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WSL Welcomes New and Returning Partners to 2024 Championship Tour

January 24, 2024

The World Surf League (WSL) is thrilled to announce its new and returning partners ahead of the 2024 Championship Tour (CT) season.

“Backed by the strongest partnership presence on record, the WSL is poised for a great year of excitement and growth,” said Cherie Cohen, WSL Chief Revenue Officer. “Working with innovative and authentic partners allows us to elevate the sport as well as drive real value by enhancing brand visibility through engaging fan activations and mutually beneficial marketing campaigns.”

Celebrating More Ways to Watch with ESPN+ and Global Broadcast Partners

ESPN
New for 2024, the WSL has announced a rights agreement in the United States with ESPN. For the first time, fans can watch all ten WSL CT events, as well as the US Open of Surfing Challenger Series event, live on ESPN+. In addition, 11 episodes of WSL: Inside Pro Surfing, an all-access deep dive into the CT and its character-driven storylines, will be aired on ESPN2 throughout the year. The deal will allow WSL to bring the sport to more viewers and new audiences in the US via ESPN’s digital subscribers as well as on linear television.

Seven Network + Foxtel Group In Australia
The WSL and the Seven Network announced a fifth-consecutive year of partnership for the 2024 season with Seven continuing as the official free-to-air broadcaster of the WSL in Australia. The partnership extension will see all WSL CT events and Australian Challenger Series events broadcast live on 7plus, as well as the WSL Finals being broadcast live on a Seven free-to-air channel. 2024 will also see the continuation of the Bells Beach Longboard Classic on 7plus programming, with the event also going live and on demand.

Australian viewers will also be able to catch WSL content and all CT events on Fox Sports Australia and Kayo Sports for a sixteenth consecutive year, thanks to a new one-year deal between Foxtel Group and the WSL. In addition to this, all Challenger Series events, as well as the Bells Beach Longboard Classic, will be streamed live on Kayo Sports along with Foxtel, scheduling permitting. Fans can also enjoy WSL-produced feature shows and highlights from all events on demand on Kayo Sports.

GLOBO
The WSL will continue offering Brazilian fans access to event coverage through GLOBO, one of the world’s leading broadcasters, sharing the excitement and passion of professional surfing with millions of fans in Brazil.

Eurosport
Eurosport, owned by Discovery, remains the WSL’s European distribution partner and this year is also the European rights holder for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Eurosport will broadcast the WSL: Inside Pro Surfing series on its television channels and will also livestream CT events in their entirety via Discovery+ in the territory.

Introducing New Global and Title Partners: Lexus, Eventbrite, Bonsoy

Lexus
Lexus joins the WSL CT as the Title Partner of the Lexus Pipe Pro and an official automotive partner of the Sunset Pro. The leading luxury car brand will also join as an official partner of the annual WSL Awards, celebrating surfers’ exceptional achievements from the 2023 season. Lexus will introduce its latest vehicle, the 2024 Lexus GX 550, through engaging on-site activations throughout the WSL’s Hawaii competitions from January 29 through February 22, 2024. In collaboration with Complex Networks, fans will have the opportunity to explore the vehicle through on-beach displays, providing an up-close look at the cutting-edge design features that define the Lexus brand. Lexus and Complex will also curate an elevated dining experience at the Lexus Pipe Pro for VIPs and athletes to highlight and celebrate the culinary expertise and mastery of local chefs. Complex and First We Feast will also spotlight the experience on its social channels throughout the 2024 kickoff.

Eventbrite
2024 will see Eventbrite, a global events marketplace, step into the role of exclusive ticketing partner for women’s surfing on the CT and the US Open of Surfing. To celebrate the partnership, Eventbrite will launch a WSL-inspired collection offering top event picks happening across the US during the WSL CT kickoff, in addition to further collections highlighting curated ticketed experiences in and around the US Open of Surfing and the WSL Finals. The WSL and Eventbrite will also collaborate on a visual content-driven marketing campaign to bring the surfing community to Eventbrite’s unique events and experiences.

