“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has today confirmed that the 2027 European Championships, the EuroSurf, will count towards qualification for the Olympics Games Los Angeles 2028.
The support of the International Surfing Association (ISA), recognition of our surfers' results in international competitions, and the involvement of our regional federation in the development of our sport will enable us to qualify for the Olympics.
The organization of Eurosurf 27 involves a structured collaboration with the ISA and international bodies such as the European Olympic Committee (EOC) and IOC.
All members of the executive committee of the ESF will work together to fulfill this responsibility, and we can be proud of this international recognition.
Sincerely,”
Jean Luc Arassus
European Surfing Federation President,
ISA Vice President.
- OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE from
The International Surfing Association (ISA) has today welcomed the release of the approved Qualification System (QS) for Olympic Surfing by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Surfing competition for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28) will take place at Lower Trestles, the world-renowned high-performance peak in San Clemente, California.
Developed using key learnings from the past two Olympic Games, the QS for LA28 has been updated to ensure the world’s highest-performing surfers have the greatest possible opportunity to qualify. At the same time, the system safeguards universality, a core Olympic value that promotes fair global representation and the continued development of surfing worldwide.
The refinement of the QS took into consideration feedback and insights from many stakeholders, including the athletes. The most notable change is an increase in the maximum quota to three (3) athletes per gender per National Olympic Committee (NOC). The World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the ISA World Surfing Games (WSG), and continental competitions will continue to play important roles in qualification, while athletes who have already qualified will no longer be required to compete at the WSG.
Similar to previous Olympics, qualification for LA28 follows a hierarchical system, with higher-priority events allocating places first. Once an NOC has qualified three surfers of a gender, it cannot earn additional places for that gender through events lower in the hierarchy.
The key elements of the QS are as follows:
- Forty-eight (48) total athletes: 24 men and 24 women.
- Maximum of three (3) surfers per gender per NOC.
- Qualification slots are earned by name on an individual basis, except for Team World Champion slots at the 2026 and 2027 ISA WSG, which are awarded to the NOC.
In cases where a qualification slot cannot be used due to eligibility limits, NOC quotas, or insufficient ranked athletes, the slot will be reallocated to the next highest-ranked eligible surfer, primarily via the 2028 ISA WSG.
Georoid Mcdaid current Eurosurf Champion 2025 photo: Ocean Spirit25.
- 2028 WSL CT (10 total athletes)
Top five (5) eligible athletes per gender as of the middle of June, 2028. Maximum one (1) per nation. - 2028 ISA WSG
Top ten (10) eligible athletes per gender. Maximum one (1) per nation. - Continental Slots
- Asian Games 2026
One (1) slot per gender. Highest-ranked eligible athletes. - Pan American Games 2027
One (1) slot per gender. Highest-ranked eligible athletes. - European Surfing Championship 2027
One (1) slot per gender. Highest-ranked eligible athletes. - 2027 ISA WSG
One (1) slot per gender for Africa and one (1) slot per gender for Oceania, awarded to the highest-ranked eligible athletes. The athlete must place within the top 25 overall.
Mafalda Lopez EuroSurf Champ female 2025. Photo: Ocean Spirit'25
- Asian Games 2026
- 2026 & 2027 ISA WSG
The highest-ranked team per gender will earn one (1) slot per gender for its nation. - Host Nation Places
One (1) slot per gender will be guaranteed for the host nation of the USA unless already filled through the above hierarchies. - Universality Places
One (1) slot per gender for underdeveloped nations. Eligible NOCs will need to apply. The nominated athlete must place within the top 40 at the 2027 or 2028 WSG.
“It’s amazing to have a full designated spot for the European surfing championships. Means a lot for European surfing it’s epic that’ll bring more eyes to the European champs. I just gotta go back to back now and it’ll be sweet"
Gearoid Mcdaid
EuroChamp 2023 and 2025
8x Irish Champ
Justine Dupont ISA Athlete’s Commission Chair said:
“We are excited to support this updated Olympic qualification system, which is an excellent progression from the last two Olympic cycles. We spent a lot of time in our Commission, reflecting on the learnings, exploring the different scenarios and listening to the athletes’ opinions. We understand the importance of finding the right balance between the diverse global interests of our sport, and that’s what makes the Olympic competition so unique and special. We can’t wait to see the competition for qualifying begin”
ISA President, Fernando Aguerre said:
” It’s such a special moment as surfing begins its third Olympic qualification cycle. We now start a new journey that will reach its pinnacle at one of the world’s premier high-performance waves, Lower Trestles, in California.
“What we saw in Tokyo 2020 was very, very special. And what we saw at Teahupo’o for Paris 2024 was even more incredible. Those unbelievable moments, era-defining images, and the whole world with their eyes on surfing. It was the biggest audience our sport has ever seen. Tahiti showed us the power of surfing on the Olympic stage in a different way to Tokyo, and Trestles will showcase surfing in yet another new light.
“The updates to the qualification system reflect the ISA’s dedication to making sure the world’s best surfers have the best possible opportunity to earn their place at LA28. We have worked closely with the IOC, the athletes, and other stakeholders to deliver a clear and fair process.
“With LA28, with Lower Trestles, and with this qualification system, we are confident the best surfers from around the world will have the chance to earn their place, live their Olympic dreams, and deliver another unforgettable show.”