The 2020–21 World Surf League was the 44th season of all iterations of the tour circuit for professional surfers. After the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting international travel between and within countries namely Australia, Indonesia, Portugal and South Africa. The championships took a break for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The board changed the tour to a wraparound season of 2020–21, which allowed major changes to the tour schedule, with the Billabong Pipe Masters becoming the first round of the tour.
The season also saw some new events introduced due to COVID-19 outbreaks and restrictions on travel within countries, notably Australia, who required surfers to quarantine in Sydney for 14 days upon arrival. Narrabeen was chosen as a replacement for the Gold Coast, while Newcastle returned to the tour for the first time in 10 years to replace Bells Beach. The women's championship tour will compete in Teahupo'o, French Polynesia for the first time in 15 years, while Mexico was added to the championship for the first time to replace the round left vacant by Jeffrey's Bay, due to the COVID outbreak in South Africa.
For the first time, the season will end at Lower Trestles, in San Clemente, USA, with the top five seeded men and women from the season going head to head to determine the champion at the WSL Finals. This was put in place after the positive response to the men's championship event in 2019, as well as allowing surfers who had to isolate with COVID-19 an opportunity to still win the title.
Carissa Moore and Ítalo Ferreira were the defending champions.
Schedule The championship series will consist of the following events, subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. +RoundDateEventLocation1December 8–20 Billabong Pipe MastersBanzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii2April 1–11 Rip Curl Newcastle CupNewcastle, New South Wales, Australia3April 16–26 Rip Curl Narrabeen ClassicNarrabeen, New South Wales, Australia4May 2–12 Boost Mobile Margaret River ProMargaret River, Western Australia, Australia5May 16–26 Rip Curl Rottnest SearchRottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia6June 25–27 Jeep Surf Ranch ProLemoore, California, United States7August 10–20 Corona Open MexicoBarra de la Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico8September 9–17 Rip Curl WSL FinalsSan Clemente, California, United States +Events cancelled or moved during the 2021 seasonDateEventLocationReasonDecember 4–20 Maui Pro presented by ROXYHonolua Bay, Maui, HawaiiNearby fatal shark attack. Contest moved to Pipeline with Men's event.February 2–12 Santa Cruz ProSanta Cruz, California, United StatesCOVID-19 outbreak in Southern California, restrictions on public events. Originally brought in to replace Portugal.February 18–28 MEO Rip Curl Pro PortugalSupertubos, Peniche, PortugalCOVID-19 outbreak and restrictions on international travel into Europe.April 1–11 Rip Curl Pro Bells BeachTorquay, Victoria, AustraliaDeal with New South Wales Government to quarantine surfers in Sydney. Event moved to Newcastle.May 3–13 Corona Open Gold Coast men's event / women's eventGold Coast, Queensland, AustraliaCOVID-19 travel restrictions to Queensland from Sydney. Event moved to Narrabeen. June 25- July 9 Corona Open J-BayJeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape, South AfricaCOVID-19 outbreak of South African variant. Replaced by Corona Open Mexico.Scheduled June Quicksilver Pro G-LandAlas Purwo National Park, East Java, IndonesiaCOVID-19 outbreak and travel restrictions within Indonesia.August 11–16 Oi Rio ProSaquarema, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilCOVID-19August 24- September 3 Outerknown Tahiti ProTeahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Results and standings
