Layne Beachley Honoured With Inaugural Midget Farrelly Lifetime Achievement Award
WEDNESDAY 28 MARCH
Seven times world champion Layne Beachley has been selected as the inaugural winner of the Midget Farrelly Lifetime Achievement Award.
The new award, which honours surfing legend Midget Farrelly, was be awarded to Beachley at the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro.
Farrelly won Australia’s first world surfing title in 1964 at Manly Beach, the same beach that is currently hosting the QS 6000 event, “As a 17-year-old, Midget literally put Manly on the map,” said Beachley. “Winning the first world title here in front of hundreds of thousands of people, it looked like from the photos, he gave Manly its core surf culture through his performance and through his love of surfing and competitive nature. He helped inspire a future generation of surfers who came from Manly to become world champions.”
“I remember when I staged the first Beachley surf event here at Manly, I remember Midget coming down here to check it out and I thought that’s pretty cool, that the Godfather of surfing has come to check it out.”
“The thing about Midget is that there’s so much people don’t know about his impact and contribution that he made to surfing. From being a world champion and standing up for what he believed in to creating the surf foam blanks, that I used to ride. And to shaping magnificent pieces of equipment and still going out there and demonstrating what it takes to be a great ballerina on the water even into his late 60s. He was a true gentleman, a true lover of the ocean and a true custodian of what it means to be a surfer.”
Confirming Beachley as winner of the award, Harry Hodge, Chairman of the Midget Farrelly Lifetime Achievement Award Committee said "Layne's contribution to surfing for over 20 years has been outstanding.”
“Winning a record seven World Women's World Surfing titles, her commitment to her charity work and being elected Chair of Surfing Australia highlights Layne's incredible commitment to surfing.”
The award was presented to Beachley at the Sydney Business Chamber CEO breakfast at the contest site of the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro. Layne was greeted by Farrelly’s wife who were in attendance.
“We are pleased that the standards of excellence and innovation that Midget pioneered in winning Australia’s first world surfing title 54 years ago at Manly will continue in Manly at the new Sydney Surf Pro, and that Midget’s legacy and inspiration will live on in this new award," Hodge said.
The Midget Farrelly Lifetime Achievement Award Committee comprised:
- Harry Hodge, Chair: The founder of Quiksilver in Europe, Harry has been involved in surfing for over 40 years. As a Director of Surfing New South Wales he remains closely involved in the sport and is a founding member of the International Surfing Association - "Friends of Olympic Surfing" - the Association credited with having surfing accepted as an Olympic sport in 2020.
- Phil Jarratt: A renowned journalist and author Phil is regarded as one of surfing foremost surf historians. He recent project, "Life Of Brine," an autobiography of Phil's life and times in surfing.
- Mark Windon OAM: One of the most respected CEO's of Surfing New South Wales who is now an Executive Director of the organisation.
- Graham "Sid" Cassidy: Like Jarratt, a renowned and respect journalist who has a long history in surfing as one of the founding CEO's of professional surfing.
INTERNATIONAL FIELD TREATED TO SOLID SURF FOR DAY ONE OF VISSLA SYDNEY SURF PRO.
MANLY BEACH, SYDNEY (Monday, 26 February 2018):
Professional surfing action in New South Wales has continued today as the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro World Surf League Qualifying Series 6,000 event kicked off at Manly Beach. The action was on tap as 24 heats of Men’s round one action was completed in building and blustery 4-to-6 foot surf.
Fresh from a runner-up finish yesterday at Newcastle Surfest, Barron Mamiya (HAW) from Hawaii was the one to watch in Men’s Round One. The powerful natural-footer struggled to get going and was left chasing Sunshine Coaster Reef Heazlewood (AUS) for the majority of the heat. Eventually, it was goofy foot Heazlewood who won the heat with a two-wave total of 12.73 (out of a possible 20) just ahead of Mamiya who took the second progressing spot.
