WSL secure fourth Australian CT with Newcastle Pro
Just days after being denied a slot at Lennox Head, the Wozzle has secured a CT event at Newcastle.
The Newcastle Pro will run at Merewether Beach from April 1st. It's the first time Newcastle has offered CT points since 1996 when Neridah Falconer won the BHP Women's Pro - the last Men's CT was in 1990 and won by MIke Parsons.
The Newcastle Pro will be the first of four contests in the Australian leg, the others being Snapper Rocks, Bells Beach, and Margaret River. Dates haven't been finalised, however with the announcement of the Newcastle Pro it's clear Bells will be shifted off its Easter timeslot for 2021.
"We sincerely thank the NSW Government for all of their support in not only holding a CT event but for also agreeing to land our flight and accommodating our quarantining international competitors," said WSL Australia General Manger Andrew Stark, "We're also extremely thankful for the support of the City of Newcastle to enable the event to proceed and we look forward to working with the local community in the delivery of the event."
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro weighed in, saying, "Sun, surf and sand are a way of life in our regional coastal towns and we're doing everything we can to ensure our coastal communities can reap the recreational, tourism and economic benefits that surfing provides."
And in what sounds like a rebuke to Lennox Head, though will in fact be read as the opposite, NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment and Tourism, Stuart Ayres added, "This is a huge opportunity to promote Newcastle, its world-class waves and the region's natural assets and visitor attractions to tens of millions of avid surfers and potential holidaymakers around the globe.
"The profile of the WSL Championship Tour will undoubtedly put Newcastle front of mind for many fans and start the all-important ‘dreaming' phase of planning a holiday for when we can welcome international visitors again."
WSL will be working closely with the Merewether Surfboard Club to incorporate the local surfing community into the event where possible. This will be most significantly through the club being awarded wildcard spots for members Philippa Anderson and Jackson Baker.
Comments
How good will it be to have tens of millions of surfers coming to take your waves?!?!
I think they’re pulling numbers out of their arse!!!
Who knew the Novacastrians were so welcoming, this definitely makes me want to visit the area, I'll bring a van load of mates, see you locals out there yew!
So they are coming to take over Bells and Winky for two weeks after Easter in what should be prime season. OK then.
And some crew actually wonder why surfers would be opposed to allowing some parts of the Australian coastline to this :
"This is a huge opportunity to promote Newcastle, its world-class waves and the region's natural assets and visitor attractions to tens of millions of avid surfers and potential holidaymakers around the globe.
"The profile of the WSL Championship Tour will undoubtedly put Newcastle front of mind for many fans and start the all-important ‘dreaming' phase of planning a holiday for when we can welcome international visitors again."
you have my condolences
lol
Imagine being one of the crew who has been separated overseas from their family and unable to get a spot on a flight due to flights being canceled cause of caps on quarantine numbers and realising that your spot in quarantine is being taken by Joe Turpel so he can come and talk shit at a splash splash carnival.
Apparently there’s no one in NSW - and particularly in Newcastle- who can talk shit about a splash splash carnival.
Well said Blowin. The arrogance of conservative government knows no bounds.
get the dogs
just for the record ...WSL say the Vic govt wouldn't allow the WSL charter flight land in Melbourne.
WSL then did a deal with the NSW Govt to land the charter flight , and hold a series of CT events in NSW, with Visit NSW as sponsors.....
There will be no Bells Comp after Easter.....we will fuck up any attempts at the pollies and Stark and Co trying to hold the Bells comp in any other time except Easter....
If you would lose yourself in the service of others, you would discover your own life and your own happiness.
BEing a good Surfer doesn’t mean your a good person.
Spent all my working life at the service of others. One things for certain, those in the field doing the work are at the mercy of the greedy managerial fucktards who don’t get their hands dirty, they suck arse to rise up the ladder barking out orders that detriment doing the job well because they have no experience at ground level. The class divide continues. Thank fuck for rain.
get the dogs
Good stuff Brutus. Keep em more honest.
Pushing Bells out a few weeks actually makes sense from a Covid safety point of view. Thousands of holiday makers and their families will be back in Melbs and back at work and school. Makes it a bit easier to keep the numbers down plus we all know the waves work Berger before or after the normal van window. Still not sure it will happen though. Vic haven’t had a good experience with the tennis.
If the competitors and staff have already been in the country for a good while before the comp, which they probably will have been by then.... then it's not really comparable to the tennis situation.
Yep this, Vic gov def in damage control with the tennis. No way were they going to agree to another special quarantine arrangement for an international sporting event!
I like their tactic to just shout lies the loudest and eventually it will happen. Like community consultation on the Coolum pool, telling everyone they've actually done any and it's overwhelmingly supported. Andrew Trump.
It's actually amazing how little Goodwill and trust they have.
Thats going to be a major problem for them going forwards.
The WSL has tried this exact same top down , blitzkrieg assault on several regional surf spots they assumed they could overwhelm and they’ve learnt nothing.
It’s not in their Septic corporate DNA to accept that provinces have any agency in the determination of their futures. Full trickle down mentality from the likes of the US military bombing foreign infrastructure just so US corporates get to rebuild it . Same concept only on a differing scale.
