Move over Survivor Island and Bachelor Mansion, Lemoore is about to take reality TV center stage. That mesmerizing, roping peat-moss green wonder known as Kelly’s Wave will become home to a new type of competition. While the WSL Top 34 will return each September for their CT event, a new, select crew of up-and-coming surfers will soon compete against each other with camera crews at the ready.

The new ABC series dubbed “Ultimate Surfer” will begin production in 2020 with an airdate announcement coming later this season. Kelly himself will serve as on-air talent and special correspondent for the show.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity for two surfers (one man, one woman) to win an opportunity to compete against the best surfers in the world on the WSL Tour,” said Slater, who will be the lead consultant for the series. “This will put some of the best up-and-comers against each other in a more direct way to see who stands above the rest, and Surf Ranch is obviously a great venue to use for ‘Ultimate Surfer.’ I’m excited to watch how they step up to the challenge.”

The show will be done by Pilgrim Media Group, the same company that does “American Chopper” and “Ghost Hunters.” The WSL said the format for the TV show will be centered around competitive drama.

“Weekly eliminations will leave two men and two women as finalists who will vie for the male and female titles of the Ultimate Surfer and the opportunity to compete on the WSL World Tour,” the WSL said in a statement. “Slater’s remarkable, one-of-a-kind, man-made wave – the most even playing field for measuring surf mastery – is at the heart of the series.” 

While surf fans might be suffering Freshwater Pro fatigue, the reality TV set might just be the shot-in-the-arm the pool needs to attract and expand on its viewing audience. The wave at Kelly’s, while perfect and incredibly fun to ride, is not the best setting for the world’s best surfers who thrive in the randomness of ocean competition. By shifting the competitive setting to a new crop that will focus solely on one thing, Kelly’s wave, the pool in Lemoore might become the hottest setting in reality TV.

“We’re ecstatic about the opportunity to utilize Kelly’s world-class surf facility and his expertise in showcasing these incredibly talented on-the-rise athletes,” said Rob Mills of ABC Entertainment.

Surfers interested in being a contestant on the show can apply at www.UltimateSurferCasting.com