Day one of the Port Stephens Toyota NSW Pro got underway at One Mile Beach on Thursday.
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Surf conditions forced organisers to move the competition from Birubi Beach to One Mile. The conditions are expected to pick up for the weekend, however, moving the surfing tournament back to Birubi.
World Surf League deputy commissioner Jess Miley-Dyer said spectators could expect to see some amazing surfing across the four-day event, especially in the Women’s QS6000.
“This is the last event on the QS calendar so it’s super important in terms of points and last-ditch qualification efforts,” she said.
“There’s a few surfers who have their career on the line, so for them, this is going to be a very stressful week.
“We also have the opportunity to witness new Australian talent come through the ranks on the world stage at the beginning of their careers.
“The talent pool on the women’s side is excellent and I’m excited to see who get’s the final slots for the 2018 CT [championship tour].
“The last qualifying spot seems to be quite open at this point, and there are a few women like Paige Hareb, Macy Callaghan and Philippa Anderson on the cusp of getting it.
“It should be an exciting battle and I can’t wait to see who will get it done.”
Anderson has had plenty of hard luck on the QS in the past.
The Novocastrian has missed the qualification cut off six years in a row.
After a number of career-best results in 2017, Anderson is as close as she’s ever been to stepping onto the CT.
With the biggest event of her career-taking place twenty minutes from her house, Anderson is as confident as she’s ever been about achieving her lifelong goal.
“I’ve been trying to get onto the CT for six years now so it is really weird to know that the next four days will dictate whether or not I achieve that goal,” she said.
“It definitely is a make-or-break event for me but I just want to know that I am doing my best and trying 110% and if the result doesn’t come my way I’ll know that I tried my best.
“Birubi is a pretty tricky wave to surf so having the experience out here that I do will definitely play to my advantage. It looks like we are going to have great waves this event so I can’t wait to kick off.”
Joining the Men’s QS1000 and Women’s QS6000 components of the event will be the Port Stephens Women’s Challenge and the PRD Port Stephens and Kaos Surf Cadet Cup.
Both events will give amateur women and promising junior stars the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in women’s surfing.
The Women’s QS6000 has attracted a field of 114 women. The Mens QS1000 has 64 competitors while the women’s challenge has 16. About 74 juniors will contest the eight cadet cup divisions.
Representing Port Stephens in the Women’s QS6000 will be Elle Clayton-Brown, 15, from Corlette and Jasmine Sampson, 15, from Anna Bay.