Q: What change is the World Surf League implementing for the women's Championship Tour in 2026?
A: The World Surf League is increasing the women's elite field from 18 to 24 female athletes for each event starting in 2026.
Q: How will the new roster of 24 female surfers be structured?
A: The new format will include the top 14 surfers from the Championship Tour, the top seven qualifiers from the Challenger Series, two WSL seasonal wildcards, and one event wildcard.
Q: What is the current mid-season cut for the women's Championship Tour, and will it change?
A: The current mid-season cut is set at 10, and it will be reduced to this number in 2025 after the seventh tour stop in the 11-event schedule. A decision on whether this cut will remain the same for 2026 is still pending.
Q: How has the increase in the women's field been received by athletes?
A: The move has been welcomed by athletes, including Australian veteran Sally Fitzgibbons, as a step towards gender parity in the sport.
Q: How does the number of female competitors compare to male competitors in the World Surf League?
A: Even with the increase to 24 female athletes, the number is still well short of the men's field, which consists of 36 competitors.