John John Florence beats Jamie O'Brien in dying seconds of Volcom Pipe Pro Final

1. Snapper Rocks

February 28-March 11 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Australia
Snapper rocks in the summer time has all the elements to attract the surfing circus that is the ASP world. The banks are meticulously groomed and primed for performance, the weather is warm so there is plenty to look at floundering on the shore line and with seating for well, plenty any self respecting surfer would have to have a good hard look at themselves if they didn’t make their way courtside for the opening battle of the WCT calendar.

2. Bells Beach

April 19 – 30 The Rip Curl Pro Bells beach Victoria Australia
This is one’s rich in history, to be the winner of the bell; our sport’s most iconic trophy means you have made history. Originally held in January of 1961 the Bells beach classic as it was known back then was won by George “Ming” Smith. George’s 1-pound prize marked the beginning of professional surfing as we know it and since then the event has been renamed and rescheduled.

3. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

April 23 -May 2 The Billabong Rio Pro Brazil
Since the early 90s Brazilian’s have been making their presence felt on both tours and in the last 20 years have become one of surfing’s power nations. The Billabong Pro is their chance to show surfing what they have to offer the world’s beach culture aside from the hottest race of females ever to be bestowed on god’s green earth. Personally the women are the main attraction the surfing contest can just be used to fill the interim.

4. Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa

July 15 – 25 The Billabong Pro Jeffrey’s Bay South Africa
This one is rich in history as well, Occy’s early performances, Joel Parkinson’s rookie win and Neco Padaratz weird dance moves in celebration of the barrel. Jbay conjures all that is weird and wonderful and the best part about it is the town may have grown but the wave and that good old country feeling is just as it ever was.

5. Teahupoo, Tahiti

Aug 20 - 31 The Billabong Pro Teahupoo, Taiarapu- Tahiti
Armageddon is how many surfers would describe it. No wave on tour provokes as much fear as Tahiti’s end of the road. The history of this event is as a WQS event originally but as the photos started to surface showing its potential it wasn’t long until a sponsor put their hand up to run a WCT out there. No wave has been publicized more than chopes in this last decade and in many respects Teahupoo has set a new benchmark on what the term heavy should mean.

6. Long Island, New York

September 3 - 12 The Quiksilver Pro, Long Island, New York, USA
The best known place in the world is ironically an almost unknown quantity on the world surfing stage. No New Yorker has ever made the World Title rankings, and no WT event has ever been held here. That alone would be enough to stir the tour pot in unusual ways, but coupled with a million-dollar prize purse and Quik’s avowed commitment to stage a unique scene on the doorstep of the world’s most media savvy urban environment may well push this event to unscaled heights – if the surf shows up.

7. The Hurley Pro Trestles, California, USA

September 18 - 24 The Hurley Pro Trestles, California, USA
This one is rich in history as well, Occy’s early performances, Joel Parkinson’s rookie win and Neco Padaratz weird dance moves in celebration of the barrel. Jbay conjures all that is weird and wonderful and the best part about it is the town may have grown but the wave and that good old country feeling is just as it ever was.

8. The Quiksilver Pro South West France

October 4 - 13 The Quiksilver Pro South West France
Surfing has become global at an astronomical rate and in no place is that more evident than Europe. Hossegor became the mecca early on attracting all stars ex pats such as Tom Curren, Gary “Kong” Elkerton and Pipeline master Robbie Page.

9. Peniche, Portugal

October 15 - 24 Rip Curl Pro Peniche, Portugal
Rip Curl came here on the Search, and couldn’t bring themselves to leave. No wonder. Portugal has some of the best deep-to-shallow-water beachbreaks and some of the keenest pro surfing fans on earth. If the world title run comes down to a solid day at Supertubos, there won’t be too much complaining. But the challenge here is in the hands of the head judge and event director; can they pick the eyes out of each day in the waiting period, and ensure this critical WT event plays its role in the race to the fullest?

10. Ocean Beach, San Franscisco

November 1 - 11 The Rip Curl Search, San Franscisco
The elegant city by the bay on one side; unforgiving ocean environment on the other. SF will be a culture shock for the pro tour, with its jigsaw streetscape and coldweather California vibe, its cool inner city restaurant/nightclub scene, and its splintered surf culture – half crusty old bastards, half yuppie wannabes. The event falls right into central NorCal’s ideal surf window and is ideally positioned in the tour framework to make a major difference in the world title race.

11. The Billabong Pipeline Masters Banzai Pipeline Hawaii

December 8 - 20 The Billabong pipeline Masters Banzai Pipeline Hawaii
It always has and always will be the undisputed holy grail of surfing, the one true proving ground, if you aint nothing here than you aint nothing.