This year World Surf League organizers added other wave tanks to their lower-tiered series, but it is the Surf Ranch Pro, both loved and loathed by many, that is their marquee wave tank event. Online pundits point to the event as “the most boring on tour” while the cream of the WSL crop (Hi Filipe! Hi Gabriel) have mastered the challenges of Kelly’s pool to claim wins, while for non-surfing viewers it is the most easily accessible window into the complexities of professional competitive surfing.

So open up that mixed bag of emotions as The Surf Ranch Pro returns this year, running on Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, 2023.

“Along with the excitement of watching the best surfers in the world perform on an awe-inspiring wave, the event will include live music performances, great food, activations, and exclusive shopping opportunities,” the WSL said in a statement. “The upcoming Surf Ranch Pro is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to surf fans.”

At the end of the competition two winners will be selected at random for what most of us can agree is a bucket-list surfing experience. The winners will each get to surf one left and one right, all to themselves.

It works this way.

All ticket holders will be entered with a chance to win a wave. Winners must be present at the event on Sunday, May 28 at 12:00pm PT when the drawing is held. You can buy tickets for the Surf Ranch Pro here.

The event is expanding from a mere spectator comp and will add yoga, more food options and even face-painting for kids. The WSL will also open up the adjacent lake for swimming, SUPing and other flatwater activities.

And in case you feel bad about buying a tank of gas to get to Lemoore, the WSL is partnering with One Carbon World to compensate for the emissions from fan travel to the event and contribute to carbon offsetting projects around the globe.

Heat draw and wildcards announced.

Cole Houshmand (USA) has been awarded the men’s event wildcard as the highest-ranked North American surfer on the Challenger Series. The second-highest ranked North American surfer on the Challenger Series, Alyssa Spencer (USA), earned the women’s event wildcard into the Surf Ranch Pro. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) was initially offered the spot as she is the highest ranked North America surfer on the Challenger Series rankings but declined due to prior travel commitments.

Seth Moniz (HAW) has withdrawn from the Surf Ranch Pro event due to a back injury. He will be replaced by Jett Schilling (USA), the second-highest-ranked North American surfer on the Challenger Series leaderboard after the completion of the GWM Sydney Surf Pro event.

Surf Ranch Pro Pres. by 805 Beer Women’s Qualifying Round Matchups:
Heat 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
Heat 2: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)
Heat 3: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Gabriela Bryan (HAW)

Surf Ranch Pro Pres. by 805 Beer Men’s Qualifying Round Matchups:
Heat 1: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Jordy Smith (RSA) vs.Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 2: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Connor O’Leary (AUS) vs. Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA)
Heat 3: Joao Chianca (BRA) vs. Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) vs. Jett Schilling (USA)
Heat 4: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW)
Heat 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
Heat 6: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS) vs. Rio Waida (INA)