It was announced by the World Surf League (WSL) that it is making the Apple Watch an official part of the league’s wearable equipment.
What the Apple Watch will provide for surfers in the competition will be scores, time in the heat, and wave priority.
Erik Logan, CEO of the WSL, said that adding the Apple Watch as regular equipment for surfers is a no-brainer, if you consider the amount of tech and information packed into it.
“The unique capabilities, ease of use, and incredible water resistance of Apple Watch make it the ideal solution to support our surfers competing in the extreme conditions of our worldwide tour,” he said. “Surfers need critical information while they compete, and the WSL Surfer app we’ve developed for Apple Watch provides real-time data that will help the communication flow from the WSL Scoring System to the competitors in the water. We are so excited to roll this out and enable our Championship Tour athletes to focus on their performance and improve competition throughout the 2023 season.”
Each surfer competing in the league’s matches will be given an Apple Watch before their competition that will come with a WSL app that will have the info listed above in it. Some surfers have already been testing out the app for the past couple of seasons to make sure that it was going to be good for every competitor.
Eric Jue, Apple’s director of Apple Watch product marketing, said this just another one of the many great uses for the Apple Watch, and commended the creative idea behind this by the WSL.
“We’re thrilled the WSL is utilizing Apple Watch for the Championship Tour, making it simple and easy for surfers to quickly glance at their wrist for instant access to vital information,” he said. “This innovative solution leverages many of the advanced features of Apple Watch – bright high-resolution display, durability, water resistance, cellular connectivity, and a powerful platform for organizations to build custom apps – and the new WSL Surfer app will empower surfers competing at the highest level with the information they need while in the water.”
ítalo Ferreira, a WSL Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, said the Apple Watch and the WSL will help immensely with the auditory needs for competitors.
“The noise of the wind and the waves can sometimes make it impossible to hear the announcers while competing, and that means you miss crucial information,” he said. “Challenging conditions can make it hard to see the beach and a priority penalty could cost you the heat, so not needing to rely on seeing the beach or hearing the announcers makes a huge difference and prevents guesswork. When it’s all on the line, scoring and priority are critical. You have so much on your mind at that point, so having an Apple Watch helps you stay on track in those situations and is a total game changer.”
The WSL is scheduled to have 120 events this year which can all be streamed from its website, WSL app (available on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV), and its YouTube channel.
