The World Surf League sees the best male and female surfers from around the globe compete to become World Champion, and with such a strong international field, this year’s competition promises to be must see TV.
Both the men’s and women’s Championship Tours consist of the top 22 surfers from the previous season, along with the top ten Qualifying Series Rankings, and two wildcards. With so much talent on display it makes for compelling viewing, and you can catch all the action when streaming the WSL live to a mobile device.
2020 World Surf League TV Preview
This year represents just the sixth season since the former ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) changed its name to the WSL. 2020 will see champions Brazilian Italo Ferreira and Hawaii’s Carissa Moore defending their titles in a year that the sport enters the Olympics for the very first time. Ferriera edged past compatriot Gabrielle Medina at Pipeline, the final event on the World Surf League calendar, to claim his first title last year. On the women’s side, Hawaiian sensation Carissa Moore put together a truly consistent season to claim her fourth championship, overcoming America’s Caroline Marks and Australian Steph Gilmore.
When: March – December 2020
Where: See location listing below
Heading into 2020, Medina is the favourite to regain his title, but he has plenty of competition nipping at his heels. Perhaps most notable among them is John John Florence, who, after winning in both 2016 and 2017 had an injury-riddled campaigns the past two seasons. Medina’s countryman Filipe Toledo, at 23-years-old, appears primed to win his first career title and will be a major threat, as will Wilson and Champion Italo Ferreira. For the women, it’s Gilmore who looks the most likely – at 31 years of age, she’s shown no signs of slowing down – while countrywoman Tyler Wright will also bear the hopes of the nation. Those two aside, the most probable competitors include American trio Carissa Moore, Lakey Peterson and Courtney Conlogue, while 18-year-old prodigy Caroline Marks will also look to make her presence on tour felt, and you won’t have to miss a key moment when mobile streaming the WSL should you have to be out and about.
2020 Corona Open Gold Coast Live TV (Sydney time)
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Thursday 26 March – Sunday 5 April | LIVE: 7.00am – 3.00pm daily |
All events shown as Sydney time and will air exclusively on Fox Sports (Foxtel/Kayo). Adjust for regional differences. Please note session times are subject to surf conditions.
Watch or Stream the WSL Live
There is no WSL Free to Air TV provider currently available in Australia, but the Fox Sports channel (Foxtel/Kayo) will provide exclusive Live coverage as both the men and the women compete at the world’s most challenging surfing destinations. So if you’re a resident of Australia you may wish to review Foxtel Now which offers surfing fans an opportunity to watch the World Surf League live online with compatible internet connected devices.
Alternatively, Kayo Sports have a 14 day trial offering which offers the exact same live sport coverage as Foxtel. With the Kayo trial you can stream the WSL free using a variety of devices and browsers, including – select PC and Macs, iOS and Android phones and tablets, Apple and Telstra TV, Google Chromecast, as well as Safari, Firefox, Chrome and Microsoft Edge, with new apps and platforms soon to be added, so you never miss a key moment of the wide range of sport in the Kayo TV guide.
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How to Stream the WSL in Australia
Not everyone currently has, or wants to take on the cost of a Foxtel or Telstra pay TV subscription. So with this consideration in mind, what other choices do you have when it comes to streaming the World Surf League, and how can you maximise their use? Let’s look at some of the best streaming options available on the Aussie market.
Stream the WSL with Apple TV
Arguably the gold-standard of the lower-profile streaming device for years now, the Apple TV is popular because it delivers. This tiny box is now in its fifth generation, and has recently added 4K and HDR streaming. You can also download apps just like you would on your phone. And that means almost every major player is supported, including the Kayo Sports streaming service and Foxtel Now.
Stream the WSL with Google Chromecast
This amazing little device now comes in two options for streaming video, both with an HDMI connection linking them to your TV. You can choose from the standard or the Ultra Chromecast version – the difference is that the Ultra handles 4K video, which is becoming increasingly available in Australia thanks to Foxtel. Once plugged in and connected to your home Wi-Fi network, the device can be reached by a vast range of apps to stream video, including Kayo Sports and Foxtel Now. While it’s not as seamless as using a dedicated device – it’s still extremely versatile.
Stream the WSL with the Foxtel Now Box
Another increasingly popular streaming device option would be the Foxtel Now Box. Launched over a year ago, it delivers the easiest way to stream Foxtel Now, as well as YouTube and Stan, directly to your TV. There’s no installation required so you can immediately start streaming the WSL and other sport on your TV. Simply plug it in and start watching, fuss-free. Of course, you’ll need to subscribe to Foxtel Now’s Sports pack, which offers access to twelve channels including Fox Sports, Fox League, Fox Footy, ESPN, beIN Sports and all the live action available each and every week.
Stream the WSL with Telstra TV
One of the most popular devices in Australia and perhaps the easiest to use, the Telstra TV (made by global streaming leader Roku) is now in its third generation, and features support for live TV channels that are integrated seamlessly with all the key services. The Telstra TV supports every streaming app you could ever need, from Netflix and Stan to Kayo Sports and Foxtel Now, and it’s fully ready for 4K televisions, making it ideal for the stunning on screen action found in the WSL. You can obtain the Telstra TV outright, or add it to your existing Telstra account for a small monthly payment.
Stream the WSL with Amazon Fire TV Stick
Designed to be sleek, simple to use and inconspicuous, Amazon’s popular Fire TV Stick is a tiny device that plugs directly into a spare HDMI port – but still comes with a proper remote control that you can use to navigate its user-friendly interface. The perfect way to stream Amazon Prime Video – as well as all the other popular services including Netflix, Stan and YouTube – the Fire TV Stick packs a lot of power into a tiny device that stays out of sight, including the ability to download and play video games.
2019 World Surf League Fixtures
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Men) and Boost Mobile Pro Gold Coast (Women) | 3-13 April | Australia |
| Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach | 17-27 April | Australia |
| Corona Bali Protected | 13-25 May | Indonesia |
| Margaret River Pro | 29 May-9 June | Australia |
| Oi Rio Pro | 20-28 June | Brazil |
| Corona J-Bay Open | 9-22 July | South Africa |
| Tahiti Pro Teahupoo (Men Only) | 21 August-1 September | Tahiti |
| Surf Ranch Pro | 19-22 September | USA |
| Quiksilver/Roxy Pro France | 3-13 October | France |
| MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal | 16-28 October | Portugal |
| Hawaii Pro (Women Only) | 25 November-6 December | Hawaii |
| Billabong Pipe Masters (Men Only) | 8-20 December | Hawaii |
Best of all, no matter where it’s being staged Kayo Sports and Foxtel Now offer the option to stream each and every session of the 2019 WSL live to an eligible device for qualified Australian users. Due to broadcasting agreement there is no World Surf League free to air provider in Australia. *Requires internet and compatible device. Data charges apply. HD availability subject to your Internet service and device capabilities.
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