The path to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games continues in the World Surfing Games 2023 in Surf City El Salvador.
A total of 297 surfers from one 64 nation record will compete in the world-class waves of La Bocana and El Sunzal in the flagship competition of this sport that will take place from May 30 to June 7. With a lineup that features World Surfing League and World Champions, as well as 28 of the 40 Olympians from Tokyo 2020these nine days are sure to be filled with fantastic performances and emotions.
Defending champions Team USA return with Olympic champion Carissa Moore and two-time World Surfing League champion John John Florence leading the way.
Meanwhile, superstars like Japanese Olympic silver medalist Kanoa Igarashi and three-time world champion Sally Fitzgibbons of Australia will try to clinch a direct entry to the olympic surfing competition in Tahiti next year.
eight slots are available to athletes from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
The stakes are high, and we’ve got all the information you need to enjoy every bit of the action.
From the World Surfing Games to Paris 2024
In the previous qualifying event, the World Surfing Games 2022the men’s and women’s national teams competed for an additional spot for their National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
The Japanese men and US women came out winners, meaning they can send three athletes to the next Olympic Games compared to the maximum of two athletes, per gender, that other NOCs are allowed.
At this year’s edition of the World Surfing Games, the qualification places will go directly to individual athletes from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
TO total of eight slots -four men and four women- will be distributed equally among the highest-ranking male and female athletes from these four continents.
The qualification spots for surfers from North and South America, also one per gender, will be decided at the Pan American Games 2023 in Santiago, Chile. However, to get there, the athletes must first impress in El Salvador. The five best men and the five best women representing the Americas at the World Surfing Games will qualify.
Brisa Hennessy from Costa Rica, Tatiana Weston-Webb from Brazil, Johanne Defay from France and Teresa Bonvalot from Portugal have already qualified for Paris 2024 through the World Surf League Campionship Tour. The competition in Tahiti would mark a second Olympic appearance for all of them.
World Surfing Games 2023: a celebration of firsts
TO record number of nations will participate in this year’s edition of the World Surfing Games thanks to five newcomersbringing the total to 64.
Czechia is making its debut with a full roster of six surfers. India and Trinidad and Tobago will bring three male surfers each, while Santa Vevere will be the first and only representative from Latvia.
Mauritius will also be represented for the first time, with an athlete.
The 2023 World Surfing Games will also mark a milestone in terms of gender equality. TO record 132 female athletes will compete in El Salvador, which is equivalent to 44 percent of all competitors.
ISA World Surfing Games 2023: Host El Salvador
Surf City El Salvador is organizing the World Surfing Games for the second time. The first event was held in 2021 and served as the final qualification for Tokyo 2020 with teams from France, Japan and Portugal performing at their best in the waves of La Bocana and El Sunzal.
The same venues will host the nine-day competition in 2023.
the mouth it is a wave that breaks to the left and occasionally also goes to the right. The wave is powerful with a steep drop off and a dredging barrel, providing the best hit for surfers.
Located west of La Bocana, the sunzal it is generally considered easier to maneuver. It is a break point to the right that runs in a long line along the coast. Thanks to its consistent waves and panoramic views, El Sunzal was once considered the best surf spot in El Salvador and helped get the country’s surf culture off the ground in the 1970s.
World Surfing Games 2023: schedule and how to see them
Competition at the 2023 World Surfing Games will begin on May 30. A detailed competition schedule will be available at a later date and is subject to change based on forecast and weather conditions.
Tuesday 30 May: Opening Ceremony and start of the competition.
Wednesday May 17 – Tuesday, June 6: Competition days.
Wednesday June 7: Finals Day, Closing Ceremony.
You can follow all the action live on Olympics.com to see the best surfers in action and be the first to know which athletes have booked their tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Highlights, results and featured interviews will also be posted on our website.
