UFC because im a woman, he pays me the most because i bring the most eyeballs. the DEI muppets at WSL need to grow the f*ck up along with the rest of this toxic feminity brigade and the weak men that enable it all.
Putting aside the fact the WSL is a private biz and they can do whatever the fuck they want regarding pay for employees, women's surfing has easily been the fastest growing part of surfing, both in attendance and interest.
Still doesn't match the men, and perhaps that's reflected in them having less competitors in the field, but if you haven't seen the astonishing rise in women's surfing in the last five years you haven't been paying attention.
Perhaps you have a mind virus of your own..?
i agree the new gen like caity, sierra, erin brooks etc are a paradigm shift. similar to when the brazzos came on tour. the progression is the sharpest in the sport. doesnt change the fact the WSL bleeds money, and this is just one of the multitude of dumb decisions that leads to the ever expanding losses. it also doesnt change the fact the challenger series for women is a bit of joke.
are you really trying to make out that you have concerns for the finances of the WSL (owned by a billionaire) to justify your misogyny? bit of a stretch isn't it?
I couldn't disagree more with your misogynistic words @rothmanisatool. I believe the far majority of the surfing community want to see more women on the tour. The time is definitely now. Do all the men on tour have "the full bag of tricks"? Don't think so. You should stick to watching UFC and US election coverage. Pretty sure there are currently 12 year old girls in Australia who surf better than you and most other adult men, myself included.
im guessing you havent been laid in a while.
your guessing is about as accurate as your opinion and comments on the womens tour expansion - way off the mark
Seems completely justified and warranted to me.
it's going to create practical problems as far as fitting the expanded roster into the waiting period, unless they chop the mens tour down to 24.
Dropping the men to 24 is a obvious change that should have been made some time ago
how good is that..... hopefully we see a rotation of girls qualifying, but not just the 17yr olds, there are some absolute shredders around the mid 20's who also should be represented.
How many extra heats will this add to each event?
Is it as simple as six more surfers = three more Round 1 heats = one and a half hours?
Even if there's a few more heats later on, this should be relatively easy to absorb into the current daily schedule (unless the forecast is a dog's breakfast and they're desperately trying to get everything done and dusted in 2-3 days).
Have to agree with Stunet, I have been watching with my daughter not only the women's heats but also some of the free surfers. Caity Simmers is more CORE than most of the blokes on tour and free surfing films/edits by Tahlija Redgard, Jaleesa Vincent, Josie Predergast etc are incredible. I love the different lines and the fresh take on surfing, the surfing is different but it is critical, technical and progressing (I'm not a fan of the WSL but I will give them some credit here for putting the women in when pumping). Surfing used to be progressive and anti-establishment, now it seems rigid and conservative. We need to take a leaf out of the skateboard culture and be more inclusive and CORE. Fuck the patriarchy.
Shes a good surfer, but fuck me, it's mostly 2 foot waves? Why even put that in a video. There is also some slow mo's of her grabbing rail, but not getting barreled...
The only worthy wave was that one at about 13:30. Certainly not froth worthy for those 13 year grommets.
There you go Burzum. Tahlia grabbing rail and getting barrelled.
Bit over 2ft.
?si=_CIeGesfdb_d_N4ROutrageous
Big waves gotta be AI
No g banger another giveaway. This is obviously fake @Zenagain
This old dinosaur (according to some) has been loving witnessing the progression of womens surfing over the last decade or so. In some cases I prefer watching the ladies to the men because quite ofter you'll witness something truly out of the box which elevates the sport even more.
Bring it on I reckon.
There's a faster progression happening in womens surfing right now, more bluesky ahead and that makes it more exciting to watch.
Mens surfing seems to be stagnating or progressing at a slower rate. There's less excitement and novelty about it.
Firstly...rock on...making space for more improvement in women's surfing. Watching women's professional sport these days almost takes me back to times when professional sport was well...less professional. There is a prominent sense of camaraderie amongst the athletes, genuine joy in each other's success, and appreciation for the opportunities they've earned for themselves.
Secondly...thank f@#$ for the string of responses following the first stream of toxic shit
Yeah Bring it on.
I cant forget Molly's Massive Floater/Re entry at 10ft Sunset.
That was awesome!
Do agree they need to condense the contest heats pre the cut off somehow.
Less is more....
And pull the men's back to 24 too...
Any mention of how the cut for the women works now??
100% agree. Top 24 is plenty. Not a fan of season wild cards. Not sure much evidence they have helped anyone. Brissa maybe the only one. Others have all dropped back to Changers anyway.
Dream format for me would be 24 surfers each side, no cut, bottom 8 at end of year get relegated.
Yep, would some spice back into it
Great plan
Yep, 24 each thirded
Sierra Kerr on an absolute bomb in Indo.
Way bigger than anything I’ve ever seen Steph on. Which blows me away, why doesn’t she chase waves like this?!
Definitely takes after her father!
Charging !!!