The social media age began in the early 2000s, but its popularity skyrocketed as new technologies were developed. Sports fans no longer have to leave the comfort of their couches to indulge in their passion thanks to simulators like F1 23, FIFA 23, and dozens of others. But have you ever considered what may happen if the virtual and physical worlds collide? Rip Curl has taken this concept and run with it, announcing a big surfing championship that will be held entirely online but will include real-world maneuvers.

Rip Curl has launched their largest surfing competition to date on their official YouTube channel. The surfing sportswear company claims that viewers were in the dark about the competition, but thanks to their innovative technology, some users have already won some very valuable prizes.

A whole new experience for surfing enthusiasts

Rip Curl claims that their Rip Curl Virtual Pro is the largest virtual surfing tournament in the world. They state that many surfers have joined this semi-virtual league despite being unaware of it. If you were wearing your Rip Curl Pro smartwatch between April 4, 2023, and April 14, 2023, you may have already signed up for this exciting contest. Those tracking their surfs in those ten days using their smartwatch, had their data recorded and evaluated by a computer program. They found that 1671 surfers from 6 continents were entered into the virtual competition in a total of 5042 sessions on an estimated 43388 waves.

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In order to calculate a final score, the algorithm considered the following variables: total distance paddled, total time surfing, total waves surfed, maximum speed, longest waves, and the total number of surfs. A wave’s length and speed were used as the primary measures for scoring. Extra points were given for riding waves in an unexplored spot. The prize for this competition is a much coveted free vacation for the winner and four of their friends to go surfing on Namotu Island in Fiji.

A possible virtual future of the sport?

Due to the open nature of the events, this Rip Curl initiative may be considered at least somewhat virtual. But there are still others who haven’t tried surfing due to barriers like day-to-day chores, and a lack of suitable surf spots. The release of Grand Theft Auto VI, the next game from Rockstar Games, might mark the debut of this fully immersive virtual surfing experience. Since Grand Theft Auto V’s online edition, launched in 2013, included a plethora of real-world sports, GTA VI has been one of the most anticipated titles.

As real-world water physics is being integrated by the creators, new leaks that have inundated every social media site indicate that the game will include surfing. In addition to providing surfers with a more realistic simulation of water, this would also add a new dimension to the genre. While Rockstar Games has yet to comment on the leaks, GTA fans are certain that Vice City, the game’s fictitious take on Miami, Florida, will be the world map for Grand Theft Auto VI. The introduction of surfing to GTA VI’s online mode will also have the potential to pave the way for a new genre of eSports.

It is evident that many exciting developments are on the horizon for the sport of surfing, and the new idea of surf competition has highlighted some of these possibilities.

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