When they then find a local stooge with the hide of a rhino and the shame of a donkey show performer to act as point man , they tend to believe a local population immediately showing it’s belly is fait accompli .
I’m actually proud of crew like yourself and the Lennox community who kicked these cnts to the curb.
But yeah....the WSL and their ilk don’t give a fck. They’ll regroup and attack from another angle.
Rip Curl portrays itself as a core surfer’s brand yet when crew in the NW put them on their bike they said “ We will never say never to XXXXXXXX “! Scum.
Freeride...how much credibility does Starky/WSL have down here....??
The WSL tried to blackmail the State Govt and SCS and get a permanent viewing platform made here......just got out of the water at Bells...don't worry about Bells in any other time but Easter......everybody I spoke to said....well there's always next year to win a Bell......as any attempt here will be met with heavy resistance......on every level....
Don't get me started on the "structure" they build every year for the athletes and hangers on to view in comfort. It really shits me because it effectively blocks the view for the supposed fans. Only the judges need a clear view and quiet space. You really don't need a VIP/hangers on or athlete zone.
That’s how they make money though, flogging access to the surfers through vip tickets costing hundreds of dollars for a gourmet degustation trough and swill type arrangement. Without the mega structure there’s no money to be made.... also shows the mentality rather than putting up shady bleachers for as many people and paying a small fee they would rather go after the top end of town in vip areas.....
Look at you, all itchin to get down to Newy.
Some sad shit.
Should be a permanent quarantine for Turpel.
Stuart Ayres added, "This is a huge opportunity to promote Newcastle, its world-class waves and the region's natural assets and visitor attractions to tens of millions of avid surfers and potential holidaymakers around the globe.
Stuart Ayers is obviously a surfer with a statement like that!
Who goes to Newcastle for a surf trip or holiday lol, unless you have family/mates there. Best thing that's happened to Newcastle was the bypass so you don't have to drive through the joint to head north or south haha, yes i know long time ago but..
Coupla interesting changes to the WSL website.
All four events now have the same time frame - April 1st to May 31.
Additionally, Newcastle is the only 'confirmed' event. Bells, Margs and the Goldy have all had a status change too: they're also listed as 'tentative' (up until yesterday, were listed as "upcoming").
Newcastle stop #4. #2 was cancelled and #3 postponed, you would think it would become stop #2 no.
There are mitigating factors to withholding info, border openings etc., but also, once a comp gets confirmed on the calendar the prizemoney has to be paid even if it doesn't get run.
CT surfers - Welcome to the gig economy.
I do have sympathy for the surfers. Fckers are the best in the world, train like professionals and their livelihoods are at the mercy of COVID like a lot of people. That must mess with your mind and your bank balance which then messes with your life.
Lol, probably getting jobkeeper the Aussie’s.
Comps are for dick heads.
Sponsored dick heads encouraging more surfers into already over crowded breaks. All just to push up their salaries.
Newy on the tourist map? . What world are these clowns living in. ffs. ?
" ..and start the all-important 'dreaming' phase of planning a holiday ,..."
My bullshit detector is redlining.
Looks like Newy is the new Toonalook...good luck with that !!!
Id pefer a two week surf comp over a permanent 10000 lot subdivision in swampland...
then the mugs blame the lake / river/ creek for flooding the yard... jeez
Surf coast will be crowded with or without Easter comp. However winki and Bells will be available for everyone, be it about 100 at each spot, but some pressure taken off close by reefs. Personally good time to go bush and find some space
What a steaming pile of shit on all levels
And what if the sponsor is big coal ?????
Just read a article online where Maurice Cole is outraged about not having the comp at Bells and Surfrider representative also up in arms.....what the fuck. Worried about losing millions of tourist dollar ?? huh One community say fuck off don't run a comp here and another say fuck you cant take it away from us.
Got a source for that, lost? ta.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/bells-beach-loses-historic-e...
Great, cant wait. hopefully theres swell. We are finally "on the map" can the V8 stupid cars now fuck off
Novocastrian locals are taking the motorsport into their own hands.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/bells-beach-loses-historic-e...
“ Sources close to the World Surfing League told The Sunday Age they believed the last-minute snub related in part to quarantine issues around bringing in groups of international surfers.”
Surprisingly the comments on the article are really negative on the cancellation/postponement. As a Vicco I personally much prefer NSW taking on the quarantine risk. Feeling sorry for the newy guys though, fuck have the WSL crew showing how good every nook and cranny gets on Insta for 3 weeks
While in Newcastle, why not tour some of the regional attractions!
World class industrial locations such as the now defunct Pasminco Lead Smelter, which commemorated over 100 years of local area pollution before it closed, make for a beautiful sight from across the waters of Lake Macquarie.
Perhaps of more interest is the Vales Point Power Station, a relic of a bygone era just dripping with history and who's hallowed turbine halls have borne the boots of many of the region's working-class surfers. Watch as the aging fire-brick chimneys belch smoke and chemicals into the crisp blue New South Wales skies. Where will the particulates land? Children especially will love the intrigue and excitement of hazarding a guess; could it be the adjacent waterways, they might even land directly into the ocean!
