The surf show on Apple TV+ is Make or Break, a docuseries that follows World Surf League pros through the Championship Tour.
If you’ve heard friends rave about a high-stakes surfing series on Apple TV+, they’re talking about Make or Break. It tracks elite athletes across the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour—pressure, travel, heats, wipeouts, and those rare rides that change careers. Below you’ll find a tight overview of what the show is, who’s in it, how it’s structured, where it shines, and how to start watching without wasting time.
What’s The Surfing Series On Apple TV+ Called?
It’s Make or Break—a behind-the-scenes sports docuseries from Box to Box Films, the storytellers known for turning real seasons into bingeable arcs. Across two seasons, cameras follow the full tour pack: champions, rookies, and wildcards. You see how scoring works, what travel days feel like, and how a single wave can swing rankings.
Fast Facts Before You Hit Play
| Item | Details | Why It Helps Viewers |
|---|---|---|
| Series Name | Make or Break (Apple TV+) | Confirms you’re on the right show |
| Premiere Window | Season 1 in 2022; Season 2 in 2023 | Sets expectations on available episodes |
| Focus | World Surf League Championship Tour | Explains the competitive backdrop |
| Style | Docuseries with event-to-event threads | Marries contest action with off-tour life |
| Production | Box to Box Films in partnership with WSL | Proven team behind modern sports docs |
| Where To Watch | Apple TV+ streaming | One subscription hub for both seasons |
| Episode Feel | Compact runtimes; city-to-reef travel beats | Easy to queue for a weeknight session |
What The Show Actually Covers
The cameras move with the tour. One week it’s a reef pass with heavy barrels; next stop it’s a long right with room for carves and combos. Each stop changes the skill mix that scores. That shifting canvas keeps the story fresh and gives context to heat drama—who thrives in thick tubes, who stacks points with speed and flow, who handles pressure when the horn sounds.
How Scoring Shapes Every Episode
Heats are won on two waves. Judges score each ride on a 0–10 scale, weighing commitment, degree of difficulty, progression, variety, and flow. You’ll watch athletes hunt priority, pick lines, and link maneuvers that fit the day’s conditions. When the booth flashes numbers, you can usually tell why—risk and execution match the score.
Why The Story Hooks Non-Surfers Too
You don’t need to paddle out to care. The series builds personal stakes: injuries, equipment calls, travel fatigue, confidence swings, and team conversations before a must-make heat. Family faces show up at beach fences. A small board change or a timing tweak can flip a run of losses into a late-season surge.
Seasons, Release Window, And Status
Two seasons are available to stream right now. Season 1 rolled out in 2022 with a tour-wide snapshot of rivalries and style clashes. Season 2 arrived in 2023 and pushed deeper into the athlete set—each episode focusing on a location, a cluster of surfers, or a theme like momentum or recovery. Trade outlets later reported the series wrapped after those two seasons, so you can watch the complete set without waiting for new drops. (Official Apple TV+ season details live on the Make or Break show page.)
Who You’ll See On Screen
The cast rotates with the tour cut and event invites, but you’ll recognize world champs, top seeds, breakout rookies, and veteran coaches. The show balances title contenders with athletes grinding for requalification. That mix gives each stop a layered plot—chasing a trophy at the top, chasing points at the bubble.
Production Team And Approach
The series comes from Box to Box Films with executive producers James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin. Their approach blends event coverage with access that captures small moments—waxing boards in a cramped rental, a weather window that favors forehand or backhand specialists, a last-minute fin swap, a coach’s blunt heat plan. Camera crews stick close on walk-downs, then pull back for drone lines that map out the reef and takeoff zone.
Episode Rhythm That Keeps You Watching
- Warm-Up Beats: A quick reset on rankings and the wave’s personality.
- Setup: Short athlete threads—recent form, nagging injuries, fresh boards.
- Heats: Priority swings, section choices, and scores that move the cutline.
- Aftermath: Decompression in the yard or a quick reset for the next stop.
How The World Surf League Tour Works (Show Context)
The tour runs across a series of events that test different skills—from rail surfing at long points to slabby barrels over shallow reef. Each stop awards points; the leaderboard shifts with every heat. The judging scale rewards risk matched to the day. That’s why a 7.5 at a clean point break might demand entirely different surfing than a 7.5 in a heavy tube day. If you’re new to this scoring lens, the show’s booth snippets and slow-mos help you spot how a committed takeoff or a critical section link bumps a ride into the excellent range.
What New Viewers Should Watch For
- Priority Tactics: Who owns the next wave and how they use it.
- Wave Selection: Bigger or cleaner lines aren’t always best if they shut down.
- Fin And Board Picks: Subtle choices affect drive, release, and hold.
- Section Management: Where a surfer places the biggest move in the pocket.
