It’s not the Surf Ranch Pro, but another WSL wave pool event was just announced. Others will don comp jerseys at wave parks in America, Munich and Asia. This follows a growing trend—last year, no fewer than one dozen wave pools hosted surf contests.
The list includes Waco, Chelan, Wai Kai, Melbourne, Sydney, Siheung-Si, Shizunami, Bristol, Sion, Abu Dhabi and Palm Springs. When factoring in Europe’s standing wave tours, the number of events and participants rises even higher.
At WavePoolMag, we’ve already received promotional materials for three upcoming events. However, we expect more to surface soon. Below is a brief preview of what’s confirmed.
Wave Park South Korea Event Returns
The World Surf League (WSL) confirmed that the Siheung Korea Open will return from July 18–20, 2025, at Siheung Wave Park. The artificial wave facility will host both a QS 6000 surf contest and a Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 1000 event during the same weekend.
The WSL elevated the contest from its previous QS 3000 status in 2023 and will now co-sanction the event with the Asia and Australia/Oceania regions. Organizers expect more than 150 surfers to compete for points toward the 2026 Challenger Series.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring the Siheung Korea Open back in 2025, and even more thrilled to see it elevated to a QS 6000,” said Ty Sorati, WSL APAC Tour Director. “The success of the 2023 event proved that South Korea is not only ready to embrace professional surfing but also ready to host world-class events. With the increase in points and prestige, this event will play a key role in shaping the QS rankings across two regions.”
Gerry Lopez River Surf Invitational
Lakeside Surf and citywave Global have shifted the Continental Surf Cup (CSC) to a biennial schedule. As a result, the next CSC will now take place on Labor Day weekend in 2026 in Chelan, Washington.
Organizers cited travel logistics—particularly with Team Europe and citywave Global—as the main factor behind the change. Coordinating travel to Chelan during the U.S. holiday weekend proved difficult.
To fill the gap, Lakeside Surf will launch a new event in 2025: the Gerry Lopez River Surf Invitational, scheduled for August 29–31 at the same venue.
“While it is tough to have to postpone the surf cup a full year, we are super stoked to have the opportunity to launch our next great event,” said Burke Bordner, owner of Lakeside Surf. “We are proud to announce that we have partnered with legendary surfer Gerry Lopez to host the Gerry Lopez River Surf Invitational.”
European Team Format in Munich
o2SURFTOWNMUC has introduced a new team-based surf competition that will feature athletes from eight European countries. The one-day event will mix team strategy, leaderboard scoring, and changing wave settings.
Each team includes two men and two women. The format features shoot-outs, direct match-ups, and tactical lineups on artificial waves. According to the organizers, this model aims to offer a new approach to high-performance surfing in Europe. Entry will be free and open to the public.
Confirmed athletes include Olympic surfer Camilla Kemp of Germany, Janina Zeitler from Munich, and Jarko Kreuzeder, another rising German competitor. Additional surfers include Muad Le Car of France, Dane Henry from Australia, and Hugo Ortega of Spain.
“I love the team spirit. Usually we compete as individuals – here, we cheer each other on, fight together, celebrate together. This energy will be something truly special,” said Camilla Kemp.
Organizers plan to release further details about the schedule, team rosters, and rules in the coming weeks.
