The WSL Confirms A 2022 Season Opener In Hawaii

While the CT season usually says grace on Australia’s Gold Coast, the WSL just confirmed that the 2022 tour will commence with events at Pipeline and Sunset.

A bit of a reminder for the men and a historical moment for the women. Aside from the relocation of this season’s Maui Pro, there has never been a Women’s CT event held at Pipe. Read the full WSL announcement below:

The World Surf League (WSL) is excited to be approved for its 2022 – 2024 North Shore triennial permits. Starting in 2022, the WSL Championship Tour (CT) will start in Hawaii, the birthplace of surfing, with back-to-back events on the North Shore at Pipeline and Sunset for both women and men. The season-opening event will mark the first women’s Pipeline CT in the history of surfing.

In addition, the WSL was approved for a Haleiwa Challenger Series (CS) event, which will conclude the projected eight-event series and determine who ultimately qualifies for the CT the following season, as well as a Regional Qualifying Series (QS) event at Sunset. All events, at all levels of competition, will include both women and men and award equal prize money.

With limited permits available, both the WSL and Vans agreed to apply for Pipeline event permits independently, for the dates of December 8-20, 2022 – 2024, and Vans, who owns the Pipe Masters trademark, was awarded that permit. Although the WSL is disappointed to have not received the December Pipeline permit, which would have benefited Hawaii’s surfers, both men and women, seeking Regional QS points, we look forward to working together with Vans on the future of the event.

Pipeline and Sunset? That’s one way to start a party. Professional surfing keeps getting weirder and weirder…

Click here for the full story.