The 2022 World Surf League was the 45th season of all iterations of the tour circuit for professional surfers. Billabong Pipe Masters will be the first round of the tour.[1]
For the second 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.[2]
The first five events of the 2022 Championship Tour will be contested by the WSL top 36 men and top 18 women.
The top 36 men consist of:
The Top 20 finishers from the 2021 Championship Tour rankings
The Top 12 finishers on the 2021 Challenger Series rankings
Two WSL season wildcards
Two event wildcards
The top 18 women consist of:
The Top 9 finishers on the 2021 Championship Tour rankings
The Top 6 finishers on the 2021 Challenger Series rankings
Two WSL season wildcards
One event wildcard
With new venues and a revamped Tour structure, the 2022 CT season will start with 36 men and 18 women. Halfway through the season, the field will be reduced to 24 men and 12 women. The top-ranked surfers will automatically requalify for the 2023 CT as well as continue on to the second half of the Tour, where they will be joined by two men's wildcards and two women's wildcards (one season wildcard and one event wildcard). [3]
Women's 2022 Championship Tour Qualifiers
Top 9 Qualifiers from 2021 Championship Tour Rankings
Carissa Moore (HAW)
Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
Johanne Defay (FRA)
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Caroline Marks (USA)
Tyler Wright (AUS)
Isabella Nichols (AUS)
Courtney Conlogue (USA)
Top 6 Qualifiers from 2021 Challenger Series Rankings
Gabriela Bryan (HAW)
Brisa Hennessy (CRI)
Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
India Robinson (AUS)
Luana Silva (HAW)
Caitlin Simmers (USA) *
Molly Picklum (AUS)
WSL Season Wildcards
Lakey Peterson (USA)
Malia Manuel (HAW)
WSL Replacement
Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Substitution
Caitlin Simmers turned down her spot on the Championship Tour to focus on her personal development. Molly Picklum replaced Simmers as she was next in the CS 2021 Ranking. [4]
Men's 2022 Championship Tour Qualifiers
Top 20 Qualifiers from 2021 Championship Tour Rankings
Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Filipe Toledo (BRA)
Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Conner Coffin (USA)
Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
Griffin Colapinto (USA)
Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
Yago Dora (BRA)
Frederico Morais (PRT)
John John Florence (HAW)
Jack Robinson (AUS)
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Deivid Silva (BRA)
Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Ethan Ewing (AUS)
Kelly Slater (USA)
Jadson Andre (BRA)
Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Seth Moniz (HAW)
Top 12 Qualifiers from 2021 Challenger Series Rankings
Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Liam O'Brien (AUS)*
Connor O'Leary (AUS)
Jake Marshall (USA)
Callum Robson (AUS)
Samuel Pupo (BRA)
Nat Young (USA)
Imaikalani Devault (HAW)
Lucca Mesinas (PER)
Joao Chianca (BRA)
Jackson Baker (AUS)
Carlos Munoz (CRI)*
WSL Season Wildcards
Kolohe Andino (USA)
Owen Wright (AUS)
WSL Replacement
Matthew McGillivray (ZAF)
Substitution
Liam O'Brien and Carlos Munoz did not compete in CT 2022 because of injuries in the first half of the season. They were replaced by Barron Mamiya and Caio Ibelli as regular athletes of the season.
Schedule
The championship series will consist of the following events, subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
Event Wild Card Surfers do not receive points for the WSL. Their results on each event are indicated on the above table but no ranking points are awarded.
Gabriel Medina and Yago Dora received the 2022/23 WC, due to injuries at the beginning of the 2022 season, their points for the remainder of the season will count.
Event Wild Card Surfers do not receive points for the WSL. Their results on each event are indicated on the above table but no ranking points are awarded.
Caroline Marks and Sally Fitzgibbons received the 2022/23 WC, due to injuries at the beginning of the 2022 season, their points for the remainder of the season will count.