Bonsoy
Bonsoy has expanded its partnership with the WSL from events in the APAC region to globally with the Championship Tour, Challenger Series and Longboard Tour. The new global deal will see Bonsoy become the Official Milk and Coconut Water of the WSL. 2024 will also see Bonsoy become the title partner for the Gold Coast Pro Challenger Series event while continuing as the presenting partner of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and Sydney Surf Pro Challenger Series event.

Thanks to its continued success in previous seasons, the Bonsoy Caddy Program will continue across three major events in Australia. The Bonsoy Athlete Area will activate at the US Open Challenger Series event as well as both Challenger Series events in Australia. Bonsoy is also excited to announce that WSL Commentator Kaipo Guerrera will become a Bonsoy ambassador in 2024, featuring in broadcast integrations and branded content.

Returning Partners Apple Watch, Red Bull Bring Athlete Performance to New Heights for 2024 CT

Apple Watch
For the second year, Apple Watch will be the official wearable equipment of the WSL. This season the elite CT athletes will continue to get access to the WSL Surfer app on Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, which syncs with the WSL Scoring System in real-time to give them all the information they need while in the water during competition, including scores, wave priority, and time in the heat. Apple Watch is uniquely suited for this task due to its large bright screen, durable design, and cellular connectivity.

Red Bull
Red Bull has joined for its sixth year of global partnership. In their relentless pursuit to support peak performance, Red Bull’s athlete-first approach will continue during the 2024 season, with enhancements planned for the Red Bull Athlete Zones at each CT stop. This year, fans will also be able to experience every heart-pounding moment of the Big Wave competitions live, courtesy of Red Bull TV.

Vissla Shaper Rankings
The Vissla Shaper Rankings will also return this year. The season-long battle to determine the best high-performance surfboard shapers tracks the performance of the best surfers in the world via combined men’s and women’s rankings, counting Quarterfinal-or-better finishes at each of the 9 CT stops this season. These rankings determine the winner after the regular-season CT events, ahead of the WSL Finals. There are 13 shapers who provide surfboards for all the CT competitors this year, and by bringing these performance-driven individuals to the forefront, Vissla and the WSL continue to honor the heritage and progression of the sport.

Welcoming Key Title Partners and Global Sustainability Partners

SHISEIDO
SHISEIDO continues its partnership with the WSL as the Official Suncare of the WSL, a Global WSL CT partner, and a Global Sustainability Partner of the WSL and WSL One Ocean. SHISEIDO will be the Title Partner for Stop No. 6 on the CT, the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro, scheduled for May 22 – 31, 2024. SHISEIDO will host on-site activations, including sunscreen and suncare stations where fans can sample and purchase products, as well as the production of co-branded in-broadcast vignettes designed to promote sustainability throughout the season.

Corona
Corona and the WSL have struck a partnership for the eighth consecutive year. As the esteemed Title Partner for the return of the Fiji Pro, Corona further solidifies its commitment to the world of professional surfing.

Corona will also build on the 2023 season’s release of “Corona Lay Days,” a behind-the-scenes look at what the CT surfers do on their days off from competition.

Corona plans to highlight the breathtaking locations and extraordinary experiences that can be found at each event through engaging original content featuring the beautiful and diverse locations that play host to the CT.

This year, Corona’s steadfast commitment to sustainability takes center stage with its continued work alongside WSL One Ocean, furthering the shared mission to protect and preserve the world’s oceans for generations to come. Together, the WSL and Corona are set to deliver unparalleled fan experiences and foster a deeper connection between surf enthusiasts and the natural world.

YETI
The WSL and YETI are proud to continue their second year of partnership after a very successful first season.

YETI will kick off its 2024 partnership with an elevated position as the Presenting Partner of the prestigious Pipe Pro. YETI will be activating onsite at ?Ehukai Beach Park, offering custom engraving with proceeds benefiting the Mauka to Makai Makaha Foundation. In addition, YETI will be promoting the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI in their new flagship Honolulu store, offering official merchandise in support of their WSL CT Athlete, John John Florence.