“It was always going to be hard to overcome Barron (Mamiya) after his performance at Surfest last week,” Heazlewood said. “I knew if I was on the right waves I would be able to get solid scores so I just focused on myself and what waves I needed to be on. I have been here for a couple of days and the waves today are the best I’ve seen yet, so all of the competitors are really excited to get out there.”
Hailing from France, Marc Lacomare (FRA) is no stranger to chunky beach break conditions, which was evident in his opening heat performance at Manly. Lacomare waited patiently for a set and eventually found a right-hander to open up two massive backhand hooks and post an excellent 9.00-point ride (out of a possible 10) to put himself in a commanding position. He then backed it up with a 7.43 to comfortably win the heat and progress into round two.
“I’m really happy to have that first heat out of the way, it is always the most stressful,” Lacomare said. “It’s great that there is some solid size out there and the waves are really fun. I always see guys getting over excited at the start of heats and trying to catch too many waves. I really focused on staying patient and trying to find a set wave that looked good and it paid off as I was much more relaxed after posting such a good wave score.”
After taking out the Seat Pro Netanya pres. by Reef QS3,000 in Israel a month ago, Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) is building momentum heading into the second QS6,000 of the year. After seeing friend and countryman Michael February make a solid push for Qualification in 2017, McGillivray is keen to continue his own form in 2018 and represent his flag well at the top end of the QS rankings.
“I feel really confident after taking out that QS3,000 in Israel,” McGillivray said. “It has definitely given me some momentum so I just need to harness that, especially at this event. It was definitely inspirational for all of the South African competitors to see Michael February last year. Seeing him get so close and get a start in the CT events is awesome and has definitely spurred me on to go bigger and better than ever. The waves were building throughout my heat so I’m hoping it stays solid for the next few days.”
After a number of years away from competitive surfing, former Championship Tour competitor Raoni Monterio (BRA) returned in late 2017 to take out the Siargao Surfing Cup QS3,000 at Cloud 9 in the Philippines. Through this he was awarded a higher seed and now finds himself competing at the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro and although he is keeping a low profile his intentions were made clear with his Round One performance that he wants to be back on the CT. A heat win to kick off 2018 was a good way to start things for the Brazilian powerhouse who ended his Round One encounter with a 14.57.
“I don’t want to make a big deal of it but my major goal is to get back onto the CT,” Monterio said. “It was good to win in the Philippines and know that I still have it but this is a big event and the field is full of amazing surfers so it will be hard to do well. The waves are great today which always makes competing better, I just hope they stay solid and I can keep surfing the way I like to.”
The 2018 Vissla Sydney Surf Pro and Sydney Women's Pro will be held from February 26th - March 4th. For more information, highlights and images, head to worldsurfleague.com or sydneysurfpro.com and on the WSL App.
The Vissla Sydney Surf Pro Is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event will also be proudly supported by Vissla, Northern Beaches Council, WSL and Surfing NSW.
ABOVE: Frenchman Marc Lacomare (FRA) was a standout on day one of competition at the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro, posting the highest single wave score of the opening day, an excellent 9.00 point ride. Photo by: Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Great Waves Continue At Australia's Historic Home Of Surfing For Opening Day Of Sydney Women's Surf Pro
MANLY BEACH, SYDNEY (Tuesday, 27 February 2018):
Surfing’s most promising future stars hit the water today for the first two rounds of the Sydney Women’s Surf Pro World Surf League Qualifying Series 6,000 event. Manly Beach continued it’s run of great waves for ladies with clean 3-to-4 foot peaks up and down the beach all day.
After an injury-plagued 2017 season, former Championship Tour (CT) competitor Alessa Quizon (HAW) is keen to make up for lost time in 2018. With a shock early exit at her first QS of the year in Newcastle, Quizon made amends on Day 2 at Manly, posting the highest two-wave total of the event so far, a 16.16 (out of a possible 20). Quizon moves into Round Three and continues on her quest to return to the CT.
