WORLD'S BEST FEMALE SURFERS SET FOR MASSIVE WEEK OF ACTION AT PORT STEPHENS TOYOTA NSW PRO.
WORLD'S BEST FEMALE SURFERS SET FOR MASSIVE WEEK OF ACTION AT PORT STEPHENS TOYOTA NSW PRO.
BIRUBI BEACH, PORT STEPHENS
The 2017 Port Stephens Toyota NSW Pro is set to begin tomorrow with the women’s World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 6,000 set to kick off the four-days of surf action.
World Surf League Deputy Commissioner Jess Miley-Dyer was once a member of the Championship Tour and knows firsthand the dedication and hard work that is involved in qualifying. The former World Junior Champion is keeping a close eye on this major event and who will push deep into the draw and onto next year’s ‘Dream Tour.’
“This is the last event on the QS calendar so it’s super important in terms of points and last-ditch qualification efforts,” Miley Dyer 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.”
With the top six from the QS rankings elevating to the CT, there are a number of scenarios and situations that need to play out for each competitor hoping to make the jump. With a small amount of points separating the top 20, there’s a number of surfers with a shot at elevation.
“As always, 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,” Miley-Dyer continued. “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.”
Since taking out the World Junior Championship in Kiama earlier this year, 17-year-old Macy Callaghan has had her attention focused on one thing, qualifying for the CT. After a third-place finish last week in Japan, the Central Coast standout has moved to 10th on the QS rankings and is one solid result away from achieving her dreams.
“I’m trying not to think about rankings or any of that coming into this event,” Callaghan said. “It is still in the back of my mind because of all of the talk and hype but I’m trying to ignore it and just focus on the event. I know that this event was close to being cancelled so the fact that all of the partners teamed up to save this event is amazing. All of that effort and hard work is so good for women’s surfing – we’re all so thankful.”
Philippa 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,” Anderson 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.”
Sitting at 5th on the QS rankings with an excellent chance of qualifying is American sensation, Caroline Marks. The 16-year-old is the only competitor inside the top ten who has never been on the Championship Tour. After a successful 2017 season, Marks looks to be the first guaranteed CT rookie for 2018.
“I’m just treating this event like any other contest,” Marks said. “I’m just heading into it with the plan of making as many heats as I can. This year has been the best of my life, I’ve been having so much fun. I’ve been working with a new coach, making sure I’m having fun and enjoying time with my family and it seems to be reflecting positively in my results. This is my first time in this area and it’s amazing. The beaches are so beautiful and I can’t wait to surf a new wave during the contest.”
Joining the Men’s QS1,000 and Women’s QS6,000 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. Divisions in the PRD Port Stephens and Kaos Surf Cadet Cup comprise of Under 16 Boys and Girls, Under 14 Boys and Girls, Under 12 Boys and Girls and Under 10 Boys and Girls.
In addition to the action in the water, Surfing NSW has undertaken a range of local engagements for the Port Stephens community, ranging from Indigenous surfing lessons, boardriders activations and allowing local students to gain work experience on site.
Surfing NSW CEO Luke Madden believes the aforementioned community engagements fill the full circle of surfing from grassroots right through to professional surfers.
“It’s a huge goal for Surfing NSW to not only develop the event for budding professional surfers, but also for people who are just discovering the sport for the first time, whether that be for prospective employment or hoping to find a potential passion for the ocean."
The 2017 Port Stephens Toyota NSW Pro couldn’t happen without the support of the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event will run from November 2 – 5. For more information and a live broadcast head to www.worldsurfleague.com and check the WSL App.
HUGE OPENING DAY AT PORT STEPHENS TOYOTA NSW PRO WOMEN’S QS6,000.
ONE MILE BEACH, PORT STEPHENS
The final event of the World Surf League (WSL) Women’s Qualifying Series (QS), the Port Stephens Toyota NSW Pro Women’s QS6,000 has kicked off today at the events backup site of One Mile Beach. It was a massive opening day of competition with Rounds One and Two being completed while Round Three saw six heats run and won.
With a massive southerly swell battering the south facing Birubi Beach, contest directors were forced to take the event mobile to the more protected One Mile Beach where surfers went to work in the clean two-to-four foot surf.
Fresh off competing at the recent Big Wave World Tour event at Peahi, Felicity Palmateer displayed her versatility by taking out the second heat of Round Three. The powerful goofy-footer looked calm in what were different conditions to what she was tackling less than a week ago. Palmateer went left and right on her scoring rides to win the heat with a two-wave total of 12.80.
“It’s pretty cool to be able to make the transition between an event like Pe’ahi and this event in Port Stephens. It’s surreal to think that I was only over there a bit over 72 hours ago. It just feels great to put a heat together and get a win. After surfing a 10-foot board it definitely felt like it was a lot easier to steer a smaller board.”
The first of the higher seeds to progress into Round Four was Portuguese competitor Teresa Bonvalot. The World Junior Competitor was eager to get the contest jersey on after having a few events on the sidelines and it showed as she ripped into the tough low tide conditions. Bonvalot progressed with a heat total of 11.25.
“That was hard out there,” Bonvalot said. “The wind is up and the tide was low so the waves were small and bumpy. It was okay though as I was really keen to compete after a bit of time off from contests. It looks like the waves are going to be incredible over the next few days so it would be great to keep making heats.”
Young Central Coast competitor Kirra-Belle Olsson (AUS) was one of the standouts on the opening day. Olsson’s 13.00 point total (out of a possible 20) came from her trademark backhand attack. She now moves into Round Three and one step closer to coming up against some of her heroes.
“My coach and I were watching conditions before my heat and knew that the rights were offering up the best scoring potential,” Olsson said. “It’s always nice to get a heat win straight off the bat, it helps build your confidence. This is my first time surfing at this beach and I really like it – it’s beautiful and the waves are fun. I don’t think too much about coming up against the Championship Tour surfers, I just try and play my own game.”
One of the first internationals to make a big splash on Day 1 was Spain’s Lucia Martino (ESP). Martino opted to surf her backhand, which allowed her to go more vertical and amass more points. After a slow year of competition, taking a heat win at a QS6,000 was exciting for the natural-footer.
“That heat was really good for my confidence,” Martino said. “I haven’t had the best year competitively so it’s great to move further in a 6000. I’d love to come up against one of the top seeds. This is my first time surfing in this area and it is so beautiful, all of the colours and bays it reminds me of home in Spain.”
Fresh off a win at the recent Phillip Island Pro QS1,000, Piper Harrison continued her good form progressing into Round Three in second place. Harrison surfed a smart heat, keeping busy in the tricky low tide conditions.
“That was tough work out there,” Harrison said. “I feel good after my win at Phillip Island but you can’t take too much confidence from it as every event is different with changing conditions. I’m really excited to be here surfing a 6000, it’s just the second of my career.”
Joining the Men’s QS1,000 and Women’s QS6,000 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. Divisions in the PRD Port Stephens and Kaos Surf Cadet Cup comprise of Under 16 Boys and Girls, Under 14 Boys and Girls, Under 12 Boys and Girls and Under 10 Boys and Girls.
In addition to the action in the water, Surfing NSW have undertaken a range of local engagements for the Port Stephens community, ranging from Indigenous surfing lessons, boardriders activations and allowing local students to gain work experience on site.
The 2017 Port Stephens Toyota NSW Pro couldn’t happen without the support of the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event will run from November 2 – 5. For more information and a live broadcast head to www.worldsurfleague.com and check the WSL App.