WSL Challenger Series Kicks Off in Australia: Dates, Locations, and Surfers to Watch

Follow the journey of the next surfing superstars as they battle for glory on the 2024 WSL Challenger Series
WSL Challenger Series Kicks Off in Australia: Dates, Locations, and Surfers to Watch
WSL Challenger Series Kicks Off in Australia: Dates, Locations, and Surfers to Watch

Get ready for a cavalcade of carving, shredding, and aerial assault, because the World Surf League (WSL) has dropped the schedule for the 2024 Challenger Series, and it’s a banger. This six-event odyssey is the proving ground for the next generation of surfing superstars, the gladiatorial arena where dreams are forged and Championship Tour berths are secured.

Mark your calendars and fire up your Rip Curls, because the WSL Challenger Series kicks off in April on Aussie soil. First up is the iconic Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast, where hungry young guns like Soli Bailey and Ethan Ewing will be looking to make waves against seasoned campaigners like Julian Wilson and Sally Fitzgibbons.

From Snapper, the circus rolls into Sydney’s North Narrabeen, a beach that’s no stranger to producing world champions. Think Laura Enever and Tyler Wright ripping through righthand tubes like nobody’s business. Expect fireworks on this unpredictable sandbar.

After a quick pitstop Down Under, the Challenger Series throws itself headfirst into the international arena. We’re talking about barrels in Ballito, South Africa, where Jordy Smith will be the local kingpin to dethrone. Then it’s across the Atlantic for the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach, a high-octane clash where the likes of Griffin Colapinto and Caroline Marks will be out to prove their American dominance.

The European leg wraps up in style at Ericeira, Portugal, where the cobbled streets and powerful righthand point break will test the technical prowess of surfers like Frederico Morais and Teresa Bonvalot.

Finally, the Challenger Series comes to a head in Saquarema, Brazil, where the pressure will be thicker than the açaí bowls. This is where the wheat will be separated from the chaff, the champions crowned, and the surfing world order reshuffled. Only the top 10 men and top five women will emerge victorious, earning their golden tickets to the 2025 Championship Tour and a shot at surfing’s ultimate prize.

So, who are the ones to watch? For the Aussies, keep your eyes peeled on Jack Robinson, the goofy-footer with the lightning-fast reflexes. He’s been knocking on the CT door for a while now, and 2024 could be his year. On the women’s side, the red-haired dynamo Macy Callaghan is a force to be reckoned with. Her powerful turns and aerial artistry could see her carving her name into surfing history.

But don’t count out the international contingent. South Africa’s Luke Mathews is a human highlight reel, while Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi is the smoothest operator on the planet. And let’s not forget about Hawaii’s rising star, Bettylou Sakura Johnson, who has the poise and power to become a world champion in the making.

2024 WSL Challenger Series Schedule:

  • Snapper Rocks, Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia): April 27 – May 4, 2024
  • North Narrabeen, Sydney (New South Wales, Australia): May 9 – 16, 2024
  • Ballito (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa): July 1 – 8, 2024
  • Huntington Beach (California, USA): August 3 – 11, 2024 
  • Ericeira (Portugal): September 29 – October 6, 2024
  • Saquarema (Brazil): October 12 – 20, 2024

Picture of Gold Coast Magazine
Gold Coast Magazine

Our in-house team and affiliates bringing you the latest in Culture, Lifestyle and Entertainment from around the globe and the great stories of the Gold Coast