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he World Surf League (WSL) has announced an extension of its broadcast partnership with the Seven Network through 2021.

As part of the deal, Seven will continue to broadcast WSL live contests and highlights shows across their free-to-air TV network and online streaming platform, 7plus, starting with the December opening events of the WSL Championship Tour in Hawaii.

WSL Asia Pacific general manager, Andrew Stark, said surfing will be shown in more Australian homes then ever before across 2021.

“We’re really excited to continue our partnership with Seven in 2021,” Stark said.

“After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of our tours in 2020 we can’t wait to see the new look Championship Tour, Challenger Series, along with our other tours and content offerings, not to mention the Olympics, bring surfing to more Aussie homes than ever before in 2021 across the Seven Network and 7plus,” he said.

Seven managing director for Melbourne and head of network sport, Lewis Martin, said all stops of the WSL Championship Tour, along with the Challenger Series, Big Wave at Large and Longboard Tour will be broadcast on Seven.

“There’s no cooler or more captivating sport than surfing so we’re rapt to continue our partnership with the World Surf League,” Martin said.

“Over the next year, we can’t wait to bring fans the world’s very best surfers competing in the world’s most prestigious events, all of it live and free on Seven and 7plus,” he said.

The coverage will start on December 4 when the WSL Championship Tour returns from a 10-month suspension with the women’s Maui Pro, followed closely by the Billabong Pipe Masters on December 8.