Hey Newy! You’re hosting the opening round of the World Surf League’s 2021 Championship Tour in Australia. Let me hear you say ‘yeeeeew!’. 

 

From April 1-11, the World Surf League (WSL) will descend on Mereweather Beach in Newcastle for the opening event of the Australian chapter of the Championship Tour. 

The WSL has had trouble finding safe places to send their surfers this year, with both the Sunset Open in Hawaii and the Santa Cruz Pro in Cali cancelled due to COVID. 

This section of the tour is traditionally hosted at Bells Beach, but Victoria lost the coveted Easter time slot after the state government did not confirm international flights and quarantine plans with the WSL. 

It’ll be the first time the combined male and female Championship Tour event will be held in NSW since the Coke Classic in Manly in 1999. 

‘This is a huge opportunity to promote Newcastle, its world-class waves and the region’s natural assets and visitor attractions to tens of millions of avid surfers and potential holidaymakers around the globe’, said Stuart Ayres, the Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney.

The tour will see 52 of the best international surfers, including Tyler Wright, John John Florence,  Stephanie Gilmore, and Sally Fitzgibbons, make Newcastle their home for the week. 

The 2021 Championship Tour schedule currently includes events in Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Tahiti, and the United States.

Catch the WSL Championship Tour on Channel 7 or Fox Sports, or just head to Newcastle to watch it live!

 

Feature photo by @spencerfrost