Cover photo: Barrinha de Saquarema by WSL/Poullenot

The third 2023 Challenger to be confirmed this year will be Saquarema, which will take place between October 14 and 22, WSL Latin America reported in a statement sent to the press this afternoon.

The WSL, which has only announced two challenger events in Australia and which was reported not to be holding the Haleiwa event, has confirmed a third event.

It does not yet appear on the official WSL website, but it does appear in the press release sent today, which also details several confirmed events and others yet to be confirmed:

1st: Mar 29-02: Sails of Change Galapagos QS 1000 Cup
----------- Lobería e Tongo Reef, Ilha San Cristobal, Galapagos - Equador
2nd: Apr 05-08: Rip Curl Pro Playa Grande QS 1000
----------- Playa Grande, Mar del Plata - Argentina
3nd: Apr 13-16: Punta Rocas Open Pro QS 1000 and Junior
----------- Punta Rocas, Punta Negra, Lima - Peru
4nd: Apr 24-30: Saquarema Surf Festival QS 5000, Junior and Longboard
----------- Praia de Itaúna, Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
5.a: May 04-07: Banco do Brasil Surf Circuit QS 1000 to confirm
----------- Praia da Ferrugem, Garopaba, Santa Catarina - Brazil
6th: Jun 06-11: LayBack Pro Rio QS 1000
----------- Prainha, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
7th: Jun 12-18: Alagoas Surf Pro Francês QS 5000, Junior and Longboard
----------- Praia do Francês, Marechal Deodoro, Alagoas - Brazil
Championship Tour: Jun 23-01: VIVO Rio Pro presented by Corona
----------- Praia de Itaúna, Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
8th: Aug 10-13: Banco do Brasil Surf Circuit QS 1000 to confirm
----------- Location to be confirmed
*9.a: Aug 15-20: Arica Pro Tour QS 5000 closet
----------- The Gringo, Ex-Scorpion Island, Arica - Chile
10th: Aug 24-27: Banco do Brasil Surf Circuit QS 1000 to confirm
----------- Praia de Stella Maris, Salvador, Bahia - Brazil
11.a: Set 13-17: Banco do Brasil Surf Circuit QS 3000 to confirm
----------- Praia de Maresias, São Sebastião, São Paulo - Brazil
Challenger Series: Out 14-22: Saquarema Pro Crown
----------- Praia de Itaúna, Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
12th: Nov 07-12: HD Guarujá Open QS 3000
----------- Praia das Pitangueiras, Guarujá, São Paulo - Brazil
*13.a: Feb 27-03: Hang Loose Pro Contest QS 5000 closet
----------- Cacimba do Padre, Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco - Brazil
14st: Mar 06-10: Billabong presents LayBack Pro QS 3000
----------- Praia Mole, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina - Brazil