How Manly's annual surf competition went from wipeout to winning
For the first time, siblings Cooper and Sophia Chapman were set to compete together in next year's Australian Open of Surfing at Manly. But their dreams were crushed when the event was cancelled suddenly in October.
"I was a bit bummed for Sophia because I knew she had the wildcard into it and it was going to be her first big event locally," Cooper Chapman said.
"I know how much it's meant to me the last couple of years getting to surf in front of my family and friends, and she got to watch me so I was really excited to watch her."
In September, the Manly Daily revealed that the Australian Open of Surfing would not go ahead in 2018, after Destination NSW withdrew State Government funding for the annual event.
It is understood that funding was cut due to concerns the past event did not meet performance targets. But a grassroots campaign over the past two months has again secured funding and sponsorship, and the creation of a new event, known as the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro.
Liberal MP for Manly, James Griffin, said the local surfing community really pushed to retain the event and he described negotiations to convince Destination NSW to reinstate funding as "robust".
"We as a community mounted a really smart campaign that brought along the grassroots of surfing ... through to some of the biggest names in surfing, including Lane Beachley," Mr Griffin said.
"Manly has a really proud history of surfing and we want it to stay in Manly."
Mr Griffin encouraged local businesses to support the Sydney Pro, to ensure its future beyond next year's event.
"It will really be a grassroots-based, local-business-supported event that will look after itself and be sustainable into the future which I think was part of the challenge of the previous one."
It is anticipated the Sydney Pro will inject up to $800,000 into the local Manly economy through tourism and spending.
The 2018 Sydney Pro will include a men and women's World Surf League qualifying competition, as well as a WSL-sanctioned pro junior competition.
Former World Champion surfer, Layne Beachley, said retaining the event would help young local talent, such as Sophia and Cooper Chapman, to thrive.
"Surfing on the northern beaches provides us with an opportunity to surf in the most beautiful place in the world, in some of the most challenging conditions the world has to offer, and with some of the most disciplined, determined and tenacious talent in the world, so that is a recipe for success," she said.
The Vissla Sydney Surf Pro will run from February 24 to March 4, at Manly Beach.
© Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Comments
Isnt this just the perfect surfing fairytale come true ?
Local surfer dreams of roping off the best bank on a beach of urban closeouts and surfing in anxiety ridden 30 minute windows as a group of strangers make subjective decisions regarding which of the surfers performs the best air reverse .
Doubt shadows the young surfers dream of denying the general population access to the waves so he can showcase his shorebreak wiggle but a " grassroots " campaign sees the local career politician ( Liberal ....it's Manly ! ) jumble together enough of other people's money together to ensure the continued promotion of Australia's most overrated beach in a manner that has been a proven waste of money for the previous years.
Sydney luckily gaining the last 0.001 percent of tourist propaganda dollars that wasn't already allocated at the expense of the rest of the state of NSW. Cause we all know poor old overlooked Sydney deserves a bigger share of state funding ! Especially the forgotten pommy transplants that constitute the Manly population.
Anyway the young surfer gets his dream of a round 2 exit and the people of NSW get to subsidise a failing , unwatchable lead balloon of a hassle fest amongst the shittest waves our nation of incredible surf has to offer and their local besuited fuckwit politicians get a photo op on the beach wearing suits.
All this in the Tony Abbott heartland.
So perfect.
The most eligible contender for the least surf Stoke inducing story of the year dropping with less than 24 hours to go till the year ends.....that's your real fairytale ending.
Special props go out to Layne Beachley for describing the entire sorry farce as a "recipe for success " despite the repeated and unrelenting total failure of the exact same recipe throughout its multiple incarnations.
It's a fairytale .... facts matter little in the face of exuberant profligacy of taxpayer funds if you've just got a little bit of faith.
FWIW, Xmas/New Year period (on a Sunday no less) is always a slow-news-kinda-week for us, given that 75% of the Swellnet team are on leave.
However, I think it’s an interesting story - the grandeur of the previous years of the AOS never quite made sense to me (skate, surf, music, art, etc) so I wasn’t surprised that the government funding was pulled this year. Remember when it was the Billabong/Hurley AOC, then just Hurley? Also missed a year or two (since it started in 2012) if I recall correctly.
On the other hand, Vissla have been beavering away in this area for a few years now - supporting the smaller end of the pro surfing landscape - so it looks like they’ve taken the opportunity for the event to recalibrate itself, and then position themselves for a long term partnership. Smart thinking.