Event results +RoundEventMen's championMen's runner-upWomen's championWomen's runner-up1 Billabong Pipeline Masters2 Rip Curl Newcastle Cup3 Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic4 Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro5 Rip Curl Rottnest Search6 Jeep Surf Ranch Pro7 Corona Open Mexico8 Rip Curl WSL Finals
Men's standings Points are awarded using the following structure: Position 1st 2nd 3rd 5th 9th 17th 33rd Points 10,000 7,800 6,085 4,745 3,320 1,330 265 265 265 0 Position+/-SurferWCT 1WCT 2WCT 3WCT 4WCT 5WCT 6WCT 7FinalsPoints 1 2nd 2nd 1st 9th 1st 2nd 5th 1st43,400 2 1 17th 3rd 9th 1st 17th 1st 17th 2nd30,735 3 1 3rd 1st 9th 5th 3rd 9th 5th 3rd31,660 4 33rd 5th 2nd 17th 5th 9th 5th 4th25,355 5 17th 3rd 5th 17th 2nd 9th 9th 5th 25,270 6 17th 9th 3rd 3rd 17th 3rd 17th22,905 7 5th 9th 9th 2nd 9th 22,505 8 5th 9th 5th 9th 17th 3rd 17th22,215 9 17th 9th 5th 17th 5th 5th 9th20,875 10 17th 9th 3rd 9th 17th 9th 5th20,790 11 1st 17th 9th 5th 19,660 12 9th 17th 9th 17th 17th 33rd 1st19,300 13 5th 17th 33rd 17th 9th 9th 3rd18,800 14 17th 5th 17th 17th 17th 17th 2nd16,535 15 9th 5th 17th 5th 17th 17th 17th15,470 15 33rd 5th 17th 17th 9th 5th 17th15,470 15 17th 17th 5th 17th 17th 5th 9th15,470 18 3rd 5th 9th14,680 19 9th 33rd 9th 9th 33rd 17th 9th14,610 20 5th 17th 17th 9th 33rd 9th14,045 20 17th 9th 17th 9th 5th –14,045 20 17th 17th 17th 5th 9th 9th 17th14,045 20 9th 17th 17th 17th 5th 9th 17th14,045 24 9th 33rd 33rd 3rd 17th 17th 17th13,395 25 9th 17th 17th 9th 9th 17th12,620 25 9th 17th 9th 9th 17th 17th 17th12,620 27 9th 17th 17th 9th 33rd 17th 17th10,630 28 17th 17th 17th 17th 9th 17th8,640 28 9th 17th 17th 33rd 17th 17th 8,640 28 17th 9th 17th 17th 17th 17th 17th8,640 28 17th 17th 33rd 17th 9th 17th 33rd8,640 32 17th 33rd 17th 33rd 9th 33rd 17th7,575 33 33rd 17th 17th 17th 17th 17th 33rd6,650 34 – – – – 3rd 33rd –6,350 35 – – – – – – 3rd6,085 36 17th 33rd 17th 17th 17th5,585 37 17th 9th5,445 38 – – 9th 33rd – – –3,585 39 – – – – – – 9th3,320 40 – – – 17th 17th – –2,660 41 17th – – – – – –1,330 41 17th – – – – – –1,330 41 – 17th – – – – –1,330 41 – 17th – – – – –1,330 41 – – 17th – – – –1,330 41 – – 17th – – – –1,330 41 – – – – 17th – –1,330 41 – – – – 17th – –1,330 41 – – – – – 17th –1,330 41 – – – – – 17th –1,330 41 – – – – – 17th –1,330 41 – – – – – 17th –1,330 41 – – – – – 17th –1,330 41 – – – – – – 17th1,330 55 33rd – – – – – –265 55 – 33rd – – – – –265 55 – – – 33rd – – –265 55 – – – – 33rd – –265 55 – – – – – 33rd –265 55 – – – – – – 33rd265 55 – – – – – – 33rd265
Women's standings Points are awarded using the following structure:
Position 1st 2nd 3rd 5th 9th 17th Points 10,000 7,800 6,085 4,745 2,610 1,045 1,045 1,045 0
