WSL Proposes Sweeping Changes To The 2021 Tour

This just in from Santa Monica. 

The WSL announced today that its 2020 events will remain indefinitely on hold through the end of June. Another “call” will be made in early July. 

Further, the WSL has proposed sweeping changes to the 2021 Tours, from the CT to the Challenger series to the Regional QS. While these changes were originally destined to affect the 2022 Tours, the WSL realized that with the pandemic putting a strain on every facet of society, the time for radical upheaval is now.

Their proposals are outlined below: 

Championship Tour: Beginning in 2021, the World Titles will be determined in a single day event, with the title being won by performance in the water in the last heat of the season. We’ve been developing this, in collaboration with our surfers and partners, for a while now and we’re very excited about what it means for the future of surfing.

• Pushback examples include Superbowl, NBA Final, FIFA World Cup Final wherein regular season performance gets you to the show…but you have to perform on the day and in the spotlight to be a World Champion.

Challenger Series: The holistic Tours and Competition schedule will be updated to create concentrated seasons between the Championship Tour and the Challenger Series (as opposed to now where the events and seasons are interspersed). This not only provides enhanced narrative, marketing and promotional benefits for the surfers, but also allows those who fail to requalify through the Championship Tour the opportunity to perform on the Challenger Series and requalify for the elite CT the very next season as opposed to waiting an entire year (as they do now).

Regional QS: Increased weight and value will be given to regional QS events, encouraging up-and-coming surfers to develop closer to home without financially overleveraging themselves before jumping to the Challenger Series and beyond. The concentrated regional/domestic series provide opportunities to celebrate regional stars, provide economic cover for up-and-coming surfers and sponsors as well as drive media interest around those athletes.

Did coronavirus just save the WSL?

Stay tuned for a Stab CUSP episode on this very topic, dropping later today. 

Also, in 24 hours, Stab Unplugged with Mick Fanning is going head to head with Erik Logan. Send a DM to Stab’s Instagram to have your question included.