Take a pause to admire the immense beauty of coal, as our Prime Minister so often does, and feel the pride swelling up from within.
Vales Point Power Station operators Sunset Energy recently celebrated the securing of $8.7M in government funding to continue their push to increase dangerous fine particle pollution by over 3000% since 2014. They had yet another win when they managed to reduce a fine from the NSW Environment Protection Authority down to the price of a slightly used Toyota Camry! Vales Point Power Station also offers the chance to see the largest coal ash dam in NSW with an estimated mass of 61M tonnes, being completely unlined and open air, it is a monolithic masterpiece of corporate negligence.
There's nothing quite like a story of triumph over adversity, as just recently the power station was considered nearly worthless when it was purchased by former politician Trevor St Barker for $1M in 2014. Mr Barker, through sheer cunning and guile managed to turn a $113M profit just 24 months later! A story for the whole family to get around, and one that is certain to inspire young minds!
Tours are free for families and we will be running exclusive discounted tours for WSL competitors who might be looking for their next big investment opportunity. Newcastle City Council welcomes the Newcastle Extreme Corruption Pro to our city for 2021, let the kickbacks begin!
Yes, I understand there are comps there already, just making a passing comment on some of the skulduggery that has taken place in the past along those shores.
I think Newy is about a good a spot as you could hope for for another WSL contest, due to the exposure and general awareness of the surf there already, and the areas with decent infrastructure for holding the comp.
That being said, I have a hard time believing a City Council in a city with the sort of history that Newcastle has won't be enjoying some sort of reach around for their support!
Hope everyone enjoys the contest, I really do. Very glad that the places that might have been much more heavily impacted by a comp have got a reprieve also.
Lastly, I was one of the team of riggers who removed the steel cap plates from the top of the decommissioned chimney at Vales Point in late 2014, so I suppose that's where some of my bird's eye perspective on Newy is descended from.
You're missing your calling, cylinders - that earlier piece of promo could land you a plum job as a well-paid spinmeister in politics.
He's a smart man, perhaps he was the one behind this catchy little ditty:
Brilliant. Although you forgot the side trips to:
- the John Hunter hospital to watch some of the asthmatic children gasping for their last breath from the high particulate emissions. Just a few of the estimated 100 people who die every year from Australia's third world generator emissions standards.
- or the city sized holes that scar the landscape across the Hunter from the coal mines to feed the beasts.
Great news,
It's been a surf contest in Newcastle for over three decades.
Running in a pretty good time for decent waves/ conditions.
Time to get positive people. Let the contest begin.
This mater kid approves.
nice one cylinders , don't forget the catch a crab tours in Cockle Creek.
Hmmm, interesting dilemma, am I quietly stoked to have a CT that I can walk to....yup....sorta kinda am. Am I Concerned about the blow out in surfer numbers on the Mery to Cliff stretch....not sure, can it get much worse ? I mean, lets be pragmatic here, they talk up the numbers, but my recent experiences with the Woz viewership numbers for live content....well its pretty light on. The exodus of city dwellers due to COVID buying up Newy houses at over inflated rates will have more of an impact on surfer numbers in this region than a few days of wozzle pumping their live shit to a relative handful of punters.....
Hope Jackson ruffles a few feathers though !
Haha you're spot-on there, Bustard. Same shit happening down south.
Hey Bustard,
Around Bells, we see an increase in surfer numbers while the comp is on and a few days either side of it.
Without poo-pooing the Newcastle surf too much, we have better waves down here and we don't so hordes of travelling crew desperate to surf the waves they see on a CT livestream.
The worst part of the comp are the surf industry hangers on. The 20 something assistant state sales reps for XYZ surf company are the pits. Those people, and a couple of Brazzo pros can ruin a surf. Hi Gabriel and Toledo.
This talk of millions of surfers seeing a Newcastle comp and booking surf holidays is pure Baralaro BS.
How did this get through so quick? Given it being Easter and a massively popular time for Aussies to travel for a getaway, I thought there would be more of a resistance? Or because it's state government level nobody get a say...?
Very glad I havent got a holiday booked to Newy for this wknd!
Um does anyone ever have a holiday booked to Newcastle ? I could live and work there - it’s really come along but I can think of 100 spots north and south I’d go for a holiday before Newy
I may book one, however I'm still in my dreaming phase.
Newcastle, like many places without the A+ natural attractions, has a tourism strategy that includes plenty of events. Think triathlons, music festivals, exhibitions, and yes surfing comps.
The only problem is, cities end up bidding against each other for the rights to host these events.
The WSL wants two things from a host. 1 $$$ and 2. Good waves. The host government wants one thing. Exposure. Newcastle is competing against everyone city / destination for a slot on the CT tour, and if the waves are poo, nobody wins.
I'm tipping the Newcastle Pro will be a one off, and a place with better waves will be on the circuit next year when the vax kicks in.
