Registration has opened for the inaugural Alaïa Surf Challenge, the first event of the 2026-27 Wavepool Surf Tour season, scheduled to run at Alaïa Bay in Sion, Switzerland, from Aug. 1 to Oct. 25, 2026. The event will provide the first opportunity of the season for surfers to earn regional ratings points and direct qualification to the inaugural Wavepool World Finals.
“With a month remaining before the competition window opens, athletes are encouraged to register now, create their athlete profiles and explore the event information available at WavepoolSurfTour.com,” said Mark Fessler, founder of the Wavepool Surf Tour. “The next few weeks are all about getting registered, learning how the event works and preparing for the opening of the season. We’ve built the platform to make competing as straightforward as possible, and we can’t wait to see the first rides come through from Alaïa Bay.”
The Alaïa Surf Challenge is open to competitors in Open, Junior, Masters, Longboard, Bodyboard and Adaptive divisions.
Competitors will be able to complete their entries at Alaïa Bay between Aug. 1 and Oct. 25 before submitting rides for judging. Entries will be assessed by the Wavepool Surf Tour’s international judging panel using the Triple C judging criteria of Commitment, Creativity and Control.
Winners in eligible divisions will secure direct qualification to the Wavepool World Finals. Competitors will also earn regional ratings points as part of the season-long qualification pathway.
Registration is open and entries close on Oct. 25, 2026. Event information, divisions, registration details and FAQs are available at WavepoolSurfTour.com.
