The series parallels the story behind the Billabong and Quiksilver surf labels, in which Australian surfers in the 1970s turned their personal rivalries into professional rivalries as they built competing surfwear companies. The series was created by Michael Lawrence, John Molloy and Liz Doran, who also produced it alongside Justin Davies. It was announced in June 2019 after a development deal was secured with ABC and the first season was greenlit in April 2021.