Local politicians love exactly these types of schemes- promote the use of and spending of funds from other people.
The surfing is incidental but chimes with Manlys image.The NSW government is drunk with funds at the moment so there will be plenty more of these spending sprees ahead.
Gee talk about negativity blown!
Wow, another way our government blows are hard earned on a commercial failure. Does Manly have a homeless problem like the similar suburb I live in? Is there a security problem amongst our population, either immigrant or anglo? Is there an Ice epidemic that is crippling our society?
These other commercial failures don't look pretty in the media, unlike Abbottt in his sluggoes, I guess that's how we rationalize the spending on a trivial piece of showmanship....
On the contrary Ben , I'm glad you highlight the garbage that the surf industry perpetually tries to ram down our throats at our expense.
And it's never boring watching them try to paint their lipstick on the ever ugly variety of pigs they parade in an attempt to increase crowds in the line up.
You guys are just the messengers and it's a minor whinge on your excellent site.
PS Woof - Shit deserves to be referred to as such . Good vibes are great but this ain't good vibes . A taxpayer funded circle jerk held in the shittest waves possible in order to bolster one of the richest local economies in the country needs to be called out for the shit fest it is.
Too many years we've been served the same crap and told we're to love it or shut our mouths.
$800,000.00 for a surf comp at Manly .
Meanwhile the regions of NSW are on the bones of their arse .
$800,000 into the local economy? Probably less than the average morning turnover for cappuccinos! More significantly it is already impossible to park along the entire beachfront most of the time. There is very limited on street parking and few parking areas. My guess is that the $800,000 will be largely illusory as the event displaces other tourists and locals who would have spent the equivalent amount. Not to say I am completely opposed to these events, just that Manly specifically, and urban areas generally, are unsuitable for them. I am sure there are many coastal towns where that $800,000 would represent a real gain for local businesses.
In an 8 day period $100,000 per day extra injected into the economy? Perceived extra people crowd average ? maybe 10,000 per day, each spending perceived 10 bucks each??
Ask the Melbourne city council about the riches the Albert Park Grand Prix generates, these events are a money pit and generate headaches the local residents wish were not inflicted upon them.
I think the State Government probably did their homework on this one and realised it was a poor investment, but in terms of inconvenience, presumably anyone living close to Manly beach would be used to it.
Happy new year
I actually caught a bit of last years event on foxtel, looked exactly like what was on offer the day of the politicians suit fest in the background, meaningless dribble
Happy New Year folks, rip the bags in 2018
Well it won't be an extra 10,000 people a day for 8 days - more like 500 bemused tourists plus parents/relatives and friends all sitting on the beach and spending nothing.
It really does not justify the $800k but hey, this Liberal government is the one to waste some money.
Just to correct a misapprehension, the NSW government is not investing any money in this event. The $800,000 is the estimated benefit to local business from the thousands (ha ha) of expected spectators ready to splash their cash around the local tourist traps.
They are.. though no amount has been stated publicly. From above:
”Liberal MP for Manly, James Griffin, said the local surfing community really pushed to retain the event and he described negotiations to convince Destination NSW to reinstate funding as "robust".
Yeh he might pull some pork out of his electorate barrel but I would be surprised if there is any serious public money. The Liberals don't need to shore up their Manly vote so they probably will listen to the bean counters on this one.
i'd prefer public money didn't go into building stadiums or sponsoring any professional sporting events (or firecrackers on the harbour). being a short walk from the comp site i've attended the last two years finals days. saw some great surfing. i'd rather head to Tahiti or Fiji to watch a pro comp but i can't afford either the money or the time. i'll check it again this next event (unless the waves are like today's) but i hope they brush the ramp structure.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/staff-raise-concerns-over-st-vince...
Anyone looking at missing out on palliative care can just drag their oxygen bottle down to Manly and watch a few heats of Brazilian QS strugglers having it out in knee high dribble if they need cheering up . Cos it's the Brazzo quarterfinalists who are getting the money missing from the hospitals budget.
Great news for the northern beaches. Good job to the locals for rallying together to keep the contest going.
Just stating this Event was moulded to be the same as the US Open of surfing . Hence the time of year to run the contest.
@ Blowin they will find a way to spend your money anyway ; ) Better that it goes to surfing .
