18 Most Important Surfing Tournaments

Surfing, a visually stunning and adrenaline-pumping sport, has gained popularity worldwide.

Various prestigious surfing tournaments showcase the skills of professional surfers.

Here’s a brief overview of the most important surfing events.

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Most Important Surfing Tournaments:

1. World Championship Tour
2. Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast
3. Billabong Pipe Masters
4. Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
5. Vans Triple Crown of Surfing
6. US Open of Surfing
7. Billabong Pro Tahiti
8. Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal
9. Surfing America USA Championships
10. Billabong Rio Pro
11. Hurley Pro at Trestles
12. Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau
13. Eredivisie (The Netherlands)
14. WSL Big Wave Tour
15. ISA World Surfing Games
16. Volcom Pipe Pro
17. Tofino Surfing Championships
18. Roxy Pro Gold Coast

#1 World Championship Tour

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 📅 Established: 1976
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The World Surf League (WSL) World Championship Tour is professional surfing’s most prestigious circuit. The tour comprises a series of events worldwide featuring the world’s best surfers.

Australia’s Kelly Slater has a staggering record, with 11 world titles to his name. The competition showcases the evolution of high-performance surfing and crowns both men’s and women’s world champions each year.

#2 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast

• 📍 Location: Gold Coast, Australia
• 📅 Established: 2002
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, held annually on Australia’s Gold Coast, is an integral part of the WSL’s World Championship Tour.

Known for its high-quality waves, the event attracts top international surfers eager to launch their season with a strong performance. The competition has seen legends like Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning secure multiple victories.

#3 Billabong Pipe Masters

• 📍 Location: Oahu, Hawaii
• 📅 Established: 1971
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The Billabong Pipe Masters is considered the pinnacle of competitive surfing. Held each year on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, this event pushes the world’s best surfers to their limits in the renowned Banzai Pipeline.

Kelly Slater has an unmatched record with seven titles. Pipe Masters plays a decisive role in determining the men’s world champion, making it one of the most prestigious and intense surfing competitions.

#4 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

• 📍 Location: Bells Beach, Australia
• 📅 Established: 1961
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach is surfing’s longest-running championship event. Held every year since 1961 in Victoria, Australia, the competition is known for its famous “Bells” trophy awarded to winners.

Home to powerful and challenging breaks, Bells Beach has witnessed some of surfing’s most memorable moments. Australian powerhouse Mick Fanning holds the record with four titles.

#5 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing

• 📍 Location: Oahu, Hawaii
• 📅 Established: 1983
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is an esteemed Hawaiian specialty series that consists of three prestigious events: the Hawaiian Pro, the Vans World Cup, and the Billabong Pipe Masters.

These competitions take place on the legendary North Shore of Oahu, showcasing the world’s best surfers in some of the most challenging surf conditions. Kelly Slater clinched the Triple Crown title twice, showcasing his unrivaled dominance.

#6 US Open of Surfing

• 📍 Location: California, United States
• 📅 Established: 1959
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The US Open of Surfing, held in Huntington Beach, California, is one of the most iconic surf competitions in the United States.

The event combines top-level surfing with a festival atmosphere, featuring live music, fashion, and art installations. California’s own Brett Simpson has won the event twice, one of the few surfers who have achieved this feat in the US Open’s long history.

#7 Billabong Pro Tahiti

• 📍 Location: Teahupo’o, Tahiti
• 📅 Established: 1999
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The Billabong Pro Tahiti, held at the notorious Teahupo’o reef break, is renowned for its incredibly powerful and dangerous waves.

The event attracts the world’s best surfers, eager to test their skills in some of surfing’s most intense conditions. Kelly Slater boasts a remarkable five victories, underlining his incredible resume and competitive spirit.

#8 Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal

• 📍 Location: Peniche, Portugal
• 📅 Established: 2009
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal is a prestigious event on the World Surf League’s Championship Tour. Held in Peniche, Portugal, the competition showcases some of Europe’s best surf breaks.

With multiple champions like Julian Wilson, Jordy Smith, and Gabriel Medina, the highest level of performance surfing is on display. The event has significantly enhanced Portugal’s status in the global surfing community.

