Apple And World Surf League Launch ‘Apple at Play’ as Partnership Expands Beyond Competition
3 hours ago
The World Surf League (WSL), the global home of surfing, and Apple has shared the launch of a new installment of Apple at Play, a content series that explores how professional sports organizations use Apple products and data to elevate athlete performance and bring fans closer to the action.
This latest Apple at Play series focuses on the WSL Championship Tour (CT) and tells the story of how Apple technology has become an integral part of the competitive surfing experience. Through behind-the-scenes access and athlete perspectives, the series explores how surfers use Apple Watch during competition, how they analyze performance data after heats, and how the technology is helping them perform at their best in one of the most dynamic and demanding sporting environments.
“We’re committed to the advancement of surfing, whether that’s through the performances of athletes in the water or the viewing experience of our fans,” said Ryan Crosby, WSL CEO. “Our partnership with Apple and the new Apple at Play series is a great example of how we’re taking that to the next level. We’re always exploring new ways to better understand and showcase athlete performance. From giving competitors access to real-time data during competition to now integrating these insights into the broadcast, our partnership with Apple is helping fans experience the sport in a more immersive way.”
Apple Watch Data Integrated into WSL Broadcast
Since 2023, Apple Watch has served as the WSL’s Official Wearable Technology equipment, giving athletes in-competition access to real-time information, including heat scores, wave priority, and time remaining. Connected to cellular networks, this data is delivered directly to the surfer’s wrist via the specially developed WSL Surfer app, which syncs live with the WSL’s scoring system.
Earlier this year, that data went a step further, and for the first time, Apple Watch performance metrics have been integrated into the WSL broadcast, giving fans unprecedented insight into the action in the water. These new broadcast metrics include distance traveled on a wave, wave speed, and the athlete’s heart rate. This brings viewers even closer to the physical reality of competitive surfing than ever before.
“When you’re out there in a heat, every second counts. Being able to glance at my Apple Watch and instantly know my score, who has priority, and how much time is left has changed the way I compete,” said Lakey Peterson. “We’re competing where we’re sometimes far from the beach and battling the elements, so having this information is a game-changer. Now that fans can see the data too, and understand what we’re going through in real-time, it’s pretty special.”
iPhone Boosts WSL Fan Engagement
Apple has extended its collaboration with the WSL to now use iPhone to level up fan engagement. iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will be used to capture content for social media and in-broadcast, showcasing Apple’s premium mobile photo and video capabilities including the 48MP Fusion cameras and 8x optical-quality zoom, in one of sport’s most challenging environments.
As a long-standing partner of the WSL, Apple has played an important role in innovating the competition experience for the league’s competitors and fans. These efforts continue to demonstrate how technology can advance sport by creating new ways for surfers, the WSL, and fans to experience surfing from the lineup, to the broadcast, and beyond.