“I’ve learned over the years not to get caught up in the past,” Quizon said. “I had a pretty bad run in Newcastle but I just moved on from it as quickly as possible and shifted my focus to this event. It’s a new wave and a different event, so a chance to reset. After my injury last year, my confidence was low, so to get a win feels really good. I’ve come into this year looking at it like a clean slate and just reminding myself of why I do this, that I’m enjoying it and it’s something that I love.”
Alessa Quizon Photo by: Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
After a solid showing in Newcastle saw her finish equal 5th, Portuguese sensation Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) came into the Sydney Women’s Surf Pro carrying serious momentum. Bonvalot revelled in the left-handers at Manly, posting an excellent 8.17 (out of a possible 10) then backing it up with 5.83 to take another heat win in 2018.
“That was a great heat for me, The waves are so fun and it’s a beautiful day, so I’m really happy,” Bonvalot said. “Newcastle has set me up nicely at the beginning of the year so I really want to capitalise here at Manly and set my self up for 2018. Regardless of my results, I do get to do what I love and that is the most important thing to me.”
In what appeared to be one of the standout Women’s heats on paper, Kirra-Belle Olsson (AUS) executed a chain of world-class snaps to notch up an impressive 14.83 two-wave heat total. Fellow heat surfers Ella Williams (NZL), Leilani McGonagle (CRI) and Isabella Nichols (AUS) put on valiant performances as they attempted to usurp her from the top spot, however, none were able to muster up the required score to take the win. Williams finished the heat in the runner-up spot, posting a 12.47 heat total, while McGonagle and Nichols finished in third and fourth respectively.
“That heat was so stacked and I knew I’d have to surf really well to get ahead of those girls,” said Olsson. “The conditions began to deteriorate slightly with the low tide, so you really needed to find wave that had corners on them so you could perform a few turns. I’m definitely looking forward to the next round.”
Kirra Belle Olsson Photo by: Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
The first heat of Round Two saw young Torquay’s rising star India Robinson (AUS) come up against former CT competitor Chelsea Tuach (BRB), Ren Hashimoto (JPN) and Ellie Brooks (AUS). After Robinson was dealt a tough hand at the recent QS6,000 in Newcastle, she was keen to put that behind her and find a win here in Manly. It wasn’t going to be easy with the experience she was up against in her Round Two match-up. While the other competitors traded scores and seemed to be sitting pretty Robinson struggled to find a wave of substance. It was a classic last-minute reprieve for the 16-year-old as she posted two scores back-to-back and moved into the first spot to win the heat.
“To be honest it has been tough to reset after Newcastle,” Robinson said. “Luckily I have a lot of people in my corner and have been able to get through it and shift my focus to this event which has been a great learning experience for me. Coming up against Chelsea and the older competitors does way on my mind a bit but I just try and go out there and do my best.”
The 2018 Vissla Sydney Surf Pro and Sydney Women's Pro will be held from February 26th - March 4th. For more information, highlights and images, head to worldsurfleague.com or sydneysurfpro.com and on the WSL App.
The Vissla Sydney Surf Pro Is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event will also be proudly supported by Vissla, Northern Beaches Council, WSL and Surfing NSW.
Top Seeds Unleash On Manly For Day 3 Of The Vissla Sydney Surf Pro
MANLY BEACH, SYDNEY (Wednesday, 28 February 2018):
The Vissla Sydney Surf Pro World Surf League (WSL) has continued today with Men’s Round Two being run and done and with it bringing the event’s top seeds into the fold. There were upsets and standouts as some of the world’s best ripped into windy 2-to-3 foot peaks at the iconic Manly Beach.
With a howling northeasterly wind mowing through the lineup, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) opted to rely on his aerial repertoire to claim victory in his Round Two heat with a solid 15.00 two-wave heat total. As a former runner-up here in Manly, Fioravanti has seen the beach-break at its best and worst and knew the wind would be perfectly suited for his acrobatic antics.
