Surfing: World Club Challenge begins at Snapper Rocks on Friday
Layne Beachley, Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson, and Owen Wright are among the big names set to tackles Snapper Rocks this weekend with more than $60,000 on offer.
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Legends of Australian surfing are set to tackle the swell of Snapper Rocks on Friday alongside up and coming stars as the sport embraces its grassroots in the sixth instalment of the prestigious World Club Challenge.
A total prize pool of over $60,000 will be on offer across the weekend, with the likes of Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson, Owen Wright, and Layne Beachley among the big names set to feature.
Beachley is a seven-time world champion and a former chair of Surfing Australia.
She will be proudly representing the Freshwater Boardriders club from New South Wales’ northern beaches, one of 48 clubs from around the globe competing in the event.
“I feel excited, as a little club from the northern beaches we’re pretty honoured to have been invited and excited to embrace the opportunity and surf against some hot up and coming surfers and against some of the best clubs in the world,” Beachley said ahead of the event.
Now 52 years of age, she has never stopped following the conclusion of decorated career, but modestly said that she doesn’t expect to match it with the younger surfers.
“I’m very fortunate that my vocation is also a recreation so I still surf nearly every day. It’s something I’m still very passionate about and draw a lot of love from,” she said.
“It helps keep me sane and happy so I’m still loving my surfing.
“I’ll do my best (at the World Club Challenge), I retired before some of these surfers I’ll be competing against were even born. I’m going to be realistic with my expectations and say I’m not here to compare myself to these kids.
“I’m just here to represent my club and surf to the best of my abilities without too many expectations on our shoulders.”
She added that the event was a “testament” to grassroots surfing and board clubs
“In Australia, nearly every champion surfer has come through the boardriders club movement, so to have names like Kelly (Slater) and Joel (Parkinson) reinforces the contribution that board cubs make to surfing on a global scale,” Beachley said.
“It’s always fun surfing for a club in that team dynamic because you’re competing with the mindset and passion for something bigger than yourself, we’re surfing for each other and catching up with some old friends and having some fun.”
2025 will mark the first time the challenge has had no individual surfers category, and a record 17 international clubs will be in action from six different countries, including the maiden European club in Portugal.
Parkinson will be part of the hometown Snapper Rocks team that is out to defend its 2024 crown.
Originally published as Surfing: World Club Challenge begins at Snapper Rocks on Friday
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