+Position +/-SurferWCT 1WCT 2WCT 3WCT 4WCT 5WCT 6WCT 7FinalsPoints 1 2nd 1st 3rd 3rd 3rd 2nd 3rd 1st37,770 2 3rd 9th 2nd 1st 17th 3rd 5th 2nd34,715 3 3rd 9th 5th 5th 1st 3rd 3rd 3rd33,000 4 1 9th 5th 5th 5th 2nd 1st 5th 4th32,035 5 1 5th 5th 5th 2nd 9th 5th 1st 5th32,035 6 9th 3rd 1st 9th 9th 5th 9th26,050 6 1st 9th 9th 5th 3rd 9th26,050 8 9th 2nd 17th 5th 5th 9th 5th24,645 9 9th 5th 3rd 17th 9th 5th 5th22,930 10 5th 17th 9th 9th 5th 9th 2nd22,510 11 17th 5th 9th 3rd 9th 9th18,660 11 17th 3rd 5th 9th 9th 9th 9th18,660 13 9th 9th 9th 9th 5th 9th 15,185 13 5th 17th 9th 9th 9th 9th 9th15,185 15 9th 9th 9th 9th 17th 9th 9th13,050 15 9th 9th 9th 9th 9th 9th13,050 17 – – 9th 9th 5th 17th –11,010 18 5th 9th 10,490 19 – – – – – 5th –4,745 20 9th – – – – – –2,610 20 – 9th – – – – –2,610 20 – – – – 9th – –2,610 20 – – – – – 9th –2,610 20 – – – – – 9th –2,610 20 – – – – – –9th2,610 26 – – 17th – – – –1,045 26 – – – 17th – – –1,045 26 – – – – – 17th –1,045 26 – – – – – –17th1,045 26 – – – – – –17th1,045
Challenger Series
2021 Men's Challenger Series +RoundEventMen's championMen's runner-up1 US Open of Surfing Huntington Beach Griffin Colapinto Jake Marshall2 MEO Vissla Pro Ericeira Ezekiel Lau Jackson Baker3 Quiksilver Pro France Connor O'Leary Michel Bourez4 Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Haleiwa Challenger John John Florence Jack Robinson
Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th 13th 17th 25th 37th 49th 73rd Points 10,000 8,000 6,500 6,100 5,000 4,900 3,500 3,400 2,000 750 650 400 350
Ranking +/- Surfer Events Points Carry Over 1 2 3 4 1 – 3rd 25th 3rd 3rd 19,500 2 – 9th 1st 49th 5th 18,600 3 5.000 5th 25th 25th 7th 14,900 4 – 73rd 37th 1st 9th 14,250 5 750 1st – – 13th 14,150 6 2.500 2nd 17th 25th 9th 14,100 7 5.000 25th – – 2nd 13,750 8 – 5th 9th 17th 7th 13,400 9 – 73rd 9th 9th 4th 13,100 10 5.000 49th 3rd 49th 49th 12,100 11 3.500 17th 3rd 37th 49th 12,000 12 2.500 17th 9th 5th 33rd 11,000 12 4.000 25th 9th 9th 25th 11,000 14 2.000 73rd 2nd 49th 33rd 10,700 15 – 37th 5th 5th 49th 10,650 16 – 25th 5th 9th 25th 10,300 17 – – – – 1st 10,000 17 10.000 – – – – 10,000 19 – 37th 73rd 2nd 49th 9,250 19 750 49th 17th 3rd 49th 9,250 19 750 5th 49th 9th 33rd 9,250
Legend Note: The top 12, non-CT men from the 2021 Challengers Series qualified for the 2022 Championship Tour. Men's CT 2022 Source
2021 Women's Challengers Series +RoundEventWomen's championWomen's runner-up1 US Open of Surfing Huntington Beach Caitlin Simmers Gabriela Bryan2 MEO Vissla Pro Ericeira Luana Silva Gabriela Bryan3 Roxy Pro France Brisa Hennessy India Robinson4 Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Haleiwa Challenger Bettylou Sakura Johnson Gabriela Bryan
Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th 13th 17th 25th 33th 49th Points 10,000 8,000 6,500 6,100 5,000 4,900 3,500 3,400 2,000 1,800 700 600
Ranking +/- Surfer Events Points Carry Over 1 2 3 4 1 – 2nd 2nd 33rd 2nd 24,000 2 6.500 25th 5th 1st 9th 21,500 3 – 5th 5th 49th 1st 20,000 4 – 1st 33rd 3rd 17th 18,700 5 – 25th 9th 2nd 4th 17,600 6 10.000 – – – 3rd 16,500 7 ** 1.500 49th 1st 33rd 13th 14,900 8 ** 5.000 33rd 17th 5th 7th 14,900 9 4.000 9th 17th 5th 7th 13,900 10 3.500 9th 9th 5th 5th 13,600 11 – 5th 49th 3rd 25th 13,300
Legend Note: The top 6, non-CT women from the 2021 Challengers Series qualified for the 2022 Championship Tour. Luana Silva wins the tiebreaker (best two event results) over Molly Picklum for the sixth and final CT qualification spot. Women's CT 2022
References
External links