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The inaugural Wavepool Surf Tour season kicks off in 2026/2027

Wavepool Surf Tour: surf parks get a global competition | Photo: Endless Surf

The wave pool era created new business and competitive opportunities. The Wavepool Surf Tour (WPST) is one of them.

Some might say that artificial wave surfing is a completely new sport.

It takes place in controlled environments, in fresh water, and does not rely on ocean swells and tides.

Whatever you think riding waves in a surf park is, there will always be the surfboard and moving walls of water.

The newly-launched Wavepool Surf Tour is a competitive format that blends the submission of digital video clips and live performance at events.

It is comprised of two special events, eight digital contests, regional finals, and a world final.

Interestingly, the digital format in water sports is not new.

In late 2014, a group of bodyboarders created a competition that ran parallel to the world tour.

It was called the Free Surf World Tour (FSWT) and invited riders to submit their best footage, which fans then judged.

Hawaiian bodyboarding maestro Jeff Hubbard eventually won the inaugural season.

The Wavepool Surf Tour will feature several divisions:

  • Open Men & Women (elite, high-performance competitors);
  • Masters Men & Women (athletes aged 40+);
  • Legends Men & Women (athletes aged 50+);
  • Juniors Men & Women (under 18 athletes);
  • Groms Boys & Girls (under 14 young talent);
  • Longboard Men & Women (graceful, flow-focused traditional surfing);
  • Bodyboard Men & Women (innovative, versatile wave-riding styles);
  • Adaptive Surfing (inclusivity for all surfers);

Mixing digital and live performance

For the online events, surfers can submit their best two waves - two lefts and two rights or one of each - using the surf park host's AI video technology.

The first two specialty events kick off in 2026 and include Alaïa Surf Challenge (August/October) and Ride The Future (November/December).

Then, the real deal starts. The digital contests will take place in 2027 at the following venues:

  • Asia/Pacific (February/March);
  • Surftown MUC in Munich (March/April);
  • Atlantic Park Surf in Virginia Beach (April/May);
  • Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh (May/June);
  • Surfers Cove in Óbidos, Portugal (June/July);
  • Americas (July/August);
  • China (August/September);
  • Middle East (September/October);

The 176 top-ranked local and regional surfers will then qualify for the annual World Final in November/December 2027.

The way WPST was designed ensures local surfers who win their home events qualify for the finals.

The specialty awards will include best air, best turn, best barrel, and the golden fin.

Competitors may take advantage of the different wave technologies to ride and submit their best waves.

You don't need to be a pro to register at the inaugural WPST. You may only give it a go and see how your waves rank against your fellow wave pool surfers and friends.

The judging criteria will focus on three main pillars: commitment, creativity and control.

The WPST was founded by South African surfer Mark Fessler and has a $20,000 prize pool.


Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com



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