“The first heat is always the hardest for me because you’re beginning to build momentum,” said Fioravanti. “I’ve been at Manly for the last few years and I’ve seen it in all sorts of conditions and when I come here I have zero expectations, so if the waves are good or bad then I still try to have fun. The wind is perfect for airs, so that’s what I relied on. I have Richard ‘Dog’ Marsh in my corner this year as a coach, which is a new partnership. He and I worked together up until I was about 13 or so and now we’re back together. He’s got so much wisdom to share and he’s really helped me while I’ve been here in Manly.”
Leonardo Fioravanti - photo by Dunbar
After a tough competitive year in 2017, that saw Jack Freestone (AUS) drop off the elite Championship Tour, a first heat loss at Newcastle last week was not the start to the season he was after. The former two-time World Junior Champion has had to not only re-adjust to life back on the QS but to also adjust recently becoming a father. With what sleep he has been getting, Freestone has reset and came back at Manly looking solid as ever taking his first heat win of the season with a two-wave total of 13.56 ousting CT surfer and event favourite Kanoa Igarashi along the way.
“The biggest thing I’ve been working on this year is finding a balance with everything that is going on in my life,” Freestone said. “There is a lot going on and being a dad is obviously very new to me so there are a couple of challenges. I have a game plan that I will try and always stick too and it won’t work all of the time but it will most of the time. After Newcastle, I knew I just needed a heat win and will hopefully be able to build on that.”
Jack Freestone Photo by: Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Heat 10 of Round Two was melting pot of Brazilian professional surfing generations with former Championship Tour stalwart Heitor Alves (BRA) coming up against Wiggoly Dantas (BRA), Flavio Nakagima (BRA) and young gun Samuel Pupo (BRA). The countrymen went blow for blow, trading mid-range scores, but in the end, it was the up and comer Pupo who took the win with a heat total of 13.76. The 17-year-old will progress with Dantas while Alves and Nakagima were eliminated.
“I know all of those guys well so we were just chatting and having fun during the heat,” Pupo said. “I think that the relaxed environment out there definitely helped me. I have been putting a lot of pressure on myself this year and that heat I stayed relaxed and it seems to really help. I’m hoping the waves stay like they were during my heat, it was really similar to the waves at home which also helped me.”
After back-to-back QS1,000 victories at the Tweed Coast and Great Lakes events, Jackson Baker (AUS) rolled into his home event at Newcastle full of confidence. Unfortunately, the curse of the locals struck him down and he was eliminated in Round Two. Having a week to wash off the disappointment, Baker re-focused and prepared for a major match-up with Kalani Ball (AUS), Marco Giorgi (URY) and 2018 CT Rookie Griffin Colapinto (USA).
Although he was up against some stiff competition, Baker looked unfazed posting a 14.10 heat total to progress with ease along with Colapinto.
“I didn’t get the result I was after in Newcastle I was after,” Baker said. “There is always a lot of pressure to do well at home but I couldn’t quite pull it together, unfortunately, it’s a bit of a curse for the local surfers. Apart from that though I’m still carrying confidence from those two event wins more than the disappointment of last week. I hadn’t surfed for a few days so I was really excited to get out there for my heat and that always helps.”
2018 WSL Championship Tour surfer Keanu Asing (HAW) showed why he’s cut out for the big leagues, keeping his composure through the majority of the heat while sitting in third position. Requiring a decent score, Asing was able to post a solid 7.83 on his last wave of the heat to jump into first spot and earn a progressing position alongside Mateus Herdy (BRA).
“I had a clear game-plan that I knew I’d have to stick to,” said Asing. “I knew the lefthanders had so much potential, but you really just needed to find the right one. Thankfully, I found that one really long one at the end of the heat and I was able to post a 7.83 to move into first.”
