In 2018, the International Surfing Association announced that surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics would take place in the ocean, and not in an artificial wave pool. The contest site for the 2020 Games was announced to be Shidashita Beach, or "Shida", located about outside of Tokyo in Chiba. To ensure quality surf, the contest will feature a waiting period of 16 days. Once the event runs, it will take two days to finish the competition.
Competition structure
The 2020 Summer Olympics will use a four-person heat structure, Four athletes will compete at any given time. The best two of each heat will continue to the next round. Each heat will run for 20 to 25 minutes, with their top two scores being used. Only one rider may ride a wave at any given time. Using a common surfing etiquette rule where the surfer who is closest to the peak has right of way. Any interference with the surfer who has right of way, can incur a penalty and result in point deductions. A panel of judges will determine each rider's performance from wave to wave, scoring from one to ten with two decimals. e.g. 8.51. Scores are based on the difficulty of manoeuvres performed. This includes speed, power, and flow of each manoeuvre.
There will be 20 men, and 20 women competing in the 2020 Summer Olympics, This is currently limited to high-performance shortboards only, separated into categories of gender. If surfing is included in upcoming games such as Paris 2024 or Los Angeles 2028, other categories such as Longboarding, bodyboarding and SUP may be included.
Qualification
Quota places will be allocated to the athletes at the following events:
Host Country: Japan as host country is allocated 1 place in both men's and women's events. If at least one Japanese surfer has earned a qualification place through other events, the relevant Host Country Place shall be reallocated to the next highest ranked eligible athlete at the 2020 World Surfing Games.
2019 World Surf League Championship Tour - the 10 highest ranked men and 8 highest ranked women will be awarded quota places.
2019 ISA World Surfing Games - the top finishers from each continent with the exception of the Americas will be awarded a quota place.
2019 Pan American Games - the top finisher in men's and women's events will be awarded a quota place.
2021 ISA World Surfing Games - the top 4 men and 6 women will be awarded quota places. If a NOC or National Olympic Committee qualifies more than the maximum number of athletes, the 2021 ISA World Surfing Games will prevail and any places earned from 2019 will be reawarded to the next highest finishing athlete.
