Surfing Super League to launch $20 million professional competition in Australia

The Surfing Super League (SSL), a new $20 million professional surfing competition, is set to launch in January 2028. Unveiled by majority owner and former Surfing Australia CEO Chris Mater, the league plans to feature an eight-team, nine-week “home-and-away” season along Australia’s east coast.

Designed as a “made for TV” alternative to traditional one-on-one formats, the SSL will utilize a 90-minute, relay-based event structure. Matches are scheduled for fixed Saturday and Sunday afternoon timeslots during school holidays to ensure consistent broadcast content regardless of wave conditions. The league aims to provide surfers with weekly wages of approximately $10,000.

High-profile athletes including Olympic bronze medallist Owen Wright, big-wave record-holder Laura Enever, and former world No. 2 Bede Durbidge have already signed on. The competition targets next-generation talent and international surfers rather than those currently on the WSL Championship Tour. Surfing Australia is not involved in this breakaway venture.