Aussies in danger of being usurped by US surfing armada at Manly
AUSTRALIA is in danger of losing one of the first surfing titles of 2018 at Manly next month with the US sending a world-class team down under for the Sydney Surf Pro.
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AUSTRALIA is in danger of losing one of the first surfing titles to be decided in 2018 at Manly this month with archrivals the US sending a world-class team Down Under for the World Qualifying Series event.
America’s best surfer and their brightest star will take on Australia’s top surfing names at the new Sydney Surf Pro to help write the form guide for the upcoming world championship tour.
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Australian surfers filled the top three placings on the world championship tour in 2017 after Tyler Wright, Steph Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons leapfrogged early leader Courtney Conlogue of the US with strong late-season form.
But neither of the three are yet entered for the event where Conlogue heads a pack of top Americans with their sights set on humbling the locals on home turf.
Included in the group is a teenager being given rave reviews by the surfing community and who is the youngest-ever rookie on the women’s championship tour,
American Caroline Marks, 16, has earned her spot on the women’s pro tour in 2018 after outstanding results against surfers with years more experience.
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She and Conlogue will be joined at Manly by world No.8 Sage Erickson, world No.10 Tatiana Weston Webb and world No.12 Malia Manuel.
It is hoped two-time world champion Tyler Wright will sign on for the event where the top female surfers will be showcased at one of Australia’s most iconic beaches.
Fitzgibbon, who has confirmed she will not surf at Manly, and Gilmore traditionally use an event at Newcastle as their major lead-in to the opening event of the women’s world tour, the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks.
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But on show for the Australians will be world No.7 Nikki Van Dijk, world No.11 Keeley Andrew, world No.15 Bronte Macaulay and former world junior champion Macy Callaghan, who only just missed out on making the world tour alongside Marks for the first time in 2018.
The Vissla Sydney Surf Pro will run from February 24 to March 4 and will be the final tournament before the Roxy Pro world tour opener on the Gold Coast from March 11.