Ultimate guide to International Beach Festival and Sydney International Women’s Pro

SUMMER’S on the way and surfer Sally Fitzgibbons is celebrating with a beach festival guaranteed to turn Sydney’s south into sporting central this week.

Ultimate guide to International Beach Festival and Sydney International Women’s Pro surfing event.

• Water polo Olympians testing new waters
• Ironwoman fired-up for Cronulla race
• World's best hang five with Sal

SUMMER’S on the way and surfer Sally Fitzgibbons plans to celebrate with a beach festival guaranteed to turn Sydney’s south into sporting central in November.

Elites athletes, weekend warriors, mums, dad and kids will all find something to their liking — and abilities — at the International Beach Festival at Cronulla.

The Sydney International women’s pro surfing event is the centrepiece of the festival and will showcase the best current and upcoming talent in world surfing for four days.

Sally Fitzgibbons will compete at her own event.

COURTNEY HANCOCK TO RACE IRONWOMAN INVITATIONAL

WHY SAL'S THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

But the weekend will see an assortment of events to watch and race — including the Shire Run and Ocean Swim which are both open to elite athletes and the public.

Here’s our guide to what is happening, who to watch and how to enter events.

Further information is also available on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

Surfer Sally Fitzgibbons on Cronulla beach with Macy Callaghan and young surfers from Woolooware High School.

WHEN

Sydney International Pro from November 3-6.

International Beach Festival from November 3-6.

Shire Mile: November 5.

HOW SALLY KEEPS HER EYE ON TRENT

TYLER WRIGHT KEEPING EYE ON YOUNG GUNS

Shire Ocean Swim: November 5.

Battle of the Bridge boardriders challenge: November, November 5

Ironwoman Invitational: November 6.

Pro Assist: November 5 and 6.

Sally Fitzgibbons in action in Western Australia earlier this year.

SURFING

Sydney International Women’s Pro: A world qualifying series event which has attracted some of the biggest names in the sport.

This four-day event will also bring together the best and brightest young talent in world surfing.

Included in the field is Sally Fitzgibbons herself and internationals including Coco Ho, Sage Erickson and Laura Enever.

Laura Enever is one of the big names at the Sydney International Pro.

Local young guns will include Isabella Nichols, the world junior surfing champion, and rising stars including Macy Callaghan.

As the last qualifying series event of the year, the event could play a major part in deciding the women who will compete in the World Surf League in 2017.

SURFING SISTERS SIGN ON FOR SYDNEY PRO

COCO HO TO SURF AT SALLY FITZ EVENT

SURF STARLET ON SHOW

Nikki Van Dijk is one of the top women competing in the event.

RUNNING

The Shire Mile: Olympian and local runner Eloise Wellings has already signed on to do the race for fun.

More big names will be revealed in due course.

But the event is open to all with elites racing the 1.6km run, an open category for participants aiming to run or jog the mile and age categories for those wanting to race against like-aged people.

OLYMPIAN WELLINGS IN SHIRE MILE

SWIMMING

The Shire Ocean Swim: The Sydney Shire Ocean Swim, presented by The Daily Telegraph, will start at Cronulla at 10am on November 5.

The event involves either 1km or 2km ocean swims and again, is open to elite, open or age group swimmers.

IRONWOMAN

The ironwoman Invitational will showcase our best surf stars, including Jordy Mercer and Coolangatta Gold winner Courtney Hancock.

This will be a ripper of a race and a precursor to the Nutri-Grain action at Cronulla in the New

Year.

The athletes will race an Eliminator format over three rounds.

After the first race five will be eliminated. After the second another five will be eliminated, leaving a final field of five fighting for the cash.

Jordy Mercer gets chaired around the beach by Sally Fitzgibbons and her aunt, Kylie Mercer, after winning the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman event at Cronulla Beach.

PRO ASSIST

Held on Saturday and Sunday morning. 30 boys and girls aged five to eight will pair up with pros for the ultimate surf session.

BOARDRIDERS CHALLENGE

The Sydney International Boardriders Challenge is a North versus South, Battle of the Bridge event taking place on November 5.

The Battle will go for 60 minutes, in a tag team format. Each team member will surf once for approximately 10 minutes. The surfer can catch two waves, receiving a wave score out of 10. Only the best one will be counted.

Each surfer has to tag the next surfer in the allocated area. The pre-nominated ‘Power Surfer’ per team will have their wave score doubled.

MORE DETAILS

FESTIVAL VILLAGE

FOR ALL INFORMATION ON THE FESTIVAL VILLAGE CLICK HERE

The village will include market stalls with a mix of products and healthy food options and will be on from Thursday to Sunday. CHECK HERE FOR TIMES.

There will also be Cinema by the Sea, a free night out for family and friends and great for a picnic. FOR FREE TICKETS REGISTER HERE

Sally Fitzgibbons will run workshops. Book early to ensure a spot.

On Thursday, Friday and Sunday a yoga session will be held in Dunningham Park. A small donation to secure your place will go to the Sally Fitzgibbons Foundation. There are limited places available. REGISTER HERE.

Train Like Sally Workshops will be held Thursday and Saturday morning. There are limited places available. A small donation to secure your place will go to the Sally Fitzgibbons Foundation, established to inspire the next generation of Aussie kids to live active and healthy lives. TO REGISTER CLICK HERE