End of an Era at WSL
After more than 13 years of steering competitive surfing, Jessi Miley-Dyer is officially stepping down from her role as World Surf League commissioner. The WSL confirmed the news in a press release but has not yet announced who will take over the position. Her final event as commissioner will be this month’s Lexus Trestles Pro.
From Athlete to Trailblazing Leader
Miley-Dyer competed on the Championship Tour (then the ASP) for six years before joining the WSL leadership team in 2011. Since then, she’s been at the forefront of some of the sport’s biggest milestones. These include equal prize money for men and women in 2018, the merger of the men’s and women’s tours in 2022, and expanding the women’s Championship Tour roster in 2026. In 2021, she was named Senior VP of Tours and Competitions and later oversaw the reintroduction of the mid-year cut and the creation of the WSL Finals.
Leaving on Her Terms
“With the 2025 regular season complete, and our postseason qualification and expanded women’s field now set, I feel this is the right moment for me to step aside,” Miley-Dyer stated. “It’s been the honor of my life to help guide this sport that has given me so much. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together, from raising the level of competition to breaking new ground in gender equality. I’ll always be the WSL’s biggest fan, and I’m excited to see what comes next for both the WSL and our athletes.”
Tributes Pour In
WSL CEO Ryan Crosby praised her contributions, stating, “Jessi has been incredibly influential in competitive surfing, not just as a competitor, but for her vision and commitment to fairness and excellence. Her impact on the WSL and the sport as a whole is profound, and she leaves the organization in a stronger, more inclusive place. We’re grateful for her years of service and wish her nothing but success in what comes next.”