YETI also continues its commitment to sustainability as a Global Sustainability Partner of WSL One Ocean, integrating sustainability into its core operations and aligning with the WSL One Ocean initiatives.

Mananalu Water
The WSL is pleased to announce a new partnership with Mananalu Water – actor Jason Momoa’s aluminum-bottled water brand on a mission to eliminate single-use plastics. As an Official Canned Water Partner, Mananalu will be the exclusive canned water onsite at the World Surf League’s North American events, including the US Open of Surfing, the WSL Finals, the Lexus Pipe Pro, and more. Mananalu will also be an Official Partner of WSL PURE, the league’s 501(c)(3), which runs an annual grant program to support global non-profit organizations focused on improving the health of global ocean ecosystems.

805 Beer
805 Beer will also continue its partnership with the WSL, with the quality brewed beverage having become a cornerstone of the WSL live event experience (for fans aged 21 and over). The WSL and 805 Beer are excited to expand the partnership in a way that authentically embodies the essence of surfing and its community. In addition to the partnership extension, Firestone Walker and the WSL are excited to extend their collaborative apparel line celebrating their partnership that promotes “Drinking Local. Surfing Global” (for fans aged 21 years and over), available online and in surf shops across the country.

Pura Vida
Pura Vida returns for a third year as the Presenting Partner of WSL Rising Tides, continuing their commitment to empowering young girls in local communities through the transformative power of surfing. WSL Rising Tides provides once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for girls to connect with their surfing heroes, inspiring them to chase their dreams in and out of the water. Pura Vida’s partnership goes beyond local activations; they’ll be weaving inspiring content into the WSL’s live broadcasts and social media platforms, showcasing the stories of young surfers and the impact of Rising Tides on a global scale.

Continuing Regional Partnerships

WSL APAC is excited to continue partnerships with mophie and Bailey Ladders in 2024, thanks to new contract extensions with each organization. In addition to the Tahiti Pro, mophie has expanded its partnership to include the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and the Fiji Pro in 2024. Bailey Ladders will include their Weather Guard product as part of the deal for the Gold Coast Pro. WSL APAC has announcements of several more partners coming through the 2024 season.

WSL LATAM region continues its partnerships with leaders of top-tier corporations such as TV Globo, Vivo, Banco do Brasil, Natura, Unilever, and governmental support from the Rio de Janeiro State Government and the City of Saquarema.

The first stop on the 2024 WSL Championship Tour is the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI, opening on January 29, 2024, and holding a competition window through February 10. The event will broadcast LIVE on www.WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app.

Check out all the new ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

For more information, please visit www.WorldSurfLeague.com

About the WSL

The World Surf League (WSL) is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world’s best surfing. The WSL oversees surfing’s global competitive landscape and sets the standard for elite performance in the most dynamic playing field in all of sports. With a firm commitment to its values, the WSL prioritizes the protection of the ocean, equality, and the sport’s rich heritage, while championing progression and innovation.

Seven Network Extends Partnership With World Surf League Through 2023 Season
Seven To Continue As Official Free-to-Air Partner To World Surf League In Australia For 2023 Season.

COOLANGATTA, QLD/AUS (Friday November 18, 2022) - Australian surfing fans can continue riding the wave on the Seven Network, with Seven extending its partnership as the free-to-air broadcaster of the World Surf League (WSL) to cover surfing's biggest and most iconic events.

Following the sport's triumphant debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and an exhilarating 2022 season across the screens of Seven, fans can now view every WSL live contest and highlights show of the 2023 season on Seven and 7plus.

Kickstarting with the iconic Billabong Pro Pipeline in Hawaii in January 2023 - famously won by Kelly Slater this year - WSL live coverage on 7plus will include all stops of the world's premier surfing competition, the WSL Championship Tour, along with the Challenger Series, the Rip Curl WSL Finals and Australian-based Qualifying Series events.