Thanks for the laugh Blowin you have had a bit of form lately cheers
How come I saw Larry Blair and Wayne Lynch duking it out in Barelling waves in a Sydney Coke Contest back in the Day and I've never seen anything since?
because it was at a totally different time of year to when they hold the event nowadays
manly jazz festival big, manly wine & food big, manly surf comp small
I can see where the negativity is coming from, but to be fair it was pretty cool watching the current world champ ripping it up in windy 5-6ft surf on finals day last year
Blowins hit nail on head.
Why have any surf comp at manly ..? Why even bother surfing at manly?
Absolutely on the money there Marcus Manly NEVER gets any good, not even at ....... In a solid ...... swell and a ....... wind. Just doesn't happen!
Of course Manly pumps on its day .
So does Bondi , Trigg , Middleton and Clifton.
And the local surfers deserve to have that rare bird for themselves after enduring the previous 9687 days of below par slop, don't you think ?
Yeh one good day every thirty years or so is on the money there Blowin. Not.
Of course I don't actually know what the surf is like at Manly.
I've only been a couple of times and it was shit . Late summer / early autumn.
It's more of a general feeling about the joint. It comes across as the Australian Rio De Janeiro. City living , shifting beachies , more " lifestyle " than surf destination.
If that's your thing then that's unreal.
Have a look at the 1978 Surfabout Final. It gets that good often enough.
Couple of aus champs from manly too
While Blindboy refers to the 1978 Surfabout final as an example of great surf at Manly Beach he neglects to mention that event was held after the Bells Beach event and consequently after Easter whereas this event is in February. Having lived in Manly back in the day I can say with authority that the best waves for Manly are in Autumn and winter with summer the worst time for waves. He also disputes that the NSW Government is funding the event, he is wrong.
Surprised to see negative comments on the quality of the surf at Manly. I reckon it's one of the better beaches across the Manly to Palmy stretch, for size, consistency and reliability.
For longboards and beginners it's awesome but not for high performance surfing in the worst time of the year for Manly Beach waves.
When's the "best time of the year"?
I can give plenty of examples of great surf in the "worst" time, and poor surf in the "best" time. That's the one unchangeable aspect of pro surfing - by locking in a date well in advance, you're never guaranteed good waves, even when the long term data suggests it's your safest bet.
Exhibit A: many WSL events that deliver poor surf in prime season.
The best time of the year is usually Autumn and Winter at Manly. As Blindboy mentioned the 1978 Surfabout final as an example of great surf at Manly Beach which was held after Easter.
My point is why have an event that costs the taxpayers a shitload of money that is heralded as promoting Manly for tourists from overseas to come to when you hold it at the worst time of year for quality surf?
Not sure about winter being good at Manly. The seasonal fare is south and south-east swells which Manly does a great job of artfully dodging, and the bigger swells that make it around Blue Fish refract into slow closeouts.
FWIW Manly doesn't come into its own till it swings north of east - so late summer, early autumn for mine.
Yeah I know, that still aint when the comp is on but I'm in a pedantic mood.
How come if winter is no good you posted photos of awesome waves in Manly with the surfers all wearing steamers?
'All' the surfers are me, so I know how rare good waves during winter are. Yeah, you'll get 'em but compared to south facing places it takes a hell of a lot to tick Manly over.
It's likely more to do with the event's availability to slot into the WSL's (and everyone else's) calendars.
Also, winter may very well have better waves but it's harder to drag the general public to the beach when it's sixteen degrees under an icy westerly.
Missing the predominant swells, shallow closeouts and 16 degrees in an icy westerly.
You've sold me .....not.
I just visited the dentist for the first time in over 25 years and she took a tooth out . So sign me up for a pedantic debate.
Maybe you can convince me that Manly isn't amongst the ten most crowded , overrated average beachies going ?
Like a white sand Kuta. If Kuta was extremely expensive with a sterile vibe and with a decent bank / swell / wind combo once every 90 days.
Game on.
Manly? You including the reefs..?
I don't include the reefs.
Nice pics
The photos are great and reveal the truth, good waves at Manly are in winter, every photo shows steamers worn.
Ha ha ha...good sleuthing MP, though you'd have a lot of free time if you only surfed QB and Winki (both of which are at their best in east to north-east anyway).
