The World Surf League (WSL) has officially announced its 2025 Championship Tour (CT) schedule, promising a thrilling season with the inclusion of new and iconic surf locations. This year's CT will feature 11 regular-season events across nine countries, culminating in a climactic finale at Fiji's legendary Cloudbreak.
Kicking off at the iconic Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii on January 27, the tour will make its way through a dynamic mix of venues, blending old favorites with fresh additions. For the first time, Abu Dhabi will welcome the CT, showcasing cutting-edge technology from the Kelly Slater Wave Company at Surf Abu Dhabi. Set on Hudayriat Island, this groundbreaking venue features the world's largest and longest human-made wave, offering a unique competitive environment in the United Arab Emirates.
Surf enthusiasts will be thrilled to see the return of some of the sport's most beloved locations. Snapper Rocks, known for its long right-hand point break, makes a comeback after a five-year absence, joining the Australian leg alongside Bells Beach and Margaret River. The famed cobblestones of Lower Trestles in California also rejoin the tour, bringing back a venue synonymous with high-performance surfing.
One of the most exciting developments is the decision to hold the 2025 WSL Finals at Cloudbreak, Fiji. Known for its powerful left-hand reef break, Cloudbreak promises a dramatic backdrop for the winner-take-all format, where the top five male and female surfers will battle for the world title. This marks the first time the finals have been relocated since their inception in 2021, promising an unforgettable showdown in the Pacific paradise.
Photo Courtesy: WSL
Ryan Crosby, WSL CEO, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming season: "We've built this schedule to include more events and feature a variety of breaks. We've brought back some of the Tour’s most desirable locations, while aligning dates with favorable swell windows, to open up more opportunities for quality surf. We'll see a great mix of locations from heavy-water barrels, to high-performance waves, and pristine point breaks. It'll be an exciting showcase of the world's best surfing featuring the incredible CT talent."
As the tour progresses, surfers will face challenges at some of the world's most iconic and challenging waves. The return of Jeffreys Bay, South Africa's crown jewel, is highly anticipated, as is the inclusion of Teahupo’o in Tahiti, which will follow its role as the 2024 Olympic venue.
Additional stops include Portugal's Supertubos, El Salvador's Punta Roca, and Brazil's Saquarema, each offering their unique wave dynamics. The earlier scheduling of the El Salvador event promises more consistent swells, potentially lighting up Punta Roca's renowned right point-break with its signature freight-train barrels.
With a mix of new and returning venues, the 2025 Championship Tour is set to deliver a season filled with thrilling competitions and spectacular surf, as the world's best surfers vie for the ultimate prize in professional surfing.
2025 WSL Championship Tour Schedule
- Stop No. 1 - Banzai Pipeline, Hawaii, USA: January 27 - February 8
- Stop No. 2 - Surf Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE: February 14 - 16
- Stop No. 3 - Peniche, Portugal: March 15 - 25
- Stop No. 4 - Punta Roca, El Salvador: April 2 - 12
- Stop No. 5 - Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia: April 18 - 28
- Stop No. 6 - Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia: May 3 - 13
- Stop No. 7 - Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia: May 17 - 27*
- Stop No. 8 - Lower Trestles, San Clemente, Calif., USA: June 9 - 17
- Stop No. 9 - Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: June 21 - 29
- Stop No. 10 - Jeffreys Bay, South Africa: July 11 - 20
- Stop No. 11 - Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia: August 7 - 16**
- Stop No. 12 - WSL Finals - Cloudbreak, Fiji: August 27 - September 4
*Mid-season Cut reduces fields after Stop No. 7.
**WSL Final 5s determined to battle for the men’s and women’s World Titles.