Narrabeen snatches the Snapper Rocks CT event
Overnight, the NSW State Government announced it would be hosting a second CT event, this time at Narrabeen.
The event, which will be held in April and is as yet unnamed, was poached from Queensland when the Palaszczuk State Government couldn't guarantee the World Surf League (WSL) of cross border travel, according to WSL Asia-Pacific general manager Andrew Stark.
Stark said the WSL had made the decision to cancel the Snapper Rocks event and stay in NSW after Queensland refused to guarantee quarantine-free access to the state.
Yesterday, the QLD Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe argued the decision to ditch Snapper Rocks hinged on the government paying for hotel quarantine. However, Stark told Nine Media the WSL was paying for the hotel quarantine in NSW.
“This is not a financial decision, this is a decision around how we run events,” he said. “It’s too risky to just gamble whether the border is open or not ... we had to de-risk our sport.”
Late last year, the WSL reportedly approached Northern Beaches Council to run an event at Narrabeen, though the plans were shelved when a COVID outbreak threw the region into a five-day lockdown.
It's now the second ad hoc CT planned for NSW, and follows the Newcastle Pro which will run from the 1st to 11th April. Nine Media is reporting the combined events "would generate $15 million for NSW under pre-COVID circumstances." Though with unknown sponsors and limited crowd numbers the expected return will be well down on those estimations.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro put a parochial spin on the announcement stating, "once again, NSW has come out on top. In 2021, NSW will be known as the surfing state and sporting capital of Australia.”
If it runs, it'll be the first time a CT event has been held at Narrabeen since 1997 when Kelly Slater beat Sunny Garcia in the Coke Classic.
Comments
I am sure I speak for other surfers on the southern end of the Gold Coast I will not miss the Snapper Rocks event.
Second that VB. Couldn't care less. Too much disruption for limited benefit. The Brisso scaff companies, security and catering gave no spend locally. It got too much for most long term locals, was a better event when it was mobile IMO.
Third that VB, Surfalot67...
2017 was the last WSL CT final at Snapper.
Same year they talked about Event going walkabout...
Due to small sloppy onshore Finals Day Conditions
2018 Quiky Kirra Finals Day left Corona Beach Bar high & Dry.
Govt WSL / CT Deal until 2021 (2018 "reads Another 3 years '19/20/21)
Meaning 2021 is still under $3m/event Qld contract.
https://teq.queensland.com/news-and-media/past-media-releases/gold-coast...
+
2018 NSW Govt pull funding on Oz Open Manly (Cancel)
https://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/img-confirm-cancellation-of-manlys-au...
(See brutus below...from 2019-2022 Comp is Govt funded)
2019 WSL told SQ to shop it out for Kelly's Ranch.
2019 Qld + WSL paid NSW $3.1m to host the last Quiky.
NSW wasted no time in drug testing the Pro's on Day 1.
NSW host 1st Equal Pay CT Comp
(Qld has never hosted an Equal Pay CT Comp!)
SQ redbull Air trials for NSW Showcase Final
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2019 Visla +Destination NSW (Sydney QS )
https://www.sbia.com.au/2019-vissla-sydney-surf-pro-wins-nsw-sporting-ev...
2020-22 Sydney Surf Pro Locked in (Upgraded to CS) XXL Comp!
https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/news-and-media/media-releases/wsl-sydn...
2020 No Goldie Corona Outbreak Pro.
2020 No Margs Grand Slam (WA cancel)
2021 NSW pay $5m to stage Quiky ($8.1m loss on 2019 deal).
Wash Up! ~ Sunny + Goldie + Lennox + Bells (Locals Only ~ NO WSL)
'18 NSW mugged WSL / '20 - WA grand slammed WSL
Starky's Mutant Bubble -(( Gladys*Marky love WSL slops ))
Does Covid negate Govt Comp contracts?
Goldie / Manly / Bells are all signed & paid Up?
To make the circle complete someone has to paddle out in a Reno Bell-bottom Wetsuit.
