Kauli Vaast, Newcastle Surfest 2026, Merewether, Australia. Photo: WSL/ Darren Anderson The World Surf League Challenger Series season has come to an end at the historic Bioglan Newcastle SURFEST, where the surfers who will advance to the World Surf League Championship Tour for the 2026 season were officially confirmed. The event, presented by Bonsoy and celebrating its 40th anniversary at Merewether Beach, closed the circuit with strong performances and the confirmation of t

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