World Surf League unveils 2023 circuit schedule

The World Surf League (WSL) announced the official calendar for the 2023 World Circuit, which will be the main route for surfers seeking a place in the next edition of the 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris.

In its press release, WSL confirmed that the Brazilian stage in Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro state, should take place on Itaúna beach June 23 through July 1.

This will be the second year with the new framework proposed by WSL directors for circuits and competitions, featuring ten stages—all of them with men’s and women’s categories—a mid-season cut, and the WSL Finals to settle world titles.

A new feature is that the World Circuit will be the main path in the Olympic qualification system. The final ranking of the ten regular season stages, starting in Pipeline and ending in Tahiti, will determine 18 (ten men and eight women) of the 48 spots in the 2024 Games.

“Following the incredible momentum and milestones we’ve hit in 2022, we will continue to build our global platform to progress and elevate professional surfing. […] We experienced the redesign in its entirety for the first time this year, and we will further strengthen the sport through next year’s fully combined Championship Tour, which will also qualify the first 18 athletes for the 2024 Olympic Games,” said WSL Executive Director Erik Logan.