The challenger series, the ultimate battleground for surfers to showcase their talents for the chance to qualify for the following season's championship tour, will include four stops at California, Portugal, France and Hawaii during their condensed season.

"We're very excited to bring the challenger series to life in 2021," said WSL CEO Erik Logan.

"These four events will not only provide an enhanced showcase for the up and coming surfers but will also allow those who fail to requalify through the CT the opportunity to perform well and get back on the 2022 championship tour."

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The revamped 2021 challenger series will kick off with the US Open of Surfing from September 20 -26 in Huntington Beach, California.

Surfers, including Stanwell Park's Kalani Ball, will then head to Europe for the MEO Pro Ericeira, scheduled for October 2 -10 in Portugal, followed by the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro France, from October 16 - 24 in South West France.

The season will wrap in Hawaii, at the Haleiwa Challenger, from November 25 to December 7.

"This new level of competition will provide greater opportunity for CT qualification as well as give visibility to the next generation of surfers," said SVP of tours and head of competition Jessi Miley-Dyer.

"I can't wait to see who will qualify for the tour in 2022."

The challenger series field will include 96 men and 64 women, made up of 34 men and 17 women from the CT, 58 men and 44 women that are allocated by the WSL regions, two men's and women's world junior wildcards, and two men's and one women's wildcards.

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Any unused CT spots will become wildcards.

This season, athletes will be able to roll over points from their best qualifying series event in 2020.

The 2021 challenger series rankings will be comprised of a surfer's best three results out of five events, the four 2021 events and one 2020 event.

Mikey's two siblings Owen and Tyler Wright, as well as Gerroa's Sally Fitzgibbons, are expected to retain their spots on the 2022 WSL CT.

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