Rip Curl Virtual Pro reaches record heights

TORQUAY-based surf brand Rip Curl has achieved record-breaking results in its second world virtual surfing competition.

More than 1,300 surfers from across the globe participated in the Virtual Pro surfing competition last month, with one lucky entrant scoring a trip of a lifetime to Margaret River for his efforts.

Competitors from 34 countries logged 24,711 waves during the five-day surfing period on their Rip Curl Search GPS Surf Watch and Search GPS app.

Participants were scored in real-time on wavelength, wave speed and the number of waves surfed.

Casey C. from South Africa was adjudged the ultimate winner, scoring several surf sessions at world renown Jeffreys Bay.

He and his family will be jet-setting to have the ultimate surf trip in Margaret River in Western Australia.

“I actually didn’t think I surfed enough to win the contest,” he said.

“My son was on me because he was surfing five hours every day telling me I was slacking… but he doesn’t have the watch to track his sessions!”

Rip Curl head of marketing James Taylor said he was excited to see how the contest would continue to evolve.

“This year’s results have set a high bar, bringing even more surfers together and inspiring new levels of performance.

“We can’t wait to see what’s next.”

Since Rip Curl’s GPS technology launched in 2014, more than 50,000 surfers have been tracked across 76 countries, recording 25 million waves surfed at 2,400 beaches.

For further information on Rip Curl’s Virtual Pro and the data, head to ripcurl.com/au/explore/events/rip-curl-virtual-pro.html