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

Tya Zebrowski surfing in the semifinals of the 2026 VIVO Rio Pro while wearing an Apple Watch - Thiago Diz/WSL This week, the launch of a new edition of Apple at Play was announced, an audiovisual series that showcases how digital tools have become a key ally for athletes and a new way to bring fans closer to the sport. This latest installment focuses on the Championship Tour (CT), the elite circuit of the World Surf League (WSL), and explores how competitors use the Apple Wa

Italo Ferreira surfing at Punta Roca, Surf City El Salvador, 2025 - Emma Sharon / WSL The world rankings leader suffered an accident during a training session in El Salvador just hours before competing in the fifth stop of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). The world's surfing elite will once again gather at the waves of Punta Roca in La Libertad for the Surf City El Salvador Pro 2026, scheduled to take place from June 5 to 15. This event represents a crucial

Bailey Turner and Parker Cohn secured a decisive victory at Huntington Beach - WSL / Andrés Nichols At the start of the 2026/2027 North American QS season, rising talents Bailey Turner and Parker Cohn broke through to secure their first QS titles at the Vans Jack’s Surfboards Pro 2026, held at Huntington Beach Pier. Far from perfect conditions, the event unfolded in small, messy surf, forcing competitors to rely more on strategy than spectacle. Even so, the result not only de

Ruby Trew at the 2026 Surfboard Empire Pro Junior - Matt Dunbar / WSL The second day of the World Surf League (WSL) Surfboard Empire Pro Junior presented by Florence delivered standout performances in both the women’s and men’s divisions at Warriewood. With better conditions than on the opening day, junior surfers quickly adapted to the powerful breaks and raised the level of competition in every elimination round. In the women’s event, Natalie Fensom was the standout perform