World Surf League Narrabeen Classic Guide: Crowds, selfies, COVID restrictions
Crowds? Autographs? Selfies with the world’s best surfers? What you will and won’t be allowed to do at the World Surf League event in Sydney in April.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Will there be crowds? Can you get a selfie with your favourite Australian or international surfer when the World Surf League comes to town for the new Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic in April?
Exactly what can you do - or not do - at the event which will features the likes of Australia’s Olympic surfing team and the legendary Kelly Slater?
There’s good and bad news for surfing fans ahead of the Narrabeen Classic World Surf League event in April which will be used by Olympic bound surfers like Steph Gilmore, Sally Fitzgibbons, Owen Wright and Julian Wilson as a vital hitout before their bid for medal glory in Tokyo.
Under current NSW regulations in place due to coronavirus, a crowd of 3000 will be allowed to attend and watch the action live within the competition area at North Narrabeen beach in mid April
But the good news is locals and northern beaches residents will be given some preference to be watching the action lives via a system still to be worked out.
“We have to run a COVID safe event to NSW health and policing requirements so as of today the rules allow us to have 3000 at each of these event (Newcastle Pro and Narrabeen Classic) in a QR coded environment,’’ WSL APAC General Manager Andrew Stark told The Manly Daily.
“We will have a crowd ands all of the infrastructure to allow people to move in and out. But the 3000 does include workers, the WSL staff, surfers, broadcast team.’’
Stark said this number will be around 300 with discussions already underway to ensure as many locals as possible get to see the action first-hand.
“We have met with the Narrabeen Boardriders to ensure their members will have guaranteed entry,’’ Stark said. “We are looking at strategy to ensure locals get there.
“We ticket Bells Beach because we are restricted by numbers and always ensure the locals are looked after.’’
Stark said how this looks, if it is free or there is a “nominal” cost based on crowd control, is still to be determined but if restrictions ease the crowd at the live venue can grow.
The venue will be closed to allow the monitoring of numbers up close and personal with the worlds best surfers for the event kicking off on April 16.
The finer details are still to be worked out but it is understood it will be a one in, one out scenario for the crowd.
But in a sign of the times, social distancing will be enforced at the competition site with autographs and selfies off the cards.
“We will be fairly restrictive with how close the fans will get,’’ Stark said.
“There will still be COVID safe measure for the surfer put in place - daily temperature checking etc. We will put our own COVID safe practices in place above and beyond what the state government is.
“There will definitely be social distance between them and crowds.
Stark said there will be such things as sponsor activation, merchandising and a big screen for the crowd at the site.
WANT MORE OF YOUR LOCAL NEWS? Bookmark your community homepage and never miss out. HERE’S HOW
MORE LOCAL SPORT HERE
MORE SPORT
From club to Waratahs. Young guns on the brink
Sisterhood keeping young NRL gun grounded
“Schnitty guy’s” journey from trackie dacks to elite footy
Waratahs trial standouts, Suaalii injury and a rugby dream for young gun
It’s a time he hated but this painful interlude in Waratahs young gun Henry O’Donnell’s life could well pave the way to his future success in the game. Tahs v Brumbies trial wrap
‘Best No.12 I can’: Rugby goal of son of an NRL gun Zach Fittler
After a code switch that surprised many, teen powerhouse Zach Fittler has spoken about his love of rugby, opening up on the rollercoaster that is playing with a famous rugby league surname.