The amount of events little and big our place gets is mind numbing VL. Playing 'guess which is the only road out of town still open when the Cadell event is on so you can get to an important medical appointment on time' was lots of fun. It gets to the stage where you just want them to stop.
The Cadel organisers didn't realise that kids in Jan Juc and Torquay can't possibly walk or ride to school, and mummies in Pajeros treat school pick up as a social event. Motorists were doing insane things and ignoring advice just to get to schools.
It was mayhem and unfortunately some people like yourself got caught up in the traffic jams. We got around Torquay Jan Juc absolutely fine that day and saw the finish while having a beer on the foreshore. But we travelled on bikes, not in big 4WDs
Grossmans Rd is a write off twice a day at any rate. Also the public holidays Maccas dish off on Beach road lol. Always walked with the kids to school so never got to be part of that ritual and show the mums my SUV.
But for the bike race, something closed SC Hwy about 3pm on that hot day, and cars backed up from bunnings for a long way back into town, so there was no effective way to get out, which forced a quick trial of every other way out (beyond the school) and lots of them were closed too. I doubt many cancer patients cycle to and from their infusions.
True VJ. Done my stint at Andrew Love Clinic. I can’t see that Cadel course being run again. Torquay needs to have a big rethink as we’ve reached peak car. At some stage we need to have an adult conversation re limiting car use in the centre of town. Traffic jams are only going to get worse unless we embrace active transport and improve public transport. ps. Hope you’re doing well.
Good on you VL, you made it through that challenge! How good are Andrew Love btw? Total champions.
Yep I am all good, I'm a weird case where it's an effective maintenance, and I can do the normal things that we all do within reason, eg surf and with breath, energy etc.
Btw had lovely waves under the cliffs with my son on Friday, just us on one of the more modest name peaks (shh!). Water colour and shape reminded me of being a grom out in the Margs area.
As for cars in town, any busy day around the Gilbert St shops, or the shops on either side of Rippy/Baines crescent the parking is pretty tightly contested. Many of those parking are staff who aren't allowed in their businesses' direct car parks (reserved for customers/patients). What do you do? Banning cars might also ban the parking for staff being nearby, and that might be a risk if shifts end after nightfall for some staff - did you hear about the Woolies staff? If you have free bikes to ride around on, some will end up in trees or on bus shelters as Melbourne showed us which I find amusing but mature people probably don't.
Check out the plans for TQ in the next 20 years or so, most of the central part of town goes 3 storeys (Spring Creek saved or no), so hopefully those builders and designers include sufficient parking inside the structures they build! And hopefully the council begins to understand this!
Oh come on you two. It's simply un-Australian to expect people to walk, ride or share a lift, especially if you've just given the Mustang a polish. That's why virtually the entire Torquay foreshore and every available median strip is fair game for overflow parking and there's never a Council ranger in sight. And how can Jucquay possibly keep growing if we limit car use? Don't tell me you'd expect efficient local public transport? What next?
I don’t know why Torquay tourism people are complaining about Bells being moved from Easter. We are at capacity every Easter with or without the comp. the shift in dates just means another bumper long weekend outside of peak season. I’m Heading up to Newcastle tomorrow for non surfing tourism work. It’s made a pretty amazing transition after the steel mill closed. TBPH Newie was a bit of a shit hole in the 80s and 90s. The only young people it could attract was people who fucked up their HSC and had to go to the uni of last resort. They did have a dominant team at the uni board riders comps!!!
Wouldn't worry me at all if our neck of the woods has a couple of years off from hosting a surf comp at Easter. So what if it's 'the longest running surf contest'.
All things (good & bad) end at some stage. Life goes on.......
I’ll second that ringa. Though would prefer to sacrifice Easter over a slot in may/ June ..
Nah bring the buggers in around August when we hit peak cold water. That would sort a few soft pros out.
https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/like-two-wave-hold-himalayas/111729
Hard to describe in words my feelings to this piece. I’d love a few other contributors to have a read.
Stark really does a great job of highlighting how conniving, unprofessional, unsustainable and uncaring the WSL is.
Absolute dribble from all fronts.
Good read sol, I love the bit about that fricken wall of VIPS they had to build which I posted somewhere else is my pet hate and haven't been back since they erected it.
Probably the best article written on this whole fiasco.
We get to see Andrew Stark as a pure CEO, going out and getting exactly what he needs to achieve his designated goals at all costs.
We get the politicians playing politics on how great they are to stimulate the economy and bullshit on about benefits to the region.
And Nick Carroll suckling at the last drops of the teet charading PR as journalism.
Exceptional clarity all round.
Well done everyone!
My word, Solitude, well played.
At least the quote is there in black and white:
"The business."
It exists as a business driven by business-people - they are all making money from it somewhere along the chain regardless of what your opinion is of their level of professionalism. Professional athletes. Professional administrators. Professional coaches, trainers, caterers, drivers, photographers, communicators, band-aid applyers, ego-soothers and god-knows-what-else. I just wish everyone could peel away the feel-good PR and see it for what it really is - an entire commercial ecosystem that exists because they're making money from it. And if their pursuit of $ aligns with anothers needs/desires for $ or exposure or whatever other currency they work with, they'll go with it.
I don't think we need pro surfing to see the best surfing - 2020 has shown very clearly that free-surfing is infinitely better. But it's a damn sight harder to harness and make $ from it. Sure, it's a spectacle.
That's better. Just don't start me on the innumerable brats I see being interviewed who suddenly claim to be a professional surfer once they have a you-tube clip.
Professional board fluffers :)
Starky and Bruz Barillaro .....a match made in heaven.
How’s this quote from Starky for wilful corpo ignorance :
“But the timing, among many other things, was against it. You’d need years of talking with the Lennox community to understand what they needed from you in order to allow the passage of a CT event. Not a week. “
Here’s a quick insight bloke - They don’t want what you’re selling so fark orffff !
Big thanks to Barry Cornell for use of his catchphrase.
Brutus’ comment at the bottom is worth the whole read, especially to see how Carroll comes at him afterwards.
Can the listeners out there tell me if Newcastle is consistently good enough to hold a world tour event or is it slightly better than Brasil? Obviously it has its days as all beachies do but over two weeks start of April is it going to be challenging or will it be a Brasillian Air Show?
"...consistently good enough to hold a world tour event" ?
Jeez, Where ya been memlasurf? Newcastle/Merewether have been hosting world Pro comps since '85. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfest
That really depends on Huey. Merewether Point and Dicko lefts are top shelf waves when they are firing and that's where the competition is being held.
Location-wise from a spectator perspective, Newcastle beach is way better than the Merewether stretch.
More punters in '85 at the beach than a 2020 WSL world wide livestream
Anyway here's a couple of vids of some of the waves around the place.
Ahh well, if the WSL are having trouble selling their 'dreamscape' to the alledged millions, this little vid might help....or at the very least further endear SurfCity in the hearts of Aussie surfers.
The Novocastrian's really do love the place. and in many ways can see why.
Good to see the July 2001 swell get a little run at the end too. ;-)
ps: Great analysis by Cylinders too above re. the coal mining. I watched something about that not long ago about the mining in nearby Maitland and it's pretty shocking.
Matt Hoy got it right “a town called average”
Well I’ll be watching , newy is a great place , be cool to see a comp there.
Bet most of the negative nancys commenting above will watch too .
Imagine being someone like Jack robbo, finally qualifies, in the prime few years of his surfing life, but not allowed to surf ,
If they can put the comp on safely why not ?
Be much easier to do it safely than say Australian open tennis by comparison
Heard Joey Johns is getting a wildcard.
Vale’s Point is 50kms south from Newcastle.
It's actually 31.2 kilometres from the proposed venue at Merewether, if you want to be exact. And the other place I mentioned at Boolaroo is 12.4 km from the same beach. Both industrial sites are directly adjacent to Lake Macquarie.
Fine particle pollution and heavy metal contamination of waterways travels much further than either of those distances however, and from a political standpoint both issues are very much Novocastrian problems.
Barilaro getting involved is interesting as well, as he has had corruption issues of his own recently. Seems odd that the Deputy Premier would go out of his way to endorse a billionaire's pet project without any sort of benefit to himself. Would like to see a list of next year's donations to Barilaro and the National Party...
He's got a new name cylinders, he's called Pork Barilaro...
That's a clever one!
Positive spin, I'll probably watch. I like the Newcastle beach setups, have surfed one of them once, ha. Is it Merrewether that is set up like a giant amphitheatre? Quarantine your crew and athletes properly and then you can provide some broadcast sport from uninfected Australia as corona keeps on keeping on around the world. There's probably some appeal offshore in that as the northern hemi is locked down to varying degrees and people up there are going mental in the cold at home.
As for the beaches, yes if you have the WSL come to your town its profile will raise, maybe raise above the metaphoric trench and make you a target. I watched the Portugal comp (with Italo looking smooth and doing nuts airs on that little black board) and enjoyed the scenery, and did the mind surfing bit. Won't be snaking locals there for a while though. I do like the personalities bit of the competition, and always enjoy being in the water when there is a pro out, then again it's uncommon and I'm not fighting them for waves every day and losing.
NSW by having the open borders and different containment strategy has brought more surf contests on themselves.
hey vj,
the amphitheatre is Newcastle Main beach. The contest is and has been held along the Merewether stretch for years now. See above.
Cool thx WOL, I must've surfed at Merewether then, and looking up there was almost a good defined left setup going, that must've been Dixon Park.
Really liked the beach setup, the people seemed great too. Good town.
Plenty of yaks around at the moment according to swellnet reports NCC are jumping on top of an opportunity due to derelict streets, homeless bums, shit roads, and too many brothels and trying to compete with sydney house prices, it's working! I did the whole newy stretch today and couldn't get a park and waves weren't even crowded just covid tax at it finest.
Newcastle, Narrabeen , Cronulla and Wollongong main beach.
Take it back to bums on seats.
it's amazing, 30 years into the "dream Tour" 50 years plus of pro surfing and the only model they can make work is bums on seats/big top surfing.
that has to be about the most monumental failure of imagination in any international sport, when you consider what pro surfing potentially could be,
So what ?
