ASB MAGAZINE: The World Surf League APAC announced the CS qualifiers from the Australia / Oceania region. The region’s top surfers will now get the opportunity to compete for a spot on the elite Championship Tour at four events to be held later this year.  Following four successful regional Qualifying Series events in 2021 and a number of events being carried over from the start of 2020, 10 male and 8 female competitors from the Australia Oceania region have booked their spot on the Challenger Series, the ultimate battleground for surfers to showcase their talents for the chance to qualify for the following season of the elite-level Championship Tour (CT).

Australia / Oceania Men’s CS Qualifiers 

 

  1. Matt Banting
  2. Reef Heazlewood
  3. Callum Robson
  4. Jacob Willcox
  5. Liam O’Brien
  6. Sheldon Simkus
  7. Kalani Ball
  8. Jackson Baker
  9. Dylan Moffat
  10. Billy Stairmand

Australia / Oceania Women’s CS Qualifiers 

 

  1. Molly Picklum
  2. Sophie McCulloch
  3. Zahli Kelly
  4. Philippa Anderson
  5. Freya Prumm
  6. Kobie Enright
  7. India Robinson
  8. Dimity Stoyle

 

 

This year, the Challenger Series will include four stops this condensed season with events in California, Portugal, France and Hawaii.

“This new level of competition will provide greater opportunity for CT qualification as well as give visibility to the next generation of surfers,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, SVP of Tours and Head of Competition.

The 2021 Challenger Series calendar will run as follows*:

 

  • US Open of Surfing: Huntington Beach, California, USA – September 20 – 26, 2021
  • MEO Pro Ericeira: Ericeira, Portugal – October 2 – 10, 2021
  • Quiksilver/ROXY Pro France:  France October 16 – 24, 2021
  • Haleiwa Challenger: Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA – November 25 – December 7, 2021

 

*All tour stops and dates are subject to change due to applicable COVID-19 related restrictions, including global travel restrictions.

With the 2021 CS season being condensed and focusing on the Northern Hemisphere, the Piha Pro CS and the Sydney surf Pro events will be postponed for this year but aim to return in 2022.

The Challenger Series field will include 96 men and 64 women, made up of 34 men and 17 women from the CT, 58 men and 44 women that are allocated by the WSL regions, two men’s and women’s World Junior wildcards, and two men’s and one women’s wildcard. Any unused CT spots will become wildcards.

This season, athletes will be able to roll over points from their best Qualifying Series event in 2020. The 2021 Challenger Series rankings will be comprised of a surfer’s best three results out of five events, the four 2021 events and one 2020 event.

 

VIA PRESS RELEASE