The World Surf League (WSL) has announced a three-year partnership with Rip Curl set to become the title sponsor of the new one-day competition, Rip Curl WSL Finals.

The Rip Curl WSL Finals will take place in San Clemente, California at Lower Trestles, and will see the top five men and top five women on the CT rankings compete for a one-day event that will crown the men’s and women’s World Surfing Champions.

WSL chief revenue officer, Cherie Cohen, said Rip Curl is an ideal partner for the new event.

“We are thrilled to announce the Rip Curl WSL Finals,” Cohen said.

“Throughout a long tenure as core promoter of professional surfing, Rip Curl has consistently delivered innovation and kept its edge.

“It makes sense that we would partner to make history and launch the new format to crown a men’s and women’s World Champion.

“We look forward to building a successful franchise together over the next three years,” she said.

Rip Curl chief brand and marketing officer, Neil Ridgway, said the launch of the new format is exciting for “anyone with a pro surfing dream”.

“Torquay, Trestles, Hossegor, these are our home beaches so it makes perfect sense to come on board with the WSL Finals and its new format at Lowers in 2021,” Ridgway said.

“Rip Curl has been supporting pro surfer in the race for world surfing titles for decades and we have won either a women’s or men’s crown with our pro team 11 of the last 13 years so when the new format came out we wanted to get behind WSL in its first three years of the new system.

“Hopefully, it shows to anyone with a pro surfing dream that from the juniors to the upper-echelon it’s a great part of surfing and that it provides all of the drama the last event of the tour race is known for.

“We wish all the women and men the very best in the race.

“Who knows, it could be in the Mentawai next year and if nothing else the sponsorship means we get to go,” he said.

Rip Curl’s partnership with the WSL Finals comes after Rip Curl recently became the title partner of the upcoming CT events for the Australian legs in Newcastle, North Narrabeen, and Rottnest Island.