WSL Surf City El Salvador Pro 2026: Complete Guide to Punta Roca

🔥 Results: WSL Surf City El Salvador Pro 2026

A 2026 Championship Tour event held at Punta Roca, La Libertad, the competition crowned two exceptional champions in solid conditions. A historic win on the men's side, back-to-back titles on the women's.

Leonardo Fioravanti claimed his first Championship Tour victory here, becoming the first Italian surfer in history to win a CT event. On the women's side, Carissa Moore — Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion — secured a second consecutive CT win and climbed to World No. 2. Tyler Wright (AUS), two-time world champion, completed the women's podium.

Practical Information

• 2026 Dates: June 4-15, 2026 (competition window)
• Location: Punta Roca, La Libertad, El Salvador
• Presented by: Corona Cero
• Event: 2026 Championship Tour (12 events, 9 countries)
• Field: 36 men and 24 women
• Broadcast: Free on WorldSurfLeague.com and the WSL app

Why Punta Roca is Special

Punta Roca, also known as La Punta or Punta Chilama, is considered the crown jewel of Salvadoran surfing. This cobblestone right-hander delivers fast, powerful waves perfect for high-performance maneuvers. Locals call it "the J-Bay of Central America" after the famous South African wave.

Since joining the CT in 2022, Punta Roca has proven to be a world-title indicator: several of its winners have become world champions the same year.

Surf City El Salvador Pro Palmares

Men

• 2026: Leonardo Fioravanti (Italy) — first CT win by an Italian
• 2025: Jordy Smith (South Africa) — first CT win in 8 years
• 2024: John John Florence (Hawaii) → World Champion
• 2023: Filipe Toledo (Brazil) → World Champion
• 2022: Griffin Colapinto (United States)

Women

• 2026: Carissa Moore (Hawaii) — back-to-back CT
• 2025: Gabriela Bryan (Hawaii)
• 2024: Caroline Marks (United States) — back-to-back
• 2023: Caroline Marks (United States) → World Champion
• 2022: Stephanie Gilmore (Australia) → World Champion

New 2026 Format

To celebrate 50 years of professional surfing, the WSL revamped its format:

• End of Mid-Season Cut: no more mid-season cut
• Every heat counts: non-elimination rounds removed
• Cumulative ranking: best 9 results out of 12 events
• Pipeline Finals: Pipe Masters returns in December to crown the champions
• Expanded field: 24 women (up from 18)
• New in 2026: Cloud 9, Siargao (Philippines) added to the CT calendar

Full 2026 CT Calendar

1. Bells Beach, Australia (April 1-11)
2. Margaret River, Australia (April 16-27)
3. Snapper Rocks, Australia (May 1-12)
4. Raglan, New Zealand (May 15-25)
5. Punta Roca, El Salvador (June 4-15) — Fioravanti / Moore
6. Teahupo'o, Tahiti (August 8-18)
7. Cloudbreak, Fiji (August 25 - September 4)
8. Lower Trestles, USA (September 11-20)
9. Saquarema, Brazil
10. Peniche, Portugal
11. Cloud 9, Philippines (October 31 - November 10) — new
12. Abu Dhabi / Pipeline, Hawaii (December) — Finals

How to Attend

Access

Punta Roca is located 35 km from San Salvador's international airport (about 45 minutes by car). The beach is free to access and competitions are open to the public.

Accommodation

Book in advance! La Libertad and the surrounding beaches (El Tunco, El Sunzal, El Zonte) offer options for every budget. During the WSL event, hotels are often fully booked.

Best Time

Early June falls in the rainy season, but mornings are generally sunny with consistent 1-to-2-meter waves — exactly the conditions that allowed Fioravanti and Moore to triumph in 2026.

Surf City: El Salvador's Winning Strategy

The Salvadoran government's Surf City initiative has transformed the country into a global surf destination. With 4.1 million international visitors in 2025 and the status of the safest country in the Western Hemisphere, El Salvador is betting on surfing to attract travelers from around the world.

The partnership with the WSL and ISA (through 2027) guarantees a calendar of international events that puts El Salvador on the global surf map. In 2026, El Salvador will also host the ISA World Junior (September 4-13) and the ISA World Longboard Championship (October 16-22) at El Sunzal.