World Surf League's top surfers return to Lemoore for 'Rumble at the Ranch'

The Lemoore surfing event will welcome 16 of the top male and female surfers currently residing in the United States to compete in a mixed-doubles team event, with prize money going to a charity selected by the winning team. 

Competitors include a familiar face to Lemoore surfing enthusiasts as 11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater, Surf Ranch’s founder will compete. Also, Olympic qualifiers Caroline Marks, Kolohe Andino, and reigning four-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore, alongside Championship Tour stars Filipe Toledo, and Sage Erickson will be on their boards.

The full list of competitors and teams will be announced during a Selection Show on WorldSurfLeague.com on August 4 at 9 a.m.

“I've really been looking forward to getting 2020 going, so an event here in California is super exciting,” said Caroline Marks. “I love the Surf Ranch, so I can't wait to get out there and surf again. It'll be fun for us athletes and the fans too.”

"I can't wait to put the jersey back on,” said Filipe Toledo. “To know we can bring a live experience for fans from the Surf Ranch here in California, in a safe and secure way, is really exciting. It'll be awesome for us surfing, for our sport and our fans. Let's go!"

The surfing event will be broadcast live on WorldSurfLeague.com, starting at noon on August 9, 2020. In the US, FOX Sports will telecast the event live on FS2 from 3 to 5 p.m., eastern time, and then will continue on FS1 live from 5 - 7 p.m. ET. Check local listings for details of additional broadcasters. The WSL Surf Ranch venue will be closed to spectators, and the WSL will run the production and event.

“We’ve missed live surfing, and we are excited to bring fans a unique live experience with the Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Rumble at the Ranch,” said Erik Logan, WSL CEO. “Utilizing the WSL Surf Ranch facility in Lemoore, California, we have the opportunity to host this in our own arena, implementing extensive safety protocols to ensure the health and safety of the participants, staff, and local community.”

Sixteen surfers (eight men and eight women) will pair-up to form eight co-ed teams. The teams will face-off in a head-to-head bracket, advancing through to the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final to win. Every round, each team will get four waves, consisting of two rights and two lefts. Each surfer’s best score will be combined to create the team score for that round. The team with the best score will advance to the next round. Judges will watch and score the event remotely.

WSL officials have collaborated extensively with public health officials, medical experts, as well as local and state officials to create a thorough plan to ensure the health and safety of participants, staff, and the surrounding community.

This event will be strictly executed to follow the WSL’s health and safety procedures, which were developed based on guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and emerging best practices established by other sports leagues and broadcast-only live sports events. These procedures include testing for athletes and essential staff, strict social distancing measures, temperature checks, and minimal personnel on-site.

About the WSL 
The WSL is a global organization headquartered in Santa Monica and with regional offices in North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and EMEA.