I don't surf the place often now as it is usually crazy crowded when it is good but I used to surf it a lot and was actually, very briefly, a member of Mid-Steyne Boardriders. So fair enough, crap in south swells but capable, as Larry Blair demonstrated in '78, of producing epic barrels. I will still sneak down there when I suspect a window of opportunity and had a couple of really fun days last month with minimal crowds. So, all of the above. Classic at times, often total crap, usually way too crowded, most likely to serve up dribbles for the event but at that time of year there is also a reasonable chance of quality.
Probably best to compare Manly against other Northern Beaches options, via Stu's article from 2011:
https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2011/01/24/drive-thru-northern...
I loved that article .
It's not doing much to bolster anyone's case for Manly as a surfing destination though does it ?
Goes a good way towards negating Stu's own photos of the reefs too.
Still like the photos though.
What's more consistent - Quality Manly beachies or that novelty wave that crew ride inside Sydney Harbour ?
Seriously, I reckon Craig's got enough photographic evidence to justify the quality of the surf at Manly. He surfs there nineteen times a day, too.
You can't really argue with someone that surfs the joint 19 times a day.
Unless you're saying that love is blind ?
"On the other hand, Vissla have been beavering away in this area for a few years now - supporting the smaller end of the pro surfing landscape - so it looks like they’ve taken the opportunity for the event to recalibrate itself, and then position themselves for a long term partnership. Smart thinking."
This strikes me as curious.
Firstly, because the QS event at Manly has been nothing if not mercurial and unstable. Here one year, gone the next, dependent on a what seems to be a fickle stream of Govt backing.
And if Hurley, a far bigger company with bigger pockets and much deeper connections to pro surfing, couldn't find value in it I'll be surprised if Vissla can.
Secondly, it seems a very odd pairing. Vissla's whole brand image and marketing has been aimed at kind of cool cat, waterman, artist, DIY vibe. Exhibit A: Bryce Young.
Nowhere in their "brand DNA" to borrow one of those horrific marketing phrases do they cultivate any kind of connection with B-grade "jock" surfing and QS level surf contests. I really struggle to see what kind of leverage they get from sponsoring an event like that....it seems far more likely the target consumer they have cultivated would be turned off by the association than turned on.
And thirdly, is this resurrection of a contest no one really gave a fcuk about , save a few suits, soccer dads , local business owners and local pollies looking to shore up a few hundred local votes a sign of pro surfing rising from the ashes like a phoenix? Or far more likely the continuing death rattle of same.
Lets be honest, from being one of the global epicentres of Pro Surfing, Australias biggest and wealthiest City is now nothing more than an insignificant backwater and it struggles to maintain even that position.
Sydney moved on from Pro Surfing a long time ago. It seems pro surfing can't move on from Sydney.
When was the last CT level event in Sydney?
I can't remember the mens, and Layne had some pissant comp for the womens, which finished up when?
As Blowin said, this is a proven waste of money, a failed enterprise that continually rears its head up in the nest to squawk for more taxpayer funding to continue. How much longer?
"Nowhere in their "brand DNA" to borrow one of those horrific marketing phrases do they cultivate any kind of connection with B-grade "jock" surfing and QS level surf contests."
What about sponsoring the ISA World Titles for the past however many years?
Or is that further down the alphabet?
You better go wash your hands after typing " Brand DNA ".
And here I was thinking that nothing could inspire queasiness more thoroughly than getting a reluctant tooth pulled. I was wrong.
...and they also sponsor two QS events - Boomerang Beach and Cenny Coast - so adding this one to the stable makes for a synergy or something.
Edit: just found out Vissla sponsor the esteemed NSW Pro Surf Series - a five event series.
Watch the DNA grow....
One factor in favour of the viability of the event is the significant increase in the under 15 contingent. There are more young surfers in the water locally than I have seen for a long time. If you want to build a brand they would have to be your target. Old bastards like most of us have seen it all before but kids in that 10-15 bracket love a chance to see their local heroes in action. Really the only ones with a right to complain are those who are likely to lose access to a stretch of their local. Haven't heard from anyone like that yet. So yes, slight change of view after being surrounded by frothing groms during my mid morning surf.
I had no idea they sponnoed the ISA or any other QS events Stu. Those things just seem so far below the radar unless you pay close attention, they are almost invisible.
So, it sounds like a total change of direction from the hipster/freesurfer/artisan brand to a kind of Hurley lite then.
In that case, I wonder why the change in "brand direction", is that a term?
.
Brand identity being a true and accurate reflection of their tribal leader / guru / CEO , this guy - https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2013/11/08/paul-naude-launches... - probably just woke up one day and realised he wasn't the freewheeling anti - corpo gypsey he'd imagined.
Indeed he decided that what his life needed was MORE whistles and sirens and barking officials with clipboards and MORE 2nd round repercharge heats and MORE occupation of public space with an otherwise private activity.
It wasn't a big leap for him to realise it was time to hook up with those loose party units from the ISA and get this party started !
From 2011, when the future of the Aus Open of Surfing at Manly seemed so bright, and Hurley seemed to see value for the brand.
Deja vu all over again?
Surfers Mick Fanning, Occy, Barton Lynch, Rabbit Bartholomew and Laura Enever, joined with representatives from event sponsors Hurley and Billabong and government bodies today at Manly to announce the event, scheduled for February 11 – 19, 2012.
The Australian Open of Surfing is an extension of the world’s largest action sports festival, the US Open of Surfing, held annually at California’s Huntington Beach.
Chairman and Founder of Hurley, Bob Hurley said, “The idea for the Australian Open of Surfing was conceived in our home town of Huntington Beach, California, three years ago. In the midst of challenging economic times, our team had the courage to bring world class artists, athletes and musicians to ‘Surf City USA’".
The 6-star prime surfing event will be focus of a broader festival encompassing skating, live music, fashion and art. It is expected to attract 125,000 punters and generate $6 million for New South Wales.
Widely known as the birthplace of Australian surfing, Manly was the location for the first World Surfing Championships held in 1964.
Billabong will move the final event of the World Junior Championship Tour from Narrabeen to Manly, bringing the event into the Australian Open of Surfing fold.
Billabong CEO, Derek O’Neill said, “The World Junior Championships provides a window into the future of surfing… so it made sense to bring those properties together to celebrate both the history and future of one of Australia’s greatest sports.”
Surfing Australia will also move their annual Surfing Awards to become part of the event.
Member for Manly, Mike Baird said the Australian Open of Surfing will reaffirm Manly’s position on the global surfing circuit.
“This event will also go beyond the surf and embrace other youth culture and lifestyle elements. By working closely with Manly Council we will make this event a global success,” said Mr. Baird.
The Australian Open of Surfing will be Australia’s first national surfing championship and will fuse action sports, fashion, art and live music to attract Australia’s core youth culture for the nine day event produced by IMG. It will include Association of Surfing Professionals six-star events for men and women and the season-ending World Junior Championships for boys and girls.
Member for Manly, Mike Baird said the Australian Open of Surfing will reaffirm Manly’s position on the global surfing circuit.
Haha !
I know, it's amazing how easily one forgets the mountains of BS spewed up at these press thingies until you go back a couple years later and read them again.
As I asked before, is this another failed attempt to launch or a genuine resurrection of Manly/Sydney on the "global surfing circuit?"
Fucken hell, the value of commercial influx has dropped from $6 million in 2012 to a mere $800,000 for 2018.
With that sort of projected earning decline the show cant go on, unless you get some serious creative accountants and engage the Springfield Monorail sales man!!!
What was that? A talking mule!!!!
2 issues:
1: The quality of the surf at Manly
2: The return on investment of a professional surf comp in Manly
To address the second point first, I’d like any of the detractors of a surf comp in Manly to accurately describe to me how any surf comp in the history of surfing has definitely made a profit for a sponsor in the past. And by that I mean show me a balance sheet whereby it displays outgoings for staging the event versus tangible incomings such that the event per se has made a definitive profit for the sponsor. Good luck...
In terms of the surf in Manly, well you’ve got a point break at one end, good beachies on their day north, south and middle plus a big wave/tow in spot if you want it.
Holds any size that the east coast can throw at it, not bad for any beach.
Beyond that, lots of eye candy, plenty of bars/restaurants and 20 mins to the CBD on the fast ferry...yeah the place really sucks as a surfing destination.
I’ve personally never had a real problem getting a wave anywhere along the stretch, maybe 5 surfs over the last 23 years have left me frustrated.
Best advice is to ALWAYS apologise if you drop in and offer to somehow repay the person if you can. Stay mellow and enjoy the fact you’re living in Australia...surfing in Manly is incredibly unstressful if you adhere to both these principles
The CEO of Vissla Paul Naude is an ex pro surfer from South Africa, that would explain his fixation with surfing competitions.