ABC makes waves with Ultimate Surfer

Ultimate Surfer Kelly Slater

ABC in the US has picked up a competition series featuring some of the world’s greatest up-and-coming surfers training, living and battling it out together.

Eight-episode series Ultimate Surfer will see the athletes living at the World Surf League (WSL)’s state-of-the-art Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California, which is powered by professional surfer Kelly Slater’s manmade wave technology.

Men and women, who must be aged 21 or over to participate, will compete in individual and team challenges focused on specific surfing disciplines.

Weekly eliminations leave two men and two women as finalists who vie for the male and female titles of Ultimate Surfer and the opportunity to compete on the WSL World Tour, the pinnacle of professional surfing.

ABC said Slater’s “remarkable, one-of-a-kind” manmade wave – the most even playing field for measuring surf mastery – is at the heart of the series.

Production will begin in 2020 and an airdate will be announced in the near future. Slater will serve as on-air talent and special correspondent for the show.

The series comes out of the multiplatform co-development partnership between Lionsgate’s Pilgrim Media Group and WSL Studios, announced earlier this year.

Pilgrim CEO and president Craig Piligian, WSL Studios president of content and media Erik Logan and UFC president Dana White serve as executive producers.

“In addition to being a globally recognised sport, surfing is also a lifestyle and Ultimate Surfer will give viewers a uniquely personal look at what goes into becoming a world-class champion,” said Rob Mills, senior VP, alternative series, specials and late night, ABC Entertainment.