2022 ISA World Surfing Games: Preview, schedule, key athletes and how to watch 

Surfing at Paris 2024 is about to feel that much closer.

The very first spots for the next summer Olympic Games are going to be awarded at the 2022 ISA World Surfing Games taking place at Huntington Beach, California, between 16 - 24 September.

For the first time at this event, the winning men’s and women’s national teams will be allocated one Olympic spot for each of their respective National Olympic Committees (NOC).

The two spots will be awarded based on the two countries that gain the most points per gender. The women's national team with the most collective points will win a ticket for their national team (NOC) and the same for the country who's men collect the most points.

“With an extra Olympic slot up for grabs for the top men’s and women’s teams at these 2022 ISA World Surfing Games, the competition for the coveted ISA World Team Champion Trophy is going to be epic and the most important ever,” said International Surfing Association (ISA) President Fernando Aguerre.

These highly coveted spots will be in addition to the two athlete quota spots that each country is allowed. The stakes are high, and so the pressure.

247 athletes from 51 nations will be in action with the competition stacked with talent, including three-time World Surfing Games Champion Sally Fitzgibbons, Olympic silver medallist Kanoa Igarashi and bronze medallist Tsuzuki Amuro.

The good news is that you can follow the action right here on Olympics.com to see which nations secure the first Olympic spots.

Read on for who to look out for, the schedule and more.

2022 ISA World Surfing Games: Men to watch

Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Italo Ferreira has unfortunatley had to withdrawal from the event just days before it gets underway due to a foot injury. The 28-year-old Brazilian posted the news on social media.

Huntington Beach native Kanoa Igarashi is sure to impress at his home break. The Olympic silver medallist will bring his local knowledge, experience and on-form surfing to this competition in the hopes of trying to secure a spot for Japan at Paris 2024.

Fellow local Kolohe Andino hasn't had his best season on the WSL Championship Tour but it will be interesting to see him in action after he finished runner-up in the 2019 edition of the event. With the likes of Griffin Coliapinto and Nat Young on the USA team, they have a good chance at taking the men’s Olympic qualifying spot for their country.

Indonesia’s Rio Waida has had an impressive year claiming back-to-back WSL Challenger Series events in May and July. Keep an eye out for him and former Championship Tour surfer Jesse Mendes, who recently changed his country of representation from Brazil to Italy. He firmly has Paris 2024 in his sights.

2022 ISA World Surfing Games: Women to watch

In the women’s competition, Championship tour stalwart and 2021 ISA World Surfing Games winner Sally Fitzgibbons will try to lead the way for her young Australian women’s team.

Olympic bronze medallist Tsuzuki Amuro will be looking to do the same for her fellow Japanese team-mates Shino Matsuda and Mahina Maeda and they are likely to be strong contenders for the women’s Olympic spot.

With France hosting the upcoming Games, eyes will be on young Tahitian Vahine Fierro.

The 20-year-old was given a wildcard to the recent Tahiti Pro and came away with third. She will need to show her prowess on smaller waves than the ones she is used to in Teahupo’o, which will be the location of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

In 2021 France took home the overall team gold medal, indicating they are heading in the right direction before hosting the next Games.

Another young rising star to keep an eye on is 15-year-old Erin Brooks.

The Canadian won the U-16 ISA World Surfing Games title earlier this year and has a skillset well above her age. She recently went viral on social media after sharing a video of her becoming the first woman to do a front and back flip on a surfboard. In August she made history as the only female and youngest-ever competitor at the Padang Padang Cup in Indonesia, where she finished fourth.

2022 ISA World Surfing Games - Schedule:

The competition schedule will be updated daily as forecast and weather conditions are taken into consideration.

You can catch the action live on Olympics.com here. For highlights, results, and feature interviews, be sure to check our website.

Thursday 15 September: Heats and competition schedule confirmed for Day 1 of competition.

Friday 16 September: Opening Ceremony and possible start of men’s competition.

Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September: Competition – men.

Monday 19 September : Competition – men and women. (Note: This will be the first day of competition for women to allow for the participation of women also competing in the Super Girl Pro.)

Tuesday 20 - Friday 23 September: Competition - men and women.

Saturday 24 September: Finals day - men and women.