Keanu Asing, day 3 Photo by: Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
The 2018 Vissla Sydney Surf Pro and Sydney Women's Pro will be held from February 26th - March 4th. For more information, highlights and images, head to worldsurfleague.com or sydneysurfpro.com and on the WSL App.
The Vissla Sydney Surf Pro Is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event will also be proudly supported by Vissla, Northern Beaches Council, WSL and Surfing NSW.
Three 9-Point-Rides & Inspiring Performances By The Women At The Sydney Surf Pro, Manly Beach
MANLY BEACH, SYDNEY (Thursday, 2 March 2018):
Manly beach has been torn apart by some of Women’s Surfing’s current and future stars at the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro World Surf League Qualifying Series 6,000. In clean 2-to-3 foot waves, the performance bar was being continuously lifted with a steady flow of excellent scores being posted in every heat surfed.
Having found much success on the East Coast of Australia in recent years, former Manly QS event runner-up Johanne Defay (FRA) has a close affinity with this area. The elite Championship Tour (CT) competitor kicked off her 2018 Sydney Women’s Surf Pro campaign in devastating form, posting an event high heat total of 18.10 (out of a possible 20) on her first two waves for a number of epic backhand hacks.
“That felt really good to post a couple of solid scores,” Defay said was disappointed with how Newcastle finished up so to come back and win a heat like that feels really good. The waves were fun out there and really suited my surfing so I’m hoping it is like this for the coming days. It’s always good to come and compete at Manly - it is a great place.
Brazilian dynamo Silvana Lima (BRA) was another big name standout on Day 4 at Manly with her committed display of backhand surfing. Although Lima was in control of the heat in its entirety, she still wasn’t content with her total and went upside down on a critical lefthander and rode out clean to post a near perfect 9.50 (out of a possible 10) and take the heat win with a total of 16.07.
“When I took off on that wave I knew it would have some great sections on it,” Lima said. “I hit the first one and wanted to go hard again and thought why not? Then when I rode out it felt amazing and I knew it would be a big score. The competition here is fierce and that is the sort of surfing we are expected to do to get the big scores.”
Sage Erickson (USA) finished her 2017 CT season in a career-best 8th position. The Santa Barbra local felt she missed opportunities at the end of the year to solidify herself a spot in the top 5. In 2018 she has returned with a more focused outlook and a confidence in her surfing that hasn’t existed before. That winning feeling was ever present after Erickson took her first heat win of the season at Manly today with an excellent two-wave total of 16.46.
“I had such a big opportunity last year to lock into the top 5,” Erickson said. “The last two events got away from me and I was kicking myself, even though it was my best season, I feel like I could have been even stronger. Having goals and expectations is really important and my goal here is to surf more so during that heat I kept super busy. I’m stoked to get a heat win under my belt and I’m really happy to be here in Manly for the Australian summer, it’s beautiful.”
Another Championship Tour competitor who posted an excellent two-wave total to win her heat was Hawaiian Malia Manuel (HAW). The silky smooth natural-footer found a solid rhythm in the running lefthanders to earn herself a 16.16 and a spot in Round Four. Manuel is now one step closer to winning a second QS6,000 event at the iconic Manly Beach, a place where her fellow Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku introduced surfing to Australia just over 100 years ago.
“I love it here in Manly,” Manuel said. “It’s awesome to represent Hawaii in a spot where ‘The Duke’ introduced surfing too all that time ago, and I’m so happy that WSL, Surfing NSW and Vissla have put this event together so we can come back to beautiful Manly. These QS events are a really good way to warm up ahead of the CT season and work on anything I have planned over the off-season. There is a bit of pressure coming in as a past event winner but pressure is a good way to test yourself so I’m excited to see how the event unfolds.
The future of women’s American surfing looks to be in great hands with 15-year-old Kirra Pinkerton (USA) and 14-year-old Alyssa Spencer (USA) continuing their epic run in 2018. Pinkerton topped her heat to progress over event top seed Nikki Van Dijk while Spencer dominated her match-up posting the highest single wave score of the event so far with a 9.50 to win with a total of 17.10.
