Contesting Is Growing—The Numbers Prove It
What WPX SSB 2025 tells us about contesting’s quiet army—and the surprising power of visibility
Bud Trench AA3B, Contest Director for the CQ WPX SSB Contest, has released the final results.
You know this already—social media is packed with certificates. A brilliant move by the WWROF Contest Committee, by the way: making sure everyone gets one. But dig a little deeper into Bud’s write-up, and you’ll find something even more striking than the certificates.
Here’s one stat that jumped out:
Only 102 single operators stayed on the air for the full 36 hours.
At the other end of the scale? A staggering 55,319 distinct callsigns made it into the logs.
That means over fifty-five thousand operators got on the air—even for a few minutes—to hand out a contact.
“The top operators in the world… can break records because everyday hams show up.”
Let that sink in.
The world’s top contesters—breaking records, topping leaderboards—can only do it because everyday hams show up and provide a serial number.
In the words of Contest Crew member, Chris Hurlbut KL9A: “That’s really cool.”
But there’s another number worth noticing.
From 2020–2022, the average number of distinct callsigns in WPX SSB was 48,620. From 2023–2025, it jumped to 55,459. That’s an increase of nearly 6,800 operators.
Sure, part of that is Cycle 25. But that sharp uptick from 2022 to 2023?
Was that just the sun?
Or could it also be that, in 2023, Q5 started pulling contesters out of the backrooms in Dayton and into the global spotlight? That we made it visible? Relatable? Even a little intriguing?
Bud Trench AA3B, the CQ WPX Contest Director, believes the growth may also be linked to expanded outreach—like new email reminders and increased promotion through the CQ WPX Facebook group. And no doubt, reminders help prompt participation.
But this isn’t about taking credit. It’s about recognizing that most hams don’t know what it really takes to compete in radiosport—because until recently, no one was telling that story in a way that actually reached them. That’s where Q5 is making a difference: not just reminding people to show up, but helping them understand why they’d want to.
At Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio, we’re working with the Contest Crew and solo operators from around the world to shine a light on the strategy, psychology, logistics—and yes, the joy—of contesting.
It’s not just a masterclass. It’s a movement toward openness. It’s Elmering on a global scale. And maybe, just maybe, it’s working.
📈 Here's the chart that shows it:
If you’ve been following along—thank you.
If you’re new, or curious, or just want to hear some great conversations:
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Onward and 73,
Kevin Thomas W1DED
Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio
Curious what that looks like in action?
Check out a few of our recent conversations below—real operators, real insights, and a fresh take on what makes contesting so compelling.
Many thanks to Q5, the Contest Crew, and the many special operators involved in this movement. I’ve tried, and participate in, several means of radio activities, and I find radio sport to be the most enjoyable. Thanks for bringing this community into the light, and creating a welcoming format for all who are interested. I’ve been active in ham radio for about 18 months, and I’m learning that in some circles contesting isn’t appreciated (or worse). Communities like Q5 truly make a difference!
Hola 73 soy HJ2EMJ Edward de Colombia tengo 2 años y 5 meses con licencia y está fue la 1 en concursar 73