



A new event has just been announced for Kelly Slater's man-made wonder park – and it's a totally different format to anything the WSL has put on before.

About an hour ago, the WSL dropped a press release announcing the Founders' Cup of Surfing, a two day event at the Wave Ranch on May 5-6. But, the format will see five teams enter, the USA, Brazil, Australia, Europe and the rest of the world, made up of men and women's surfers from the CT. The competition will play out alongside a festival backdrop – and the public can buy tickets for it.

“This technology has captured the imagination of the global surfing community and created a number of new opportunities for the WSL,” Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL CEO, said. “The Founders’ Cup of Surfing will be the organization’s first public event at the facility and we’re very excited to showcase the wave and the world’s best surfers through this unique team format in May.”

The press release also says: “The Founders’ Cup of Surfing will see the men and women competing alongside one another in the team format, a first for WSL events that will add a new dimension to surf competition. The teams will be made up of three men and two women from each region, and the five-person teams will compete against one another throughout the course of the two-day event.” Does that excite? Men to face off against women in a controlled environment?

This event will run before the planned Surf Ranch pro, which is also scheduled for the CT this year. Tickets are available for the Founders' Cup from March 12.