Samsung & WSL Create 1st Global Virtual Reality Immersive Surf Experience

The ground breaking global partnership between Samsung and World Surf League (formerly the ASP) continues with a virtual reality, content-led activation that aims to put fans in the middle of the action.

‘Get Barrelled In Tahiti – with Samsung Galaxy VR’ features star surfers Gabriel Medina and CJ Hobgood in a 360-degree VR experience.

The objective was to create an immersive, exhilarating surf experiences based on film footage in the legendary surf break barrels at Teahupo’o captured via 360 degree virtual reality created by Samsung, Sydney based Rapid VR, IM360 and agency Cheil Worldwide.

Initially premiered (via Samsung Gear VR headsets) for the pro surfers and spectators during the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portuguese round of the World Surf League’s Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour, the interactive film were subsequently posted to the sponsor and the property’s new Facebook and YouTube 360 video platforms.

(To view the content on Facebook click here.)

The interactive film, renowned surf filmmaker Taylor Steele, encourages viewers to use the mouse to toggle and ensure a fully-immersive surfing experience.

It also comes laired with a ‘Making Of’ online video.

At the Portgueues event-led launch, Samsung also hosted on-site activations in its Samsung Galaxy Studio – where fans were also able to ‘ride the waves’ via a combination of the Samsung Gear VR moving surfboard and to try out several of the brand’s latest mobile products (such as the Galaxy S6 edge + and Gear S2).

Another aspect of Samsung’s on-site VR experience was a chance for the fans at the event live to meet and have their photo taken with World Champion Gabriel Medina and the trophy awarded to the 2015 Moche Rip Curl Pro winner Brazil’s Filipe Toledo.

‘Surfing is one of the most aesthetically beautiful activities on the planet. The barrier to entry for most people is the ocean – the most dynamic and dangerous field in all of sport,’ explains WSL communication VP Dave Prodan.

‘[But] advancements in technology create the opportunity to work with inspired individuals like Taylor Steele to offer a unique and engaging window into this world using the talents of some of the world’s best surfers.’

Susannah DiLallo, executive producer and founder of Rapid VR adds: ‘We’re at the forefront of a new medium with immersive 360 degree filmmaking. We’re excited to share this incredible surfing experience with the world through the power of virtual reality technology.’
The Cheil team on the campaign, which was developed for Samsung marketing manager Daniel Kim and World Surf League marketing VP Christopher Culbertson, included surfing account director SungHo Kim, senior art director Giho Lee, senior copy writer Hyerim Heo and producer Leon Park.

While the unit at Australian production outfit Rapid VR included director Taylor Steele, head of VR Dave Klaiber, executive producer Susannah DiLallo, director of technology Daniel White and line producer Drew Bailey.
The music was composed by Song Zu.

Comment

These kind of immersive activation experiences tilt towards bridging the arenas of sports, entertainment and technology.

And whilst it may be early days for VR, the signs are positive.

Indeed, thus far, in its first few weeks, this thrilling Samsung Surfing film has racked up 1,308,896 YouTube views.

It builds on Samsung’s debut surf sponsorship activity led by the brilliant, Cannes Lions award winning ‘Every Day Is Day One’ campaign (see case study on page 29 of our ‘Cannes 4 Fans’ briefing report).

Samsung first signed up as the first global sponsor of the World Surf League (then called the ASP) in February 2014 and extended this to a multi-year deal in 2015 claiming it is ‘committed to honour the athleticism, adventure and unique culture of this passionate sport by providing exclusive experiences to all surfing community and enthusiasts’.

The sponsor rolled out a follow-up ‘Thank You – We Is Greater Than I’ surf-led film to celebrate its new deal in 2015.

This partnership, a first for the WSL, looks set to be one of the more innovative global sports sponsorships around.

‘The World Surf League is so excited to have Samsung as its global Championship Tour partner. Together, we’ve been able to develop innovative ways to introduce new fans to professional surfing and bring our current fans closer to our athletes and the competition. We’re honoured to partner with Samsung to produce the first ever live VR surfing experience,’ commented WSL marketing VP Chris Culbertson.

‘We believe this is the future of entertainment,’ argues Samsung Portugal business director Frederico Paiva.

‘This is the second time in just two months that Samsung Portugal promoted a multi-camera virtual reality live broadcast. First, we broadcasted the strongest football game in Portugal, the game between F.C.Porto and S.L.Benfica and now we brought surf fans – regardless of where they live – onto the beach to experience the Moche Rip Curl Pro.’

(For full details see http://global.samsungtomorrow.com/a-totally-new-way-to-look-at-sports-with-samsung-gear-vr/).

Links

Samsung/WSL Facebook 360 VR Experience On Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/WSL/videos/10153248105847058

Samsung/WSL Facebook 360 VR Experience On YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gjR60TSn8Q

ASP / WSL Website:

http://www.worldsurfleague.com/

ASP / WSL YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/ASPWorldTour

ASP / WSL Twitter:

https://twitter.com/wsl

ASP / WSL Instagram: