Surfest Gets A Promotion
Next year, Newcastle's Surfest will upgrade from the regional Qualifying Series to the second-tier Challenger Series. The long-running contest has been a regular on the QS circuit. In fact, it pre-dates the QS, having started in 1985, then adopting QS status when the tours split in 1992.
When the Challenger Series was created in 2020, Surfest hung onto its QS status, however with the consolidation of the CS, and a fair whack of local funding, the contest has been promoted.
Traditionally held in March, it'll by the first contest of the CS tour, with Snapper, the previous opening contest, upgrading to CT status.
Pro surfers and bureaucrats mingle comfortably on a rock platform
"To have the WSL Challenger Series opening event here showcasing our beaches and the National Surfing Reserve, the home of Mark Richards, Merewether Beach, is fantastic news for Newcastle and the Hunter Region," said SURFEST Founder and Director Warren Smith.
Only two Novacastrians have ever won Surfest, Philippa Anderson in 2009 and Jackson Baker in 2022.
"It's super exciting to finally have Surfest back on the world stage, and to have a Challenger Series event here at home in Merewether is so epic," Baker said. "It's super cool for the upcoming groms in the area and local kids to have the internationals coming back to town for such a prestigious event. It is a dream come true, not for myself but for the local community. Even more exciting is that I've got the opportunity to win a Challenger Series event at my home beach that I've surfed my whole life with all my family and friends there."
Comments
"a fair whack of local funding" - Given that Dirk Ziff is a billionaire, why does the NSW government have to throw in some funds to support this contest?
Simple, the WSL doesn't make any money . Cash for setup and prize money has to come from somewhere.
Mate you don’t have the facts
Interesting,
Great news, explains jule's want to return to the CS why not start when it's in the back yard.
Starts in March which is before the mid year cut .... meaning you have to wait a year to get back on the hamster wheel.
Nice captions @ stu net!!!!H@H@
Jules won’t just get a wildcard to the whole CS will he? Would’ve thought he’d have to beat the kids and has-beens in the regional QS to get there? No easy feat in the Aussie sector.
He has asked for it.
Hopefully south winter swells will be on offer and not the crap end of summer rubbish that has plagued surfest over past few yrs other than a good day here and there
Gotta agree there.
On average spring isnt the best season for waves on the east coast (yes there are odd exceptions)
The Port of Newcastle is sponsoring the $$$ not the NSW Government. The Hunter gets nothing from the NSW Government
The CS going from strength to strength I see.
@Meggs, I'm curious as to why any corporation in NSW has to stump up the money. With Ziff a billionaire he must be thinking we are a bunch of country bumpkins silly enough to support his little WSL plaything
Bro - even the NRL has sponsors
Sweet another inconsistently good beach break to qualify Brazilians who won’t make the cut. Stoked for Newy and as someone who used to live there I would be super excited by the news. But the CS really needs to do be in waves better suited for qualifying the right contenders for the big boy/girl tour
Might tune in early tomorrow and watch a few heats , some heats have three surfers trying to qualify....
Pretty exciting really.