Lineup at Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - WSL / Thiago Diz At the beginning of 2026, the World Surf League (WSL) announced a major change to its qualification system with the creation of the International Qualifying Series (INTL QS), a new competition tier designed to provide regional surfers with greater opportunities to progress to the Challenger Series (CS). The new format introduces QS 6000 events open to surfers from all regions of the world. These competitions will

The Qualifying Series (QS) is one of the competitive divisions that make up the structure of the World Surf League (WSL). Its main function is to organize and rank surfers within the professional system through a ranking that is built throughout the season. The QS takes place across different regions of the world and includes events that award varying points depending on their category. Each competition adds points to the official ranking, requiring athletes to strategically

Reaching the Championship Tour of the World Surf League (WSL) is the main goal for any professional surfer. However, the path to the world’s elite is neither immediate nor simple; it requires competing over several seasons within a structured, multi-level system. For most surfers, the first step is competing on the Qualifying Series (QS). This circuit includes events in different regions around the world and awards points depending on the event category (QS 1,000, 2,000, 3,00