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> News > IOC and ISA Confirm Qualification System for Surfing at LA28 Olympic Games

surfing News

IOC and ISA Confirm Qualification System for Surfing at LA28 Olympic Games

Paris 2024 Gold Medalist Kauli Vaast (FRA). Image credit: / ISA / Tim Mckenna

Saturday, February 21, 2026

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.

To view the complete Olympic QS for Surfing in LA28, click here.

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 slots at the 2026 and 2027 ISA WSG, which are awarded to the NOC based on the highest ranked teams by gender at those events.

The hierarchical order of qualification will be as follows:

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.

1. 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.

2. 2028 ISA WSG

Top ten (10) eligible athletes per gender. Maximum one (1) per nation.

3. Continental Slots

a. Asian Games 2026

One (1) slot per gender. Highest-ranked eligible athletes.

b. Pan American Games 2027

One (1) slot per gender. Highest-ranked eligible athletes.

c. European Surfing Championship 2027

One (1) slot per gender. Highest-ranked eligible athletes.

d. 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.

4. 2026 & 2027 ISA WSG

The highest-ranked team per gender will earn one (1) slot per gender for its nation.

5. 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.

6. 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.

ISA VP, Sally Fitzgibbons said:

“The updates to the Olympic Surfing qualification system are both meaningful and an important step forward for our sport on the Olympic stage. Ensuring gender equity through the professional league qualifiers reflects the ISA’s commitment to fairness and opportunity for all athletes. Expanding the role of the Continental Games recognises the growing depth of global talent and promotes greater universality on the Olympic stage. This evolution strengthens competitive balance and helps ensure the Olympics truly showcase surfing at its most fair and equal.”

Chair of ISA Athlete’s Commission, Jutine Dupont 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.”