North Shore Surf Competitions (2025 - 2026 Guide)

Join us for the North Shore surf competitions this year! Get all the contest details, schedules, helpful tips for watching, and an insider's view of how these prestigious events unfold.

The surf competitions each winter on Oahu's North Shore are some of Hawaii's most exciting and anticipated events.

These competitions are incredible to watch and draw locals and visitors year after year - and it's easy to see why!

Imagine the top surfers competing for the title in the world's best, most powerful waves at iconic spots like Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay. The crowds go wild, and the energy on the beach is indescribable!

Plus, there are so many fun things to do on the North Shore while you're here! From watching the surf contests, exploring the beaches, dining at local restaurants, and shopping in historic Haleiwa Town, you're just scratching the surface!

North Shore surf competition details

The North Shore surf season starts in late September and runs through the winter months until the end of April.

This is when we see the beautiful waves and world-renowned surf contests, like the Pipe Masters and the VANS Triple Crown of Surfing (no longer held), that have earned the North Shore its reputation as the surfing capital of the world.

Plan your trip to Hawaii during these months if you want to catch the action! These surf competitions differ from typical sporting events, so let's go over how they work, this year's schedule, and key details to help you plan your visit.

How surf competitions work

Surf competitions on the North Shore follow a unique format depending on swell conditions during the waiting period for each event. Here's a quick rundown of how they work:

1. Waiting Period: Competitions don't have a set day or time. Instead, there's a "waiting period," a specific window several weeks long, during which organizers monitor ocean conditions. The competition happens when swell conditions (the size and quality of the waves) look best. It takes 2 to 3 days to run the whole event.
2. Heat System: Surfers compete in heats, typically 20 to 40 minutes long. In each heat, a small group of surfers (usually 2-4) take turns riding waves to score points.
3. Judging Criteria: Surfers are judged on a 10-point scale based on difficulty and their performance on the waves. Only their top two scoring waves count toward their total heat score to advance to the next round.
4. Advancement & Elimination: The top two surfers in each heat advance to the next round, while third and fourth-place finishers are eliminated. This continues until a final heat determines the overall winner.
5. Wave Priority: Surfers follow a priority system to determine who has the right of way for each wave, which helps keep the competition orderly and fair.

Upcoming competitions

Here's the updated schedule for the professional surf competitions happening this year on Oahu's North Shore during the 2025-2026 surf season, along with a calendar overview. Below, you'll find more information about each event.

Note: The dates reflect the permits issued by the City and County of Honolulu for each event. They may differ from those found on the World Surf League website. Also, only one contest can run per day, and if the Eddie is called on, it takes priority over all the others.

WSL Sunset Pro 2025

(Nov 19 - 26, 2025)

What: World Surf League (WSL) Men's and Women's Qualifying Series (QS) Event

Where: Sunset Beach, North Shore Oahu

Holding Period: November 19 - 26, 2025. Event organizers will run the competition on the best three days within this window.

This event is part of the World Surf League's Regional Qualifying Series, offering pro surfers a chance to earn points toward the Challenger Series to qualify for the WSL Championship Tour. This is a significant event for those looking to advance their surfing careers.

This competition is especially exciting to watch when the waves are big. Sunset Beach is a deep-water reef break with long rides, barreling waves, and sections perfect for maneuvers. Here, the waves break further out, so bring binoculars if you can!

Last October, it ran as the Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro, and I was there watching Luke Tema and Eweleiula Wong put on such a show to win it. Here are some photos and details about their wins.

Note: The WSL Hurley Pro Sunset Beach competition, usually scheduled for February, will not be happening in 2025/2026.

WSL Haleiwa Pro 2025

(Nov 29 - Dec 7, 2025)

What: World Surf League (WSL) Men's and Women's Qualifying Series (QS) Event

Where: Haleiwa Ali'i Beach Park, North Shore Oahu

Holding Period: November 29 - December 7, 2025.

The Haleiwa Pro is part of the World Surf League's Qualifying Series, and the event showcases the island's top-tier competitors in one of the most iconic North Shore surf spots.

The waves at Ali'i Beach break close to shore, making the competition even more exciting to watch. Plus, it's right in Haleiwa Town, just west of Haleiwa Boat Harbor - a super convenient location!

Last year the event ran as the HIC Haleiwa Pro. We had great waves throughout, and Zoe McDougall and Joshua Moniz took the wins. Here are some highlights from the finals.

Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational 2025/2026

(Dec 1, 2025 - March 6, 2026)

What: Invitation-Only Big Wave Surf Contest in memory of Eddie Aikau

Where: Waimea Bay, North Shore Oahu

Holding Period: December 1, 2025 - March 6, 2026.

'The Eddie' is one of the world's most prestigious and exciting big-wave surf competitions to watch. For it to run, the waves must consistently be 40 feet throughout the day, which is why the holding period lasts three months.

These swells are rare, so the event has only happened 11 times since it began in 1984. When it's on, it's a big deal, so don't miss it! If you're on Oahu, plan to go; otherwise, watch it live online.

This contest is unique as it is a one-day event with six-person heats, and winners are determined by their total score from two one-hour heats.

Here are a few highlights from the 2023 event and more info about this prestigious Hawaii surf competition.

✨ The contest was named in memory of legendary lifeguard Eddie Aikau, who saved hundreds of lives. He was also one of the only surfers brave enough to paddle out in huge surf at Waimea Bay - that's how the iconic phrase "Eddie would go" came to be.

Insider's Tip

The town comes to a standstill when this event is on! Traffic gets intense, the beach and cliffs are packed with spectators, and parking is tough to find.

The best approach is to ride your bike or arrive early to secure parking if you're driving, bring food and water, and plan to stay the whole day on the beach.

Last year, the waves were so big and perfect that they closed the road near Waimea Bay! We biked from Haleiwa, parked by Laniakea (turtle beach), and rode the rest of the way - it was amazing. If this happens again, pack lunch and plan to stay all day.

🚲 You can rent bikes on the North Shore from the North Shore Bike Rentals.

Vans Pipe Masters 2025

(Dec 8 - 20, 2025)

What: Men & women world-renowned surfers, by invitation only from Vans.

Where: Banzai Pipeline, Ehukai Beach Park, North Shore Oahu

Holding Period: December 8 - 20, 2025.

The Vans Pipe Masters is the surf competition I'd tell you not to miss! With over five decades of history, this exclusive invitational brings together the top men and women surfers to compete at one of the world's most challenging, perfect barreling wave.

Da Hui Backdoor Shootout 2026

(Jan 4 - 16, 2026)

What: Oahu surf competition hosted by Da Hui.

Where: Banzai Pipeline, Ehukai Beach Park, North Shore Oahu

Holding Period: January 4 - 16, 2026.

The Da Hui Backdoor Shootout is an invitation-only surf competition on the North Shore featuring top Pipeline surfers from Hawaii and around the world. This event, held in memory of Duke Kahanamoku, is super exciting to watch!

WSL Pipe Challenger 2026

(Jan 29 - Feb 9, 2026)

What: WSL Pipe Challenger Series (Men's & Women's)

Where: Banzai Pipeline, Ehukai Beach Park, North Shore Oahu

Holding Period: January 29 - February 9, 2026.

Last year it ran as the Lexus Pipe Pro, and this year it's a major event at Banzai Pipeline that will help decide the qualifiers for the 2026 Championship Tour.

It's going to be super exciting to watch the top pro surfers compete and see who makes the cut this year.

Pipeline is such an amazing and difficult wave that performing well here can really launch a surfer's career. If you're in Hawaii during the holding period, this is another one you must watch live.

WSL Sunset Challenger 2026

(Feb 10 - 19, 2026)

What: WSL Sunset Challenger Series (Men's & Women's)

Where: Sunset Beach, North Shore Oahu

Holding Period: February 10-19, 2026.

This February, the WSL added the Sunset Challenger at Sunset Beach to the schedule, alongside the Pipe Challenger, to help decide qualifiers for the 2026 Championship Tour.

There isn't much information from the organizers yet, but I'll keep you updated as more details come out. Regardless, the event will be at Sunset Beach, so plan to watch either in person or live on the WSL website.

Other Notable Surf Competitions in 2025/2026

Other surf competitions are happening on the North Shore this season too. If you're on Oahu during the holding period, it's worth planning to check them out. Here are the event names and schedules:

Packing tips

If you're heading out to watch any of the surf competitions, here are some essentials to bring along to the beach:

• Camera and a sharpie to get photos and autographs from the surfers.
• Beach chairs, towels, or a sarong to relax on the sand.
• A beach umbrella for shade.
• Water and snacks if you plan to spend the entire day on the beach.
• Sunblock, sunglasses, and a sunshirt to stay protected from the sun.

Any questions about these surf competitions? Let me know in the comments below! Here are a few resources to help you plan your trip to the North Shore: