The second tier of world surfing is a theatre of heartbreak, financial strain, cut-throat competition and – more often than the surfers would hope – subpar waves. But the lure of 17 golden tickets to the “dream tour” that is the World Surf League keeps a field of more than 40 women and 80-odd men coming back for more. Welcome to surfing’s school of hard knocks.
When the WSL championship tour concluded in Fiji last month, the top professionals began their off-seasons of free-surfing and relaxation. Meanwhile, the less glamorous WSL Challenger series grinds on; the latest event, in Portugal, began on Monday. For aspiring surfers, or those who were cut from the WSL mid-season, the Challenger is the pathway to the WSL. At the end of the second-tier series, the Top 10 men and seven women will secure WSL qualification.
