Port Stephens has been selected as one of four locations that will host World Surf League qualifying series events early in 2021.
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A women's QS3000 event, to be called the Port Stephens Pro, will be staged at Birubi Beach between February 21 and 23 as part of the Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series.
Surfing NSW chief executive officer Luke Madden said the series will play a vital role for regional surfers as they aspire to qualify for the WSL's Challenger Series - the global battleground for Championship Tour qualification - and the Championship Tour, where the world's best surfers compete for the World Title.
"Surfing NSW's intention of launching the Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series back in 2016 was to give Australian surfers the opportunity to get closer to qualifying for the Championship Tour," Madden said.
"Now with the inclusion of the Challenger Series events and each region having an allocation of people who qualify, we're overjoyed to see a regional pathway for Australian competitors."
The four-event series will kick off with the Great Lakes Pro at Boomerang Beach (February 16-19) and will be followed by the Port Stephens Pro, the Mad Mex Maroubra Pro at Maroubra Beach (February 26-28) and the Vissla Central Coast Pro at Avoca Beach (March 2-7).
The Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series will be the first title or QS-rated surfing competition hosted in Port Stephens since the Port Stephens Toyota Pro, last held at Birubi Beach in November 2019.
The 2020 Port Stephens Toyota Pro, along with all other WSL events, was cancelled due to COVID-19 health concerns and restrictions. A date for the 2021 Port Stephens Toyota Pro has not been released.
Port Stephens Surf Festival events, the NSW SUP State Titles and NSW Longboard State Titles, were due to be held in May then August but were ultimately cancelled by Surfing NSW due to the virus.
Local surfers will also miss out on the opportunity to take part in the Surfest trials typically held in Port Stephens in January, as the annual Newcastle-based surf competition has been cancelled for 2021.
The Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series forms part of WSL's new competition format for 2021. The league announced earlier in the year that it would create distinct seasons between the QS (regional development tier), the Challenger Series and the Championship Tour.
"The new tour structure will provide a more streamlined and affordable career pathway for WSL athletes by allowing up-and-coming surfers to develop closer to home without financially over-leveraging themselves," Surfing NSW said.
"Athletes will compete on their regional QS tour in hopes of qualifying for the Challenger Series, and ultimately the Championship Tour, which will reduce the economic pressure on surfers and their sponsors, as well as provide increased opportunities to celebrate local stars."
The QS will run from January through to July 2021 and determine who has qualified for the CS, which will run from August through to December 2021.
Each region will have an allocation of surfers that can qualify for the CS through their regional tour.
Australia/Oceania will receive an allocation of 10 men's and eight women's spots in the Challenger Series based on the regional QS rankings.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
