RIVALS RETURNS FOR SEASON III WITH THE CHALLENGERS

CASUARINA/NSW(Wednesday, March 23rd/2022): RIVALS returns this July with eight of the brightest Aussie surfing stars signed on for Season Three. With an eight-week competition window that opened on March 1st, the level of surfing is set to sky-rocket as the athletes push themselves in pumping conditions. Epic tube rides, huge airs and sizzling turns will be the flavour for this latest instalment. 

The group from different parts of Australia will compete against each other with the catch being they fly solo during their heat, on their favourite wave for three hours, when the surf is absolutely pumping. Each competitor features in their own half-hour episode has the freedom to pick the location, day and time to surf within a two-month window from the 1st March to April 30th, 2022. An expert world-standard judging panel will then adjudicate on each surfer’s session. 

The show’s format has been tweaked for better all-round results in 2022 with contestants to have longer in the water at a location within sixty kilometres of their designated area, something Southern Gold Coaster Sheldon Simkus couldn’t be more amped about. 

“I love looking at forecasts. It’s seriously super exciting. Tracking a good day of waves and scoring is my absolute favourite. It feels unreal. Getting a two-month window for the Rivals event coming up to chase waves in a sixty-kilometre radius of home is quite daunting. Haha.

I’ve been watching the charts pre-event window and I’m already nervous but super excited as well. This concept is so unique and I can’t wait to pick a good day of waves and hopefully get some nice tubes in this format. Going to be really cool to see what the other boys put together from their home breaks!”

Surfline Australia comes on board for RIVALS Season III as the official forecaster and will give all athletes an in-depth synopsis on specific locations before they call their heat on. 

Surfers, Regions & Waves

Athlete                                                             Area     

1.     Jordie Lawler                                        NSW – North Narrabeen

2.     Kalani Ball                                             NSW – Wollongong

3.     Wade Carmichael                                  NSW – Avoca

4.     Soli Bailey                                             NSW – Byron Bay

5.     Matt Banting                                         NSW – Port Macquarie

6.     Sheldon Simkus                                     QLD – Snapper Rocks

7.     Reef Heazlewood                                    QLD – Sunshine Coast

8.     Jacob Willcox                                         WA – Margaret River

Broadcast Schedule on Channel 9 (re-aired on 9 Go on Sunday):

·       Ep. 1 July 30 12:30 pm 

·       Ep. 2 Aug 6 12:30 pm

·       Ep. 3 Aug 13 12:30 pm

·       Ep. 4 Aug 20 12:30 pm

·       Ep. 5 Aug 27 12:30 pm 

·       Ep. 6 Sep 2 12:30 pm 

·       Ep. 7 Sep 10 12:30 pm 

·       Ep. 8 Sep 17 12:30 pm 

·       Ep. 9 Sep 24 12:30 pm 

·       Ep. 10 Oct 1 12:30 FINAL

MEDIA REQUESTS/MEDIA CONTACT:​

Blainey Woodham, Surfing Australia, M. 0407197388
blainey@surfingaustralia.com