#9 Surfing America USA Championships

• 📍 Location: California, United States
• 📅 Established: 1998
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The Surfing America USA Championships is an event dedicated to finding the best amateur surfers in the United States. Organized by Surfing America, the annual competition nurtures young talent and helps in the transition to professional surfing.

The event plays a crucial role in developing surfing in the USA and has produced multiple international stars, including Kolohe Andino and Lakey Peterson.

#10 Billabong Rio Pro

• 📍 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• 📅 Established: 2011
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The Billabong Rio Pro, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is an exciting stop on the World Surf League’s Championship Tour. The competition highlights Brazil’s significant contribution to surfing on the world stage.

Brazilian surfers like Gabriel Medina, Adriano de Souza, and Filipe Toledo have excelled at the event, showcasing their country’s exceptional talent and helping Brazil achieve surfing superpower status.

#11 Hurley Pro at Trestles

• 📍 Location: California, United States
• 📅 Established: 2000
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The Hurley Pro at Trestles is an essential event on the World Surf League’s Championship Tour, held at the iconic Trestles break in California. The competition has seen its share of epic battles between surf legends like Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning.

Trestles’ high-performance waves are suited for progressive surfing, making this event a fan favorite and a showcase for cutting-edge surf techniques.

#12 Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau

• 📍 Location: Oahu, Hawaii
• 📅 Established: 1984
• 🔄 Held: Only in exceptional wave conditions

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is a unique and revered big wave invitational event held at Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. The contest pays tribute to the legendary Hawaiian surfer and lifeguard, Eddie Aikau.

The event only takes place when wave conditions reach a minimum of 20 feet, with the most recent contest held in 2016. The Eddie is an integral part of Hawaii’s surf culture and is considered the ultimate honor for big wave surfers.

#13 Eredivisie (The Netherlands)

• 📍 Location: The Netherlands
• 📅 Established: 1956
• 🔄 Held: Annually
• 👥 Teams: 18 club teams

The Eredivisie, the Netherlands’ top soccer showcase, has produced talents like Johan Cruyff and Arjen Robben. Ajax leads with 35 titles.

Famed for promoting youth and attractive play, it’s integral to Dutch football. Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord are historically dominant clubs, contributing to the league’s stature in world soccer.

#14 WSL Big Wave Tour

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 📅 Established: 2014
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The World Surf League Big Wave Tour (WSL BWT) is a series of events featuring the world’s best big wave surfers in monstrous conditions.

Showcasing fearless athletes and their incredible skills, this tournament has brought attention to big wave surfing. Historical spots like Mavericks and Jaws host events, adding to the tour’s prestige and allure.

#15 ISA World Surfing Games

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 📅 Established: 1964
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The ISA World Surfing Games is an international championship governed by the International Surfing Association. The competition unites surfers from around the world, strengthening the global surfing community.

With categories for men and women, it brings together various surfing cultures and styles. Historically, nations like Australia, the USA, and Brazil have excelled.

#16 Volcom Pipe Pro

• 📍 Location: Oahu, Hawaii
• 📅 Established: 2010
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The Volcom Pipe Pro is an annual surf competition held at the iconic Banzai Pipeline in Oahu, Hawaii. This event is a qualifier for the World Surf League, attracting professional and up-and-coming surfers eager to compete in some of the world’s most challenging waves.

Numerous memorable moments have occurred at the event, including Kelly Slater’s triumphs and John John Florence’s continued success.

#17 Tofino Surfing Championships

• 📍 Location: Tofino, Canada
• 📅 Established: 1999
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The Tofino Surfing Championships, held in Tofino, British Columbia, Canada, is an essential event for Canadian surfers.

While not an international competition, it plays a significant role in promoting the sport in Canada and boosting Canadian surfing talents. The event has grown steadily over the years, reflecting Canada’s emergence in the global surfing scene.

#18 Roxy Pro Gold Coast

• 📍 Location: Gold Coast, Australia
• 📅 Established: 2000
• 🔄 Held: Annually

The Roxy Pro Gold Coast is a prestigious women’s surf event on the World Surf League’s Championship Tour.

Held in Australia’s Gold Coast, this competition attracts the world’s best female surfers, showcasing their incredible skills and competitive spirit. Seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore holds the record with six wins, solidifying her status in surfing history.

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