The partnership will also see Seven broadcast the Rip Curl WSL Finals on free-to-air television, as well as 11 hour-long highlights of Championship Tour events.

Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport, Lewis Martin, said: "Surfing is a sport that draws a lot of passion from people all over the world, particularly Australians, so we're stoked to continue our partnership with the World Surf League.

"As we sit at the precipice of a new era of surfing, it's an incredibly exciting time for the much-loved sport. The nation's golden girl of the waves, Steph Gilmore, is showing no signs of slowing down after claiming her eighth world title this year, and who could forget the greatest of all time, Kelly Slater, making history in the Pipeline last year?

"With the future of Aussie surfing in the hands of newcomers Molly Picklum, Isabella Nichols and Ethan Ewing, 2023 is set to deliver more stories and moments that you cannot miss, and you can catch it all right here on Seven and 7plus," he said.

WSL APAC President, Andrew Stark, said: "We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Channel 7 and 7 Plus in Australia and look forward to sharing our amazing WSL events and stories through the 7 network. 7 are a true leader in Australian sports broadcasting and we are genuinely appreciative of our partnership and look forward to continuing the momentum into the future".

Ahead of the 2023 event schedule, Seven has viewers covered for the remainder of 2022 with the next stop of the Challenger Series, the Haleiwa Challenger, available to stream live and on demand on 7plus from 26 November.

The World Surf League Live and free on Seven and 7plus

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Very poor: Sydney’s most polluted swimming spots revealed

The number of beaches, lakes and lagoons frequently exposed to troubling levels of pollution and sewage has doubled since 2019 after a year of record rains swamped waterways with floodwater.

About one in five swimming areas were rated “poor” or “very poor” in the latest State of the Beaches report released by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, double the one in 10 areas susceptible to pollution in the 2019-2020 report.

Environment Minister James Griffin said this year’s results were a slight decline on the previous year.

“Which is not surprising, given NSW just experienced the wettest summer in a decade and Sydney is experiencing its wettest month on record,” he said.

Eighty per cent of swimming sites had “good” or “very good” pollution ratings.

But Coogee Beach, Rose Bay Beach, Northbridge Baths and Bayview Baths were among the sites downgraded to “poor” after holding “fair” or “good” gradings last year.

The ratings are based on data from the government’s water testing program, Beachwatch, which examined most swimming sites monthly from May to September and weekly during the warmer months. Ocean beaches are tested weekly year-round.

Water samples from 97 sites around Sydney, and 214 sites in total along the NSW coast, are tested for enterococci bacteria.

Enterococci does not cause illness but is present in human intestines, so levels of the bacteria are used as a measure of how much raw sewage is in water.

Swimming sites rated as “poor” mean the water there is “susceptible to faecal pollution” and not always suitable for swimming, particularly three days after rainfall. It’s generally unsafe to swim at “very poor” rated areas because of the levels of sewage, microbes and pathogens in the water.

The testing process takes 24 to 48 hours, so there is no real-time indicator of water quality, but Beachwatch uses rainfall data to forecast contamination levels.

As a wet spring continues, Western Sydney University water scientist Dr Ian Wright advises swimmers to keep a keen eye on the Beachwatch forecast.

“This is really important information, particularly for people that have a weakened immune system or are very young, old or sick,” Wright said.

Swimming in polluted water carries a small risk of contracting gastro, hepatitis A and infections on the skin and in the ears, eyes, blood and respiratory tract.

“Anyone that swims in an estuary or coastal beach near an urban area should know ... you just don’t swim for a few days, because it’s very likely that you’re swimming through diluted sewage.”

While more than three quarters of swimming sites and lakes and lagoons were susceptible to pollution, 94 per cent of NSW’s ocean beaches scored “good” or “very good” ratings.

Coogee Beach was the only beach in Sydney deemed poor.

*click here for full article and multimedia

(The Sydney Morning Herald)

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