- Heat IQ: Time math, ocean read, and risk tolerance near the buzzer.
Standout Arcs Across The Two Seasons
Different locations set different tones. A shallow reef with a fierce inside section turns an episode into a barrel clinic. A long, running wall shows who links combinations—bottom turn, carve, rebound, then a fin-free release to finish. Weather adds suspense: a wind switch can open the face or turn it into a fight for one clean section. The show leans into those swings without losing the human thread that keeps you attached to each surfer’s year.
Editing That Serves The Sport
Cutting between post-heat interviews and paddle-outs gives just enough narrative without drowning the surfing itself. Scores arrive with context; you see the maneuvers that moved the needle. The balance makes episodes rewatchable—once for drama, again for lines and technique.
Why Make Or Break Works For Different Audiences
If You’re A Newcomer
You get clear stakes, fast. The format is simple—two scoring waves, best total wins. Each episode explains the wave’s character and shows why certain boards or stances thrive. You’ll pick up terms like priority, section, and end-section finish within a night.
If You Surf
You’ll notice small choices—paddle lines to the peak, subtle footwork on a late drop, rail placement before a closeout hit. There’s enough slow-mo to study technique without bogging down the pace.
If You Just Want A Good Sports Story
Travel stress, narrow margins, rising competitors—this is road-season storytelling with ocean stakes. Losses sting, wins feel earned, and every stop offers a fresh canvas for comebacks.
How To Watch And What To Queue First
All episodes stream on Apple TV+. If you want a quick taste, start at a location known for consequence—big waves, shallow reef, or shifting peaks—then backtrack to a points-driven stop to see the style contrast. Apple’s official hub lays out episodes in order, with thumbnails that preview conditions; use that grid to pick a wave type you enjoy, then settle in. (Find the official page here: Make or Break on Apple TV+.)
Season-By-Season Snapshot
Here’s a broad, spoiler-light view of both seasons—enough to guide your first picks without stepping on key reveals:
| Season | Year(s) | Core Storylines |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 2022 | Introduces the tour pack, maps wave types, and sets early rivalries with tight finish margins. |
| Season 2 | 2023 | Digs into form swings, injuries, board tweaks, and pressure beats near cuts and finals. |
Where The Series Stands Today
As it stands, two full seasons form a complete watch. That means you can finish the entire run across a few nights and come away with a clear sense of the tour’s rhythm, judging language, and the athletes who shaped those years. If you want more context on the tour’s broader changes in recent seasons—venues, formats, and finals sites—mainstream outlets have covered updates to schedules and event rotations. Apple’s press room keeps an archive of release notes and trailers for Make or Break, handy if you want official reference points while you watch.
What Makes It A Strong Sports Watch
Access You Can Feel
Locker-room energy shows up on beaches, in rental houses, and on pathway walk-downs. Candid moments land because crews are present for the quiet beats before heats and the immediate reactions after the horn.
Action That Reads On Screen
Good camera angles reveal the pocket and the power zone. When a surfer commits to a steep section, you see the drop, the rail set, and the release. Clean coverage helps you connect judge numbers to what just happened.
Sound And Pace
Score stings and wave roars carry the scenes. Music cues lift tension during timeouts and during last rides. Episodes keep a steady clip—enough beach talk to understand plans, then back to the lineup.
Tips For Getting More Out Of Each Episode
- Pick A Favorite And A Dark Horse: It adds stakes to early rounds and keeps smaller storylines exciting.
- Watch The Sets, Not Just The Surfers: You’ll see who reads shifts and who sits too deep or too wide.
- Listen For Board Notes: Dimensions and fin calls often hint at how a surfer plans to score.
- Rewatch The Excellent Scores: You’ll spot why a section link or a late hit lifted the number.
Is It Kid-Friendly?
Intensity and language pop up, especially around tight heats and injuries. If you’re cueing it for a family night, scan the rating badge on the episode tile and pick stops with cleaner conditions and less heavy water.
If You Crave Extra Context While Watching
Want official background on the series and season drop info? Apple’s newsroom posts include trailers, art, and episode notes tied to release days. A quick mid-episode check can help you line up the next watch in the same sitting. You’ll find those materials on the Apple TV+ press site; the hub for this series lists season pages, trailers, and image sets that match what you see on screen. (See Apple’s press page entry for the show here: Apple TV+ Press: Make or Break.)
Bottom Line For New Viewers
If you want a sports series that blends elite performance with real travel grit, this one fits the bill. Two seasons stream in one place. The surfing reads clearly even if you’re new, and the personal threads make each stop feel earned. Start with a heavy-water location to feel the stakes, then jump to a point break to see style at full length. By the time you finish, you’ll speak the scoring language and know which surfers you want to follow season after season—across the lineup, not just the highlight reel.