FEW sporting events give men and women equal billing, and the boss of Surfest says he’s determined to preserve the structural equality of Newcastle premier surfing competition.
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Confirming at Thursday’s Surfest Women’s Pro launch that the contest would keep its six-star rating in the World Surf League qualifying series, event coordinator Warren Smith voiced his commitment to both the men’s and women’s competitions.
“There’s a lot of events now that have a men’s event, or a women’s event, but we’re one of the few with both. It’s something that we work on as much as we can,” Mr Smith said.
“It’s just fantastic for young people in Newcastle to be able to come and see. It’s why we see people like [Port Stephens surfer] Ellie Clayton-Brown aspire to a career in the sport of surfing.”
The crowd funding campaign behind the women’s pro will be expanded following the model’s introduction last year, which Mr Smith described as “the most successful event” in Surfest’s 31-year history.
