A new global surf racing competition – Guardians League – is bringing together elite athletes from lifesaving, athletics, kayaking and swimming to compete in a high-performance, team-based format on iconic beaches around the world.
The six-team franchise-based competition will debut in Australia and New Zealand in 2027, with plans for international expansion in subsequent seasons.
Guardians League is working with both the International Life Saving Federation (ILSF) and Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), providing strong alignment with the governing bodies of lifesaving. A Memorandum of Understanding has been agreed with SLSA that recognises the exciting potential of the league to help grow surf racing. From a global perspective, the launch of the new venture will, undoubtedly, strengthen the case for the sport on the international stage.
The league is further supported by three of Australia’s most prominent national sports organisations. Guardians League has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with each of Australian Athletics and Paddle Australia. With the league creating new competition opportunities for Australian athletes in both sports, these valuable partnerships will explore a range of collaborative opportunities in the lead up to the inaugural season. Swimming Australia has also confirmed their support for the new venture.
Speaking at the media launch at Bondi Beach, Australia (below) International Life Saving Federation President, Graham Ford AO, said Guardians League is an exciting evolution for lifesaving sport and one that would showcase the skill, courage and versatility of lifesaving athletes through a world-class sports entertainment format.
“The International Life Saving Federation is proud to endorse this initiative, which will elevate the visibility of lifesaving, inspire new participants, and strengthen the global case for our sport on the international stage,” Ford said.
Surf Life Saving Australia Chief Executive Officer, Adam Weir, echoed Mr Ford’s sentiment.
“Guardians League represents a powerful opportunity to elevate surf lifesaving sport and showcase the incredible skill and athleticism of our athletes to new audiences,” Weir said.
“We’re proud to support a league that not only celebrates the sport at the elite level, but also drives participation, strengthens pathways and connects more people to surf lifesaving communities across Australia,” he said.
Excitement is already building around Guardians League with discussions underway with Fox Sports for distribution in Australia and with DAZN, the world’s leading sports entertainment platform, for global streaming.
The global reach of the league’s media partners will introduce new audiences to the thrills of surf racing, while showcasing the spectacular coastlines of host cities.
The league’s broadcast production will set a new benchmark for the sports, featuring innovative camera positions, immersive in-water filming, and cutting-edge graphics.
Additional broadcast partners will be confirmed in due course.
The new commercial platform for surf racing Guardians League introduces a fast-paced, team-based format built for broadcast and fan engagement. Each franchise will feature eight athletes – four women and four men competing together in multi-discipline team racing through innovative relay formats.
The inaugural four-event season in 2027 will take place across Australia and New Zealand, with several cities already in discussions to host events and secure a franchise.
With internationally recognised athletes, city-based rivalries, and a high-impact racing format, Guardians League will become appointment viewing over the summer.
Adrian Tobin, Managing Director and Co-founder, Guardians League
“Guardians League has been built as a global sports property from day one. By bringing together multiple high-participation sports into a single, team-based format, we see a clear opportunity to grow surf racing in existing markets and take it to new audiences globally. We are in a truly unique position launching this venture in collaboration with so many important organisations withing the global and Australian sports industry.”
Andrew Ryan, Co-founder, Guardians League
“Guardians League represents a spectacular new approach to surf racing, one that works commercially, is tailor-made for broadcast, and creates a platform to see some of the world’s best athletes from multiple major sports in action. It will be exciting to see what the Guardians League team can deliver in collaboration with commercial, host city and investment partners.”
A scalable global sports property
Built as a scalable international property, Guardians League is poised to expand into key global markets including North America and Europe. The league draws on sports with massive global participation bases across running, swimming, kayaking and lifesaving, positioning it for strong growth and commercial appeal.
With foundational elements in place, commercial discussions with host cities, sponsors and strategic partners are progressing ahead of the inaugural season. The franchise model will initially operate under central ownership, with a long-term plan to introduce external investment and team ownership opportunities.
Celebrations of coastal lifestyle
Each Guardians League event will be delivered as a three-day coastal sports festival, featuring a packed lineup of mass participation events to complement the elite racing. These experiences will emphasise fun, fitness and inclusion, and give fans the opportunity experience what it’s like to be a Guardian.
Once the elite racing begins, spectators will pack purpose-built on-sand grandstands, while premium hospitality experiences will extend onto the water. As the sun drops, live entertainment will come to life in the Guardians League village, delivering a full-day coastal experience.
Backed by global sports and media expertise
Guardians League is the brainchild of experienced global sports executives Adrian Tobin andAndrew Ryan, who combined their expertise across elite sport, broadcast, and internationalcommercial strategy to conceive the sporting and commercial concepts behind the league.
Tobin, Managing Director of Guardians League, is a former professional surf racer andmultiple-time Australian Champion, who has spent the past decade advising leading sportsand lifestyle organisations globally. Ryan’s investment in the venture is supported by hisconsiderable global sports and entertainment experience from an enviable collection of toptier rightsholders and media organisations. He has spent the last twenty years based in theUnited Kingdom and Switzerland.
In a coup for Guardians League, highly regarded sports administrator Jenny Mann has joined, bringing her extensive experience across government engagement, event delivery and communications. Mann was Chief Executive Officer of the highly successful Adelaide 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships, a post which followed senior roles at the South Australian Tourism Commission and International Olympic Committee.
Agency Upfront Sports Partners have also been brought on board to support commercial sponsorship development, host city negotiations and investor engagements. Commercial engagement now underway
Guardians League is currently engaging with:
Host cities seeking to stage events and align with a new global sports property
- Commercial partners looking to access a high-growth sports and entertainment
- platform
- Strategic partners and investors interested in supporting the league’s international
- expansion
Further announcements regarding host cities, broadcast partnerships and commercial partners will be made in due course.