The World Surf League (WSL) Europe announced its regional Qualifying Series (QS) summer leg of events for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
The QS is a stepping stone from the junior series and the first of the three-tier competition structure of the WSL.
Pictured: The Azores perfection everyone hopes for to wrap up the summer leg. Credit: © WSL / Masurel
Surfers compete within their region on the QS to build experience, hone their skills and find out if they have what it takes to take their act internationally. The very best from each 7 regions of the WSL: Africa, Asia, Australia / Oceania, Europe, Hawaii, North America and South America, ultimately qualify for the Challenger Series (CS) where they have a shot at the ultimate dream, a spot on the Championship Tour (CT).
Johanne Defay (FRA), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Maxime Huscenot (FRA) and Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) all currently represent Europe on the CT and are great examples to follow for the rest of the region’s top talents.
Boardmasters to Launch Epic Summer Leg Throughout Europe
The 2023-24 European QS will get underway in August at Boardmasters in Cornwall. The UK’s premier surf & music festival continues to attract the region’s best surfers looking to get an early jump on the leaderboard.
Competition then travels down to France for back-to-back events in Lacanau and Anglet, follows the Spanish coastline up to Galicia for a week in Pantin, continues down to Portugal with an event in Santa Cruz before taking flight to the Azores archipelago for the conclusion of the summer leg in Sao Miguel.
Surfers will encounter a variety of conditions during this six-week stretch of competitive surfing as well as different weather and vibe at some of the continent’s most iconic locations with decades of surfing tradition.
2023-24 European Qualifying Series Summer Leg:
Boardmasters (Fistral beach, Cornwall): August 9-13, 2023
Lacanau (France): August 15-20, 2023
Anglet (France): August 22-27, 2023
Pantin (Galicia, Spain): August 29 - September 3, 2023
Santa Cruz (Portugal): September 5-10, 2023
Azores (Portugal): September 25-30, 2023
At the end of the 2023-24 regional QS season, 7 Men + 1 wildcard as well as 4 Women + 1 wildcard will get a coveted spot on the 2024 Challenger Series.
The coveted European QS Title is also up-for-grabs when the season concludes as Yolanda Hopkins (POR) and Marco Mignot (FRA) will try to defend their title.