Apple Shares Video on How Pro Surfers Use Apple Watch During Competition - MacRumors

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Apple Shares Video on How Pro Surfers Use Apple Watch During Competition

Tuesday June 23, 2026 9:57 am PDT by Juli Clover<br>Apple today shared a video showing off the Apple Watch in use at the World Surf League Championship Tour, with surfers describing how they use the watch when competing.

Surfers can be hundreds of meters away from the beach during competitions and can't hear announcements over the sound of the water and the wind. The World Surf League has adopted the Apple Watch to solve the problem, linking the device to the scoring system. Surfers can get up-to-date information right on the watch.

"I know what it was like competing without this piece of technology," said professional surfer Lakey Peterson. "There's nothing more frustrating than being in a competitive heat without this piece of technology."

The Apple Watch makes sure surfers know how much time is left in a heat, who has priority, and what the score is. The watch is updated in real time, with surfer Isabella Nichols calling the information "crucial" to the outcome in a competition. Mateus Herdy said the watch vibrates when priority changes, so competitors don't even have to look at the screen.

"The Apple Watch has become part of our equipment," said Nichols. "It's like a surfboard or rashie."

The World Surf League hasn't lost an Apple Watch despite the intense conditions surfers put the device through. Surfers have worn the watch at dangerous surfing spots like Pipeline in Hawaii and Teahupo'o in Tahiti, and it has come out unscathed.

The video appears to be part of a new "Apple at Play" series. Apple previously had a partnership with the World Surf League, and the 2021 and 2022 championship tours were shown on Apple TV in the "Make or Break" docuseries.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11<br>Tag: Apple Ads<br>Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

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Top Rated Comments

Johnny907<br>2 hours ago at 10:08 am

Was this filmed before they all found out their Ultra 1’s were obsolete according to Apple?<br>Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

CarAnalogy<br>2 hours ago at 10:05 am

But does it show them trying to tap things on their version 26 watches and the taps just not doing anything until the second try? That’s what a video of me using my watch would show.

Maybe they’ll fix that in 27. Sure hope those surfers weren’t using a first generation Ultra…<br>Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Jarman74<br>2 hours ago at 10:12 am

Here we go again. Apple is back to showcasing extreme use cases of Apple Watch Ultra, while I’m just here awaiting the Couch Potato video featuring the no-less-challenging World Sofa League.<br>Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Radeon85<br>2 hours ago at 10:37 am

But does it show them trying to tap things on their version 26 watches and the taps just not doing anything until the second try? That’s what a video of me using my watch would show.

Maybe they’ll fix that in 27. Sure hope those surfers weren’t using a first generation Ultra…

It’s fixed in 27 at long last. On my Ultra 3 in all 26 versions, when I received a new notification, if I swiped down, the clear all button would not work some of the...