Australian Open of Surfing Tour: Northern beaches to host final event in new surf series
The northern beaches will host the final event of a new surf series, with Cronulla also hosting an earlier event.
Manly
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The northern beaches will play host to the final event of a New Australian annual surf series that will attract both professionals, amateurs and new talent.
Organisers say they will decide nearer the time exactly where the event will be held on the peninsula, depending on where the best waves are at the time.
But, the top three choices are Manly, Curl Curl or Narrabeen.
The new Australian Open of Surfing Tour, which was unveiled today, will offer domestic surfers a chance to compete during the pandemic.
It comes as all international surfing events have been cancelled until at least the end of the year.
The new tour is expected to attract professionals as well as amateurs, with 2019 Vissla Sydney Surf Pro Champion Jordy Lawler of Narrabeen already signed up.
“I think there’s a lot of surfers like me who have really missed the opportunity to compete since everything unfolded with the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“It’s awesome to hear that there will be seven events that will give people like me the chance to win some prize money and get back into the spirit of competing.”
The inaugural event will start on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, on September 19 and 20, before heading to the Gold Coast on October 31 to November 1; Cronulla, November 8 and 9; Victoria, date and location still to be decided, Kiama, November 22 and 23; Coffs Harbour, November 29 and 30 and finally the northern beaches on December 13 and 14.
Surfing NSW CEO Luke Madden said the domestic tour is tailored to help foster Australian talent.
“The 2020 Australian Open of Surfing Tour is the perfect platform for professional and grassroots surfers to come together in Australia to compete in a series of events in different locations,” he said.
“We really hope we can grow this series into a prestigious title and tour similar to the national series events we used to see in the 80s and 90s.”
Glenn Hall, former World Surf League Championship Tour and current coach to World Champion Tyler Wright, said it will help keep their competitive skills intact.
“I would encourage any surfers I’m working with to enter an event like this in order to keep their blade sharp and to remain competitive,” he said.