“I was super lucky to find that 9.50,” Spencer said. I was actually halfway through moving from one bank to the next and that wave popped up so I was really fortunate to snag that wave. It definitely helps to build my confidence coming up against the older more experienced competitors and winning but I don’t want to get to far ahead of myself.”
Alyssa Spencer Photo by: Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Australian surfers Reef Heazlewood (AUS) and Mikey Wright (AUS) dominated the first heats of round four posting impressive heat totals made up of high scoring waves. However, the international contingent proceeded to make up for lost ground as the round went on with Jadson Andre (BRA), Keanu Asing (HAW), Griffin Colapinto (USA), Alex Ribeiro (BRA) and Bino Lopes (BRA) all claiming victory in the following heats. All surfers will make their next appearance in the fourth round.
As part of the event, Vissla will be bringing a celebration of the creators and innovators of surf to the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro. More than 21 of the world's best surfboard shapers will take part in a live shaping demonstration for the masses right on Manly Beach, the heartland of Australian surfing.
You can visit the craftsmen in their custom pop-up glassed-in shaping bay. Watch, listen and learn from each shaper as they turn a blank of foam into a slick new craft.
The 2018 Vissla Sydney Surf Pro and Sydney Women's Pro will be held from February 26th - March 4th. For more information, highlights and images, head to worldsurfleague.com or sydneysurfpro.com and on the WSL App.
The Vissla Sydney Surf Pro Is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event will also be proudly supported by Vissla, Northern Beaches Council, WSL and Surfing NSW.
It's A Wrap: Deivid Silva & Nikki Van Dijk Take Out 2018 Vissla Sydney Surf Pro At Manly Beach
MANLY BEACH, SYDNEY (Saturday, 3 March 2018):
Deivid Silva and Nikki Van Dijk have taken out the 2018 Vissla Sydney Surf Pro World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 6,000 event at Manly. After a week of epic conditions at Sydney’s home of professional surfing, the Final day was held in small testing conditions. This did not detract from action as huge weekend crowds watched Silva take the victory of his career while Van Dijk took her second QS victory at Manly.
Deivid Silva bagged himself the best win of his young career, claiming the Men’s division ahead of fellow countryman Alejo Muniz. Silva dominated the tiny waves throughout the thirty minute affair, nailing the only perfect 10-point ride of the entire event to gain the upper hand against Muniz who was left chasing an 18.84 two-wave combination to take away Silva’s lead. Silva takes home 6,000 valuable Qualifying Series points for the win and will head into the year with a solid leg up as a result of the title.
“I’m so happy to win this event at this beach is so good and I feel so honoured,” Silva said. “This has given me such a good start for 2018 and to share the final with such a good friend is the best feeling. This is the best win of my life so far and I’m so stoked to take it back Brazil.”
Spending a solid portion of the last year injured, Alejo Muniz showed a stellar return to form, taking out the runner-up finish. Muniz was unable to find the same gear he displayed in earlier heats, however he remains stoked to share a final with a fellow Brazilian and get a solid result to start 2018.
“This has been such a good start to 2018 for me,” Muniz said. “I got a 9th in Newcastle and now to come second to my great friend is a really good feeling. Even though I needed a combination of scores at the end, I’m still so stoked to get this result. Deivid and I have known each other for such a long time and I know his whole family so it doesn’t hurt to lose to a friend like him.”
The Sydney Women’s Surf Pro Final saw Van Dijk come up against Malia Manuel in what was a thrilling duel between the two elite Championship Tour competitors. Along with valuable QS points and prize money there were serious bragging rights on the line as each surfer searched for a second QS6,000 win at Manly. In 2016, Van Dijk took the win over Manuel and in 2018, it was a repeat result with Van Dijk posting an excellent 8.00 point ride along with a 6.53 for a total of 14.53. The Phillip Island native now heads into the first event of the 2018 