I love watching great surfing as much as anyone but I’m more than willing to foresake a bit of entertainment watching a pro event if it means preserving the semblance of semi -civility amongst the lineup of at some of the world’s better waves which haven’t yet had their doors blown off by two continuous weeks of Joe Turpell using every superlative in the thesaurus to encourage punters to go there.
Fingers crossed for decent waves at overrun metro breaks before “ exciting and novel “ forays to soon-to-be-farked good waves every day of the week.
Does Newy have great contestable waves? of course it does but like a lot of places, a lot of elements have to come together to make it happen . I personally don't care if they hold the event there, I,m just not buying the PR and sales bullshit. I was born there , still a staunch defender of the place , it's just that it would take a whole lot more to convince me that people are going to be laying their head on the pillow and dreaming of booking a holiday there.
5 minutes after the circus has packed up the punters aren't going to give a stuff about Newy anymore .
Whatever they do please please pleeeeease don’t let Matt Hoy anywhere near the commentators box.
After being unfortunate enough to listen to him on Ain’t That Swell poddy a couple of times I’d rather drill my ears out with a 25 mm spade bit than cop him again.
That is one brain dead mo’fo.
You wouldn’t say that to his face.
Reports Bells is completely off this year.. maybe
https://amp.theage.com.au/national/victoria/bitterly-disappointing-loss-...
Hard to see how Australia is going to ‘save’ the tour this year.
Would there be any more than few hundred surfers in this country who truely cared that it ran?
I confess I enjoy watching the WSL events and the internet allows you t pick and choose. I'll also wander down to watch a few heats if close by (id never travel for it). More interesting question is can you crown a "world champ" with only Pipe that never really fired and a few Aussie comps ?
I enjoy watching as well. But as Blowin mentioned above I’d totally forego a bit of light entertainment to preserve or regenerate a healthy, respectful and sustainable surf culture throughout this country.
I feel like COVID has truely highlighted how superfluous the current regime and format really is.
As with events of last week and the recent history of the WSL and state government, people who care factor zero when there is a gravy train that needs constant fuel. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-08/inquiry-to-probe-deputy-premier-o...
Obviously has great waves ON ITS DAY not over two weeks. The Pacific can go really flat and stay that way unlike the Southern Ocean. I remember the surfabout years ago had great waves for Wayne Lynch and Larry at North Styne for couple of days in one year. I know we all like to bag fat old bells but in April she is pretty consistent and there are a lot of other waves around which are consistently contestable. Rip bowl three footers are not the 'World Tour'. As Freeride says, back to the late 80's and 90's - bums on seats.
Surfest press release from last November makes for interesting reading in light of recent news.
RE cancellation of Surfest: "The major factor driving this decision is the paramount safety of the community, athletes and Surfest staff."
"Large-scale events that attract international visitors and competitors take months and months of careful preparation and planning, so it’s the right call to make this decision now.”
So they cancelled Surfest five months out, and then cobbled it back together as a CT within days.
https://www.surfest.com/surfest-2021-update/
meanwhile surfing qld, surfing vic, surfing nsw, surfing wa are completely bypassed by the WSL. know this for a fact. International privately funded organisation gaining goverment funds that should go to our grassroots organisations here in Australia. something is clearly wrong here.
Also, just to be clear, Bells is still on at this stage, despite what's being reported elsewhere.
It won't be on at Easter, yet, Covid permitting, it will be on.
The reporting on this by the media has been so bloody poor. Then you got the Vic Libs jumping up and down about it being cancelled after they jumped up and down for going ahead with the AO.
they will even possibly get their new Winki-pop viewing Platform , as the negotiations are still being done ...for next year , but the Newy mayor has already said she thinks next years event up there will be even better.......
bit of a bummer that this is the 60 year anniversary of the Easter Classic ....a lot of heritage ....but the WSL only talks to the communities as a last resort....its all about the political / commercial issues no thought for what Bells stands for!
What are your thoughts on bells being run later in the year Brutus? Is that a possibility?
I hope not.
"The WSL is dedicated to changing the world through the inspirational power of creating authentic events, experiences and storytelling to inspire a growing global community to live with purpose, originality and stoke".. the WSL
This too was something less than the truth.
Corporate speak of the highest order.
Not Staging Bells at Easter is a Great Outcome. Torquay Explodes for Easter with Holiday Makers and Surfers no matter what. Staging Bells after Easter is a Win/Win. The Crowds won’t be Over the Top and it takes all the pressure off Accommodation and Services. Reduced crowds fits in with COVID reality and money flows to Traders and Service providers outside Easter Trading. Lock it In I say.
for any business to make plans so far in advance is poor management and the lack of understanding toward reality of what they are dealing with. your looking at a company failing to keep its head above water an struggling to make money. should have shit on your peeeps
People complaining about NSW getting an event where you get to watch the best surfers in the world on our waves, the tour probably won't be coming back here again so just enjoy it you sad sacks
Agreed peachy, all the hypocrites whinging about the WSL will no doubt drop everything to watch the connest.
