BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu, Hawaii, USA (Tuesday, January 28, 2025) - With the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) season kick off underway, the WSL is excited to welcome both returning and new partners who play a crucial role in supporting competitive surfing. As the season unfolds, fans will experience thrilling moments thanks to an expanded broadcast lineup, groundbreaking technology, and meaningful partnerships that will bring surfing to audiences around the world like never before. From on-the-ground experiences to digital activations, this year's partners are set to make the 2025 season unforgettable.
"We couldn't be more thrilled to start the season with such a committed stable of global partners returning and new," said Cherie Cohen, WSL Chief Revenue Officer. "We have been working hard to bring our fans exciting new experiences and content and the plan begins on the North Shore. This season is set to make history."
The WSL is proud to start the 2025 season with global partners: Red Bull, YETI, Corona, Apple, and I-SEA Sunglasses. Their continued support plays a pivotal role in supporting the CT and elevating surfing globally.
New Ways to Watch the 2025 Championship Tour
Broadcast partnerships for the 2025 season will bring the action to a global audience like never before. ESPN is back for their second season with an expanded rights agreement with live coverage of the 2025 CT on ESPN+ across the United States, and now Latin America on Disney+, including Mexico, Peru, Argentina, and the Caribbean (excluding Brazil, El Salvador, and Costa Rica).
Longtime partners GLOBO, Channel 7, and Fox Sports Australia are back to deliver the season's most thrilling moments to fans in Brazil and Australia.
Joining the broadcast family this year, Red Bull TV will now stream live competition coverage on its platforms, in addition to Red Bull's ongoing partnership with enhancements planned for the Red Bull Athlete Zones at each CT stop.
Check out all the ways to watch from the WSL's broadcast partners.
Lexus Expands Partnership with the WSL
Lexus and the WSL have announced an expanded multi-year partnership. As part of the new agreement, Lexus will serve as title partner for five marquee league events in 2025: the WSL Awards, Pipe Pro, Trestle Pro, US Open of Surfing, and WSL Finals.
Since becoming the Official Automotive Partner of the WSL in North America in 2024, the expanded partnership will also see Lexus broaden its reach to Fiji for the highly-anticipated WSL Finals in 2025 at the world-renowned Cloudbreak. In support of this partnership, Lexus will introduce the all-new concept luxury utility vehicle, the Lexus Surf LX at the Lexus Pipe Pro. Inspired by the vibrant world of surf culture and informed insights from surf community members like Lexus' first surf ambassador, Griffin Colapinto, the Surf LX blends style with real-world functionality.
Amazon Enhances Onsite Connectivity for Fans as Official Wireless Mesh Partner of WSL North America
An exciting new partnership welcomes Amazon this season. The partnership will initially focus on Amazon's wireless mesh brand, eero. As the Official Wireless Mesh Partner of WSL North America, Amazon eero will enhance onsite connectivity for fans and VIPs by expanding and improving Wi-Fi coverage at key events, including the Lexus Pipe Pro, Trestles Pro, and the US Open of Surfing.
Apple and YETI Continue Global Partnership with the WSL for Third Year
Apple Watch returns for the third year as the official wearable technology of the CT, providing real-time scores and heat updates directly to competitors in the water. Throughout the season, the surfers will utilize the WSL Surfer app on Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to keep them informed while in the water during competition.
YETI continues their support of the WSL for a third consecutive season, kicking off 2025 as the Presenting partner of the prestigious Lexus Pipe Pro.YETI 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. YETI will activate onsite at ʻEhukai Beach Park with custom engraving services supporting the Mauka to Makai Makaha Foundation and will promote the event in their Honolulu flagship store, featuring official merchandise and support for their athletes, reigning World Champions John John Florence and Caity Simmers.
New Partner for WSL Rising Tides and Continued Support for Shaper Rankings
Body Glove joins as the Presenting Partner of WSL Rising Tides, reinforcing a shared commitment to empowering young girls in local communities through this unique beachside engagement program. WSL Rising Tides offers unforgettable opportunities for young girls to connect with their surfing heroes, inspiring them to pursue their dreams both in and out of the water. This global partnership will extend to all CT events and feature Body Glove Ambassador and CT standout Tatiana Weston-Webb.
The Vissla CT Shaper Rankings enter their third season in 2025, continuing to celebrate the craftsmanship and innovation of the world's best boardbuilders. For the past two years, San Clemente-based ...Lost Surfboards, helmed by Matt Biolos, has claimed the top spot, defeating a global field of world-class shapers. This combined men's and women's ranking system tallies all regular-season results for surfers finishing in the Quarterfinals or better, highlighting which shapers are providing the boards that power the world's best surfers to success throughout the CT season.
Regional Partners Ready for Upcoming Championship Tour Stops
Bonsoy will expand its partnership with the WSL, with the brand becoming the title sponsor of the Gold Coast Pro, and Presenting Partner to both the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and the Newcastle Surfest Challenger Series. Hydralyte has also extended their partnership, signing on for this year's Australian leg, where they will once again activate their Fluro Friday in support of mental health.
Rip Curl will again show incredible support to professional surfing across the 2025 CT season, entering its sixth decade as the title sponsor of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach as well as continuing their synonymous support of the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal
Brazil partners Vivo, Banco do Brasil, Natura, and Unilever, alongside the invaluable support of the Rio de Janeiro State Government and the City of Saquarema, will also continue to partner with the WSL in 2025.
In Europe, the WSL continues to partner with MEO and Rip Curl and have the unwavering support from Portugal Tourism and Sport TV.
About the 2025 Championship Tour
12 different venues will challenge the world's best surfers on the 2025 WSL CT. 36 men and 18 women will compete in the first seven competitions, earning points at each venue to add towards their WSL CT rankings (excluding event wildcards, who will not earn points). Competitors will vie for these points leading up to the Mid-season Cut, which takes place following the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. The fields are then reduced to 24 men and 12 women for the final four events to determine who earns their place among the WSL Final 5 to compete at the 2025 WSL Finals, taking place at the famed reef break of Cloudbreak, Fiji, to see who is crowned the 2025 World Champions in the winner-take-all showdown.
First Stop: The Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI
The 2025 CT begins at one of the world's most famous reef breaks, the Banzai Pipeline. Known for its heaving barrel and the ultimate testament to heavy-water charging, Pipe has created some of surfing's most memorable moments, from World Title showdowns to a clash of giants to start a new season.
The Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI holds a competition window now through Saturday, February 8, 2025. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Check out new ways to watch from the WSL's broadcast partners.
The Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI is proudly supported by event partners, including Lexus, YETI, 805 Beer, Florence Marine X, Vissla, Bonsoy, Pacifico, White Claw, Open Water, Hawaiian Tourism Association, Surfline, True Surf, Spectrum Hawaii, and Amazon Eero.