The World Surf League (WSL) released the full schedule for the 2019 Championship Tour (CT).
The pro surfing circuit will feature 11 stops for the men and 10 for the women. And, for the first time in the history of surfing, the CT will award equal prize money for both genders.
There are a few surprises in the calendar. The Margaret River Pro continues on tour after being canceled in 2018 due to shark and safety concerns. But it will run later, in May.
As a result, Indonesia is preparing to welcome elite men and women surfers. But only with a single event. The Bali Pro follows the competition at Bells Beach.
The Brazilian stage continues on the WSL agenda, as well as the Surf Ranch Pro, an event held in Lemoore's wave pool. The dates for the Pipe Masters remain unchanged.
Interestingly, Rip Curl and Billabong will be the only global surf companies to sponsor events - the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and the Billabong Pipeline Masters.
Quiksilver is no longer listed as the main sponsor for the French contest.
"We decided to increase the offseason and shift the start of the season from March to April in order to create a more fan-friendly condensed calendar and to give surfers time to recover," notes Sophie Goldschmidt, CEO of WSL.
The women's CT schedule has two big surprises on the line.
The US Open of Surfing transitions from a Qualifying Series (QS) event to an elite contest, and the Meo Pro Peniche opens up to the world's best female athletes.
2019 World Surf League | Men's Championship Tour Schedule
Gold Coast Men's Pro: April 3 - 13, 2019
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: April 17 - 27, 2019
Bali Men's Pro: May 13 - 24, 2019
Margaret River Pro: May 27 - June 7, 2019
Oi Rio Pro: June 20 - 28, 2019
J-Bay Open: July 9 - 22, 2019
Tahiti Pro Teahupo'o: August 21 - September 1, 2019
Surf Ranch Pro: September 19 - 22, 2019
France Men's Pro: October 3 - 13, 2019
Meo Pro Peniche: October 16 - 28, 2019
Billabong Pipe Masters: December 8 - 20, 2019
2019 World Surf League | Women's Championship Tour Schedule
Gold Coast Women's Pro: April 3 - 13, 2019
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: April 17 - 27, 2019
Bali Women's Pro: May 13 - 24, 2019
Margaret River Pro: May 27 - June 7, 2019
Oi Rio Pro: June 20 - 28, 2019
J-Bay Open: July 9 - 22, 2019
Surf Ranch Pro: September 19 - 22, 2019
France Women's Pro: October 3 - 13, 2019
Meo Pro Peniche: October 16 - 28, 2019
Hawaii Women's Pro: November 25 - December 7, 2019