Summer of Surf: Manly event a highlight of series attracting top life savers, Paris Olympic hopefuls

Sydney will host one of the richest surf events - and the best ocean athletes in the country - in January in a major payday for our surf life saving guns. Check out the money on offer.

Kendrick Louis racing in the Summer of Surf round at North Bondi in January. Pic: MonkeyMedia

Manly will be one of three showcase events on the rich Shaw and Partners Summer of Surf and expected to attract the best surf life savers and paddlers in the country.

Manly ironman Kendrick Louis said three races in particular on the extensive calendar of events will be a priority for he and other athletes given the lucrative prizemoney.

The first 10,000 point event is the Hayden Kenny Surf classic at Alexander Headland from December 2-3 with Manly hosting the second from January 20-21.

Kendrick Louis competing in the North Bondi round last year.

The third 10,000 event will be the Shannon Eckstein Ironman classic at Northcliffe on the Gold Coast on February 10 and 11.

Any athletes who can win all three of the ironman or ironwoman races at these will walk away with a $50,000 cash bonus.

Athletes who win all three of the same discipline races at the premier events will collect a hefty $25,000 bonus.

If an athlete wins two of the same discipline across the three main events that will pocket an extra $10,000.

“I don’t know how many more years I have left in me so I am doing as much as I can,” said Louis, who became a father this week.

“The prizemoney will make it a priority. How good is this. We are lucky to have this.’’

Ali Day, from the NSW south coast, and Georgia Miller, from the nortehrn beaches, are competing in the series. Pic: Supplied

Past events, including the North Bondi event in January, have been raced by past, present and future Olympic paddlers and the top ironmen and ironman in the country.

The extended series will boast a $400,000 prize pool with $250,000 of jackpot prize money for athletes winning their event multiple times.

Louis said Manly has big plans to make the weekend a “big event” not just a surf carnival.

“This is the biggest thing we have seen in a long time. It shows the sport is heading in the right direction. It gives young kids in the sport a hope it has a future.’’

The series also boasts a variety of 5000 and 7000 rated events across Australia.

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