New Australian Surf League Set to Launch in 2028

A new competitive surfing league, the Surfing Super League (SSL), is set to debut in Australia in the summer of 2028. This league aims to provide a fresh opportunity for local professional surfers, featuring a team-based format.

The SSL will consist of eight teams, each comprising six players, including four men and two women. The league will include a mix of elite Australian surfers, international stars, and freesurfers, with each athlete earning a salary of $89,000 for the season. The competition will unfold over eight weekends on the East Coast of Australia.

The format promises high-energy action, with teams rotating surfers during two 40-minute halves. At the end of each half, one surfer will have a chance for a second run on a scoring wave. The league's founder, Chris Mater, emphasized the goal of allowing Australian surfers to build careers domestically while ensuring equal pay for all participants. The inaugural player draft is scheduled for April to July 2027.