I am trying to figure out why the fuck we are openly inviting surfers from overseas during this crazy time when C19 numbers are still high in the US
Does anyone remember what happened in Hawaii when Pipe started. What happened to Sunset again. WTF
All bullshit aside , some of my best memories of Merewether are of watching MR paddle out on absolutely brutal maxing stormy days. For anyone who's ever sat watching in the pouring rain and onshore wind,, when no one else even considered taking it on, you'll know what I mean.
Remember the smell of egan's on darby street? aaahhhh.
Kham, I'm with you. Keeping pro surfers and their friends and entourages and everyone else attached to them from highly infected places like USA , France, Brazil in quarantine etc will be like keeping a dozen monkeys in a cardboard box...all this in covid free Newcastle.
Happy Easter ??So with the latest news being that the WSL says they tried everything to get the Easter Bells Classic to happen and just couldn't get the Victorian officials to do it......did the WSL contact it's partners in our Easter Classic , such as the Surf Coast Shire who in 2019 signed a 5 year contract with the WSL for Easter Bells Comp?
Did the WSL contact Rip Curl for help?
Did the WSL contact Surfing Vic , who manage the event?
So far we have been told by the various organizations , that were also shocked to learn of the move to Newcastle.......or were they??
Still so many questions for the local community unanswered...a lot of politics going on...and it's always detrimental to the local community and fans of surfing...we are treated like mushrooms.....kept in the dark and fed shit for our troubles.
What a lot of people don't understand is that in1961 a national contest was held at Bells, the birth of modern day surfing ......there has been an evolution of surfing through the Easter Classic , firstly becoming the most visible surf contest in the World...creative and innovative, different judging and contest formats over 60 years , then the rise of the commercial brands in Torquay who became Global household names , providing employment / riches for some.....Family friendships /career's for generations to come....the joy we experienced from surfing turned into our present day culture......and a big part of what I have just said above all came from Bells Beach...it's surfing heritage and culture!
So here we are with the USA owned WSL desperately needing to have 3-4 contests for it's own survival , bringing all it's problems to Australia via Starky , who is one the most disliked surfers in Australia because of his past history with communities /staff etc......why couldn't the WSL run it's damn contests in California .....all that has happened here in Australia is stress every where lies and politics /angst ...
Having said all of the above , we here see the bigger picture , in that we love our Easter Bells event , and will welcome the surfers and the contest at a later date.....so the WSL can continue to provide a World Champion , surfing needs to be the winner.....the local community will do all of this , but Easter Next year, back to Bells...not for the $'s but for the Respect of Surfings Heritage!
I think this is your best take of the situation yet, Brute. Of course the WSL have painted a picture that they did everything they could so they can hang it on the local gov't. They have had months to plan around the COVID shit fight, but couldn't organise a root at a brewery. They are just trying to get some leverage to move the comp to a date later in the year.
Unlike you, I can't wait for the day competitive surfing disappears up its own arsehole, but everything else you said is spot on.
I think Torquay and Rip Curl should tell WSL to come back next year at Easter or go elsewhere. WSL tried to get comp dates changed in Hawaii a few years back, trying to control all things surfing related, and were told where to go. I see it that WSL are doing the same thing here, with a different strategy. If Bells pro is held this year at a later date, it is giving more power to WSL and the values they represent. their values are business. More consumption, more growth, more legalities, more politics, more partnerships, with developers a possibility? More exclusivity. Surfing product sales control or domination. Maybe using CV19 as an excuse to own Bells for 2 weeks exclusively. The Rip Curl Pro has always been a very crowd oriented event. As Brutus says its a tradition. I think, now not held at Easter 2021. Tell WSL to approach the relevant backers, again as Brutus stated. Rip Curl. Surfing Vic. Surf Coast Shire, and re apply for 2022 if they are interested. If Rip Curl pro proceeds for 2021, that is giving power to WSL. Maybe thats why they are here, instead of America....to build their power base.
All good points mate, WSL are a money making machine that pretend they care about the sport, and sure they do, in a money hungry, corporate greed way.
Except of course they have never made a profit. So they aren't even good at the corporate greed stuff.
All about money, just like the supercars, Newy has become a money making hub, enjoy your pie while it lasts! What happens when over-crowding degrades lifestyle, where's the effective governance and adequate foresight and planning then? The local government are money and development hungry and have little regard for Newcastle residents (apart from commercial drivers), this is another example....
Tens of millions a good thing (in these times)- what, seriously? What planet are you from?
Perhaps the WSL need a big love in with lots of drugs so they can go back to the "all important dreaming phase of planning"......
Overcrowding has already degraded the lifestyle
If you are just moving to Newy now you have missed the boat
We have a meglomaniac of a mayor who wanted to build a skate ramp on THE SAND
Newy Beach
Are you serious CLOWNS
There is no thought to the future lifestyle at all
Where do we sign up?
