“Jessi has been incredibly influential in competitive surfing, not just as a competitor, but for her vision and commitment to fairness and excellence."
In a shock missive sent to important news outlets this morn, the WSL has announced the departure of Jessi Miley-Dyler from the biz after a storied reign that spanned more than a decade.
“A former Championship Tour competitor, Miley-Dyer transitioned from professional surfing to sport leadership at the end of 2011, joining the WSL, then known as the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). Since then, she has been instrumental in shaping the modern era of professional surfing and advancing equity within the sport.
“Miley-Dyer played a key role in many defining moments, including the historic introduction of equal prize money for men and women in 2018. From there, the fully combined men’s and women’s Tours were announced in 2022. Most recently, she drove the expansion of the women’s Championship Tour field, set to take effect in 2026, solidifying a more equitable future for the next generation of surfers.
“Ryan Crosby, WSL CEO, praised Jessi Miley-Dyer’s contributions: “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.”
Jessi Miley-Dyer’s final event as the Commissioner is the upcoming Lexus Trestles Pro. The window opens on June 9 in Lower Trestles, California.
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Jessi, who just turned thirty-nine, has had a wild ol ride in surfing. Australian titles, World Junior title, won the WQS, fourth in her first season on the CT, rookie of the year, injuries forced her off the tour, moved into the administrative side of the biz, and here we are.
I’ve known Jess for years, my kid grew up with her lil sisters and her mum is sweet as anything.
I’d see ’em at the beach periodically and, each time, every single dang BeachGrit story would flash through my head. The greetings got cooler and cooler, as you might imagine.
Whatever you think of her reign, tough job, she leant into it, rode the bump, studied like hell and punched out a couple of degrees to ensure a fine ride into the sunset.