Surfing Australia boss Andrew Stark joins World Surf League to ‘leverage’ Kelly Slater wave pool technology

A GOLD Coast surfing boss has been poached by the world’s top surfing body to “leverage” wave pool technology in the region.

A GOLD Coast surfing boss has been poached by the world’s top surfing body to “leverage” wave pool technology in the region.

After almost 10 years at the helm of Surfing Australia, Andrew Stark has left the organisation to be appointed as the Wold Surf League’s general manager for Australia and Oceania.

Six-time surfing world champion Stephanie Gilmore surfing at a test event at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch in September last year.

The WSL said Mr Stark would be working to establish wave pool technology and a WSL high performance training centre in the region.

It comes as the world’s best surfers are getting geared up to compete in the first public competition held in the WSL’s Californian wave pool built by 11-time world champion Kelly Slater this weekend.

Called the Founders’ Cup Surfing, the event will be a team competition between the USA, Brazil, Australia, Europe and the rest of the world.

Former Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark has joined the World Surf League to “leverage” a wave pool for the Australia and Oceania region.

“To be able to work with the WSL and Kelly Slater Wave Co team during this exciting period for the sport is something I am extremely motivated and passionate about,” Mr Stark said in a statement yesterday.

“The next few years ahead represent, what I believe to be, the most exciting growth opportunity and period for global professional surfing in the history of the sport.”

Wave pools are being heralded as a game changer for the sport ahead of its inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Three-time world champion Mick Fanning told GQ Australia last month: “There are four or five different projects going on around the world at the moment, all with different technologies.”

“We’re going to get people from Middle America, Europe, China — all these places where people can’t get to the ocean will now have the opportunity to surf.”

In the statement yesterday, the WSL said with world tour events at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast, Bells Beach in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australian and Tahiti in French Polynesia the region was “critical” for the sport’s success.

Chris Hemsworth and Kelly Slater play fighting at the Californian Surf Ranch which will host the Founders’ Cup.

WSL boss Sophie Goldschmidt said getting Mr Stark on board was a coup.

“WSL is fortunate to attract another exceptionally well-respected leader in world sport, as we continue to build out our leadership team,” Ms Goldschmidt said.

“Andrew brings unrivalled surf experience and pedigree from this region and will accelerate the opportunities that exist, we can’t wait to see the positive influence he has on the region and WSL.”