Just show us the money
Comp probably won't make much difference to already saturated lineups
Typical Newcastle City Council (NCC). Our Lord Mayor loves cutting ribbons and boosting her media profile often at the expense of residents. Supercars was rejected by other Councils but NCC preached the ridiculously big number and welcomed it with open arms. They railroaded it through without doing a due diligence and the efforts they’ve gone to to conceal the actual cost to the City support the rumours that it hasn’t been beneficial. Funny how history can rhyme . . . WSL gets rejected by a Council and community that was smart to look at the big picture and Newcastle Council embraces it without a due diligence or community consultation (in this area they do that after they make the decision). Feel sorry for the Merewether Crew and larger community and hope the board riders club get a lot more than just a couple of wildcards.
hmmm corporations ..
Team America accepts tubeshooter's mission to Covid the Fuck outta Downunder!
Pre Flight Boarding Call
https://sydneynewstoday.com/the-best-surfers-in-the-world-head-to-austra...
LA covid tests allow pass to leave Airport or wander about until texted results.
AO plan only required players to take a Test...most got Test results in-flight...too late.
Those waiting for results were still allowed to board...it was said none were refused.
More of a media grab..not etched in stone.
https://opencourt.ca/2021/01/17/test-positive-possibly-five-flights-to-m...
How strict? Positive Pros get more surfing time that's all it means!
LA 108 passenger Charter- breaches SD (No more than 25% capacity is allowed)
Vic/Qld Govt told WSL they're not on the take for international SD flight breaches.
Starky says he learnt from AO mistakes... & that's 'planely' obvious!
"Same viral Airport is cool but we'll squeeze in more Mutants onto the one Flight."
WSL- LA 108 pros
AO - LA 79 pass' / Doha 58 pass' / Abu Dhabi 64 pass'/ Avg was 74 on 17 flights
Asia -Darwin Uni - 63 Students...
Clearly WSL pass count is way too high & dodgy! (Consider LA is more SD not less)
This is the breach Gladys agreed to, where the other states said fuck off creeps!
WSL chartered T2 or 108 WSL Oompa Loompas or Gladys Bankrolled Gold {POV's}.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1G7o-onkrQ/maxresdefault.jpg
Limo to Gladys' Green Room on Monday with the extra 29 VIP Mutant exemptions.
14 day Quarantine > Strictly No [ Gone Surfin' ] Signs..
WSL Chix can't Surf + Surfer Dudes can't sneak out for a Chiko Roll.
Starky says they get 10 days for Surfari to Bells or Goldie before Comp.
[ QR coded Cyborg spectators only at free Newcastle fenced Event limit 3,000 ]
Goat reckons Bells-Goldie gear was a rip off at $0.50 ounce..
FYI...Not an April Fools Day Joke!"
Still, the payback WSL combo comp dump...was a bit harsh! Don't fuck with Goats!
https://beachgrit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_1822.png.webp
Newcastle Cup Ticketek ( Voting / Booking / Times / Limits / Caps / Registration )
Open Now - Apply Here
https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=SURFB21
WSL Event Terms & Conditions
https://d35kvm5iuwjt9t.cloudfront.net/pdf/SURFB21_T&C.pdf
General Comp Overview
https://sydneynewstoday.com/ticket-voting-for-world-surf-league-newcastl...
*Bookings from Monday 22nd March 2021 - Monday 29th March2021
Voting : Tickets will distributed at random intervals by computer algorithms system.
Booking Times from 10:00 am (Unsure if this is for opening day / every day)
Ticket Limits are 4 per person / day
Caps are 3,000 daily or 20,000- 30,000 for Event
Registration - Daily Tickets can be 'Registered for any / all of 5-6 > extended 11 day window!
(Important) Registered Date may not fall on a Comp day / No re-allocations (Need to re book)
Extra: ( Note: 11:00 am Locked out Tickets go back into draw to spit back out to fill daily Cap)
So some lucky punters will likely be pinged for Finals Day without notice! [ Computer said YES ]
Ocean / Beach Venue will be fenced off & Policed by (Cops) daily from 5:30 am AEDT.
Pre: 5:30 am Comp site Gate entry is Strictly [ Surf Board Only ) Surf Access...(No Board = No Surf)
Spectators, Beachcombers & Basherz are not permitted to access Comp site Surf at any time.
WSL are deploying Patrols for Surfboard riderz only on their VIP Pool Toy Party invite Line Up.
{ 100% Pure } Pacific Ocean Marine Debris Only. (No stickerz = 11 day / 24hr Line-Up Lockout)
11 day lineup Lockout precedents Private Surf Resort leasing - walled off down to the tidal surf Line.
Surf comps allow thru-fare (This is a whiteshoe Easter holiday VIP Timeshare Upgrade!)
WSL lineup trespass is a Criminal Offence enforced by State Govt / NSW Police.
Patrolled perimeter to Social Distance hanger on overcrowding
Seated Venue Only no Stalls / (Standing)
First in are seated but may wish to surrender seats to Biggest Beach Bullies!
BYO 'low' Chairs/ Rugs advisable in General seating Area
No Toe Dips / No Pro Groping or Selfies.
Children can not Tag onto their Parent's Ticket
Re-entry by Scanning Ticket (However!) Daily Comp entry closes at 11:00 am sharp.