How to qualify in Surfing
How surfers qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
Checked 20 October 2026Valid for: Open: the venues of the 2027 and 2028 World Surfing Games; the host confirmation date ("XX June 2028").
Surfing at Los Angeles 2028 is shortboard for men and for women, 24 surfers each. A country can have two per gender (three in some cases, through the team places). Most places go to surfers by name.
Places already won. Asia's continental place was decided at the 2026 Asian Games (Japan, 26 to 28 September 2026):
| Place for | |
|---|---|
| Men | Kanoa Igarashi (Japan) |
| Women | Mirai Ikeda (Japan) |
Still to come, per gender:
- 2026 World Surfing Games (6 to 15 November 2026): one place for the best team's country.
- 2027 World Surfing Games: one place for the best team's country; the best surfer from Africa and from Oceania.
- 2027 Pan American Games and 2027 European Championships: the best surfer from each.
- World Surf League Championship Tour, 15 August 2027 to 15 June 2028: the best eight, one per country.
- 2028 World Surfing Games: seven more, one per country.
- Host (one per gender, if the United States has none) and one universality place.
Places (per gender)
| Route | Places | To |
|---|---|---|
| WSL Championship Tour ranking (one per country) | 8 | Surfer |
| 2028 World Surfing Games (one per country) | 7 | Surfer |
| Continental: Africa and Oceania (2027 World Surfing Games), Asia (2026 Asian Games), Americas (2027 Pan American Games), Europe (2027 European Championships) | 5 | Surfer |
| 2026 World Surfing Games, best team | 1 | Country |
| 2027 World Surfing Games, best team | 1 | Country |
| Qualification places | 22 | |
| Host | 1 | |
| Universality | 1 | |
| Total | 24 |
- Africa and Oceania places need the surfer to finish in the top 25 at the 2027 World Surfing Games; if not, the place goes to the 2028 World Surfing Games, any continent.
- If fewer than eight eligible surfers are in the Championship Tour's top 34, the rest go to the 2028 World Surfing Games.
- If the same team wins both World Surfing Games team titles and has no more than two places from other events, the 2027 team place goes to the next team.
- Ties: the higher heat total in the surfer's last heat.
- Universality: the surfer must finish in the top 40 at the 2027 or 2028 World Surfing Games.
Where the document disagrees with itself. Under the women's 2026 World Surfing Games place, the text says the place goes to the best women's team "at the 2027 ISA WSG", repeating the 2027 rule instead of the 2026 one.
Places turned down
The next eligible surfer at the same event.
Dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 26 to 28 September 2026 | Asian Games surfing (done) |
| 6 to 15 November 2026 | World Surfing Games |
| 2027 | World Surfing Games; Pan American Games; European Championships |
| 1 October 2027 to 15 January 2028 | Universality requests |
| 15 August 2027 to 15 June 2028 | Championship Tour ranking period |
| 2028 | World Surfing Games |
| By 15 June 2028 | Places announced; two weeks to confirm |
| 26 June 2028 | Entries deadline for the Games |
| 14 to 30 July 2028 | LA28 Olympic Games |
Where to follow it
isasurf.org publishes results and qualified surfers.