& ride a Brewer twin fish that won the Surfabout N.Narra final ….and converted many in Oz including MR into twin aficionados
Looks like Barilaro has found his calling in life - stand up comedian!!!
Barilaro's true calling in life is EXTREME CORRUPTION:
See here for evidence and a laugh:
Manly is so going to announced next and then you have it - the Australian leg done.
At present, they'll have five, perhaps even six, events to decide the World Title.
Pipe, Newy, Narra, Kelly's Hot Tub, maybe Santa Cruz, it's still on the calendar and they'll be in Cal anyway, and then the 'Superbowl' final at Trestles.
On the recent 'Getting Heated' Fanning thought they needed six or seven comps to decide a champ, Ross Williams demurred and said four or five. Looks like they'll split the two, but if they lock in another one they're heading towards the upper end and an asterisk may not be required.
Stu...didn't the NSW govt pull funding from the 6 star Manly/Vissla pro Last year, I think it was $300 K as they said it could be spent better elsewhere...same Govt????
Now it's like NSW discovered surfing and spending millions at Newcastle( yeah like people are going to start taking their holidays in Newy!) and more possible events because there is now some kind of upside to surfing events bringing $'s into local economies?
'The best surfers in the best waves'?????????????
Lucky for them NN locals are some of the friendliest in the world.
Yep, have always had a warm welcome there. Except when I wanted to go in the water.
Haha, yep. NN locals are the worst I've come across in Oz.
As an average surfer, I've had way more problems in Maroubra than in North Narrabeen.
NN locals would be the biggest hypocrite's if they weren't jumping up and down about now. Maybe alot of cash under the table for their club?
Much like how the entire COVID debacle has occurred I find this good for a laugh. Instead of having the athletes and crowds congregate at place with no cases and limited risk they are going to hold the event at the second most risky city in the country (still limited risk anyway). So ultimately, due to concerns related to COVID, we will hold the event elsewhere and increase the risk. hahaha. Idiots. Obviously there are smaller management issues guiding the overall management. What we need is some sort government that takes control over the entire country, maybe like a federal type government, to be practical. hahahah
Strickland not Stark, surprised his ego allowed it.
Rip Curl Newcastle Cup, Merewether, NSW April 1-11
Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic, North Narrabeen, NSW April 16-26
Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro, Margaret River, WA May 2-12
Rip Curl Search Rottnest Island, Strickland Bay, WA May 16-26
Sprout is stoking up a 2021 Rip Curl # Rad Rebel Tour #
Gonna need a - [|({ Gromz Curtain Raiser -})|] - for yer Rad Rebel Tour
Rip Curl GromSearch Oz Final, Tulla Point, Vic March 15
Ma! 'Weez got one'o'dem Fake Rebel Tours brewing up sum trouble again!'
"Best fetch Ma's Wild West Gun...Boy!"
'Ma! Please I beg you...Yer not gonna shoot da' Curl...'.
"Outta my Way Boy! Someone's gotta end these circus games!"
swellnet wild west surf report [ 'Bigger than Wed' ] Surfs Up!
Turple Fog Horn [ Out The Back ] Ma paddles into....WOTD.
Gary would prefer if you referred to the rapidly spreading WSL events within Australia as a cluster not a bubble k thanks Stu
Rottnest? not sue how the pros will feel about riding a pushy to get everywhere.
Great for the Insta and Italo will have that buggy
NC article on the other site saying DY is a backup venue.
I'm curious - did anyone from NB council get wind of this before the announcement? Interesting that up at LeBa there was the protest, council vote etc but down here it seemed to just gets announced...
Triple J just announcing Rottnest contest on for 16-26 May. No spectators of course...
wsl? lets find the shitest waves in the country and hold an event there
When are they announcing the Jan Juc leg..?
Between the South Trigg round and the Glenelg round.
Colonisation time for NN. All brazzos, nomads, SUP riders, foilers, wave ski riders, tow in germans, mal riders, alaia riders, surf schools, hipsters, euros, beginners, grumpy old farts, ex pros, occy, dingo, walking dead zombies etc are now officially welcome to come to North Narrabeen to view the contest and stay on. Very consistent, quality wave, friendly locals - safety in numbers is the key for non locals. The locals fended off the hordes in the early pro era after the contest left. But now there are many who know how to swarm and do ju jitsu.
It is too late to stop the SUP and foil clusters on the NN unfortunately ...
I remember watching Herro smash it at Northy in the Coke Classic back in the day. It's a smoking wave on it's day and April is prime time. Will be great to see the top 44 at Narrabeen, hopefully it turns it on.
Is there going to be a backup venue? Hopefully not, but I can't see them running at NN in a southerly swell and wind combo. No mention of any approvals for the use of Council land that would require determination by a Local Planning Panel.
DY.
did the WSL not just shutdown Pipe Because of COVid? why the fuck would we risk the Community for a fucking show?
Imagine spending 10 years trying to get on the CT and this was your first year on tour....
QS guys are used to surfing shite waves like these so maybe this gives them a small advantage ?
Yep, that'd be a shit sandwich. They'll probably have to concentrate on their social media influencing. Fark, what's the world come to!
"In 2021, NSW will be known as the surfing state and sporting capital of Australia"...
Ha ha ha, what a w**k that is! One year doesn't make any state the surfing state and Bells and Snapper return to their rightful places in 2022 and beyond. 2 surf comps don't make NSW the sporting capital of Oz either. Oz Open, AFL Grand Final, MCG, the sporting capital of Oz is a no-brainer!
Are you 10?
So what's hanging out of your ass? For God's sake, try and be happy!
Stay off the meth
Long reef could be an option if the swell was chunky & crew were mobile.
waves are a long way from shore and fragile environment/cliffs so difficult to film/judge etc but no doubt Kelly and mates will be hitting golf balls around the headland.
Look on the bright side at least there’s a left on tour
Yeah as much as it’s almost gone beyond the point of me caring, it will be good to see them surf a walley style left. Very rare these days
Shane herring getting a wild card?
Regarding the question of whether the local council was consulted - ha ha, this is Sydney mate, if there’s a dollar in it the local council will either get on board or be pushed over by the State government. They’ll make it a ‘State significant’ sporting event, or some such, and just railroad any opposition.
$15M boost to the region!!! Another back of the envelope piece of nonsense there, as these figures always are.
Barilaro is right up there as one of the most opportunistic, dumb politicians we have been graced with. He wants to endanger Sydney’s water supply so that a coal mine can be extended, he wants open borders from other states but wanted Sydneysiders to stay out of the regions. Consistent, he’s not.
And the northern beaches love people from other parts of the city or State to come up there. Remember to visit 7 or 8 pie shops, cafes, massage parlours, clubs and Thai restaurants while you’re there. :-)
And public transport is so easy, no need to drive.
I think they have a drawbridge, don't they?
And the most fascinating part of the whole pandemic has been to see how the other half live: yoga, breakfast cafe, dog grooming, massage parlour, break for lunch at pub, pokies, cafe, shop 6 shops in retail, hair appointment, more dog grooming, tattoo, pie shop, pilates, RSL dinner & dance, boutique brewery. Day 1 finished, prepare to do it all again.
Is this how life is when you don't surf?
Technically yes, we do have a draw bridge (spit bridge).
There's always been semi-joking proposal to set up a check station at the narrabeen bridge & at the bottom of mona vale road too... Finally came to fruition in the christmas lockdown, but it didn't last!
Recent ad showing on social media....
Except.. it's not listed on the Surfing Queensland or WSL websites (even as 'tentative)'.
Is it going ahead?
Give the wildcard to Hedgey.
I reckon he won this rivals thing on surfing performance. Uneven playing field with the waves but Hedgey tore fck out of it.
Not sure how he’ll go against the current CT crew and don’t care, just enjoy watching him surf.