The WSL Is Running Its First Surf Competition Since Covid Leaked

Ahhh, professional surfing. Almost forgot it was still a thing, to be honest. 

Fortunately, just three days after our 100-minute Lowers soiree (buy Surf100 tickets here!), the WSL is putting on its first event since the Sydney Surf Pro in mid-March. 

The “Rumble at the Ranch” (as it has been deemed by the WSL’s alliteration adhering marketing team) will take place on August 9th at 12 pm in—you guessed it—Lemoore, CA.

According to the WSL, the Rumble will be a 16-person event, with eight teams of one male and one female competing in a bracket-style tournament to determine which pair reigns supreme. 

Here’s the competition format, straight from the presser:

Every round, each team will get four waves, consisting of two rights and two lefts. Each surfer’s best score will be combined to create the team score for that round. The team with the best score will advance to the next round. Judges will watch and score the event remotely.

Will Fil dominate the Americans? Probs. Photo: WSL

Due to travel restrictions, the event will include only those who are currently on US soil. The guest list includes Kelly Slater, Carissa Moore, Filipe Toledo, Sage Erickson, Kolohe Andino, Caroline Marks, and more. Basically all the big swinging dicks, minus John Florence, who is not yet confirmed.

It’s an exhibition event, obviously, meaning there’s not much of anything on the line. You could take that to mean that the surfers won’t be trying that hard, or that they’ll be fucking sending it cuz yolo. 

Either way you look at it, this’ll probably a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon (US) or Monday morning (Aus) than whatever else work/family/society demands of us.