Many pro surfing fans and top surfers will be rejoicing at the WSL’s latest suite of announcements. 

Frequently labelled as unfair (just ask Carissa Moore who twice lost on finals day after winning the points race) the final five concept has been ditched in favour of the original, first past the post system. The final season rankings, and ultimately the World Titles, will be determined by a surfer’s best nine of 12 results. 

There is a twist to keep the mathematicians busy though. The Pipe Masters will be the final event, but be worth 1.5 times the points of a regular event, thus giving the long-shots more of a chance to leap-frog opponents and claim the title. (yes, it seems no more Pipe Pro, the WSL has reclaimed the Pipe Masters tag according to the language used in their Press Release) 

Meanwhile, the infamous cut has also had a major facelift. The schedule will consist of 12 events beginning in April and ending in December. Nine “regular-season” events will feature 36 men and 24 women, and then the field will be narrowed to 24 men and 16 women for the final two “post-season” events. The entire field will return to compete in the Pipe Masters. 

So if you don’t make the cut you get sin-binned for only two events but then the whole band gets back together for the Pipe Masters. We assume the bonus at Pipe gives surfers a last ditch chance to re-qualify for the following year’s tour. 

The new schedule will present all kinds of scenarios but overall it seems the WSL Think Tank has gone for a system that rewards consistent performers and satisfies fans of the original final rankings system, while including enough tweaks to manufacture some end of season drama around those chasing the title and avoiding elimination. 

Maybe they got it right this time. 

See the official list of changes below 

• Starting in 2026, the CT will end the season with the Pipe Masters. 
• The men’s and women’s World Champions will now be determined by a cumulative season rankings system, as opposed to the Final 5’s one-day format. The Pipe Masters will be worth 15,000 points, 1.5x more points than the other events, and there will be new seeding for the Top 8 surfers determined by the two competitions leading up to the final competition.
• The non-elimination rounds will also be removed to raise competitiveness and optimize swell windows and wave conditions.
• The women’s CT field will increase from 18 to 24 athletes.
• The schedule will consist of 12 events beginning in April and ending in December. Nine “regular-season” events will feature 36 men and 24 women, and then the field will be narrowed to 24 men and 16 women for the final two “post-season” events. The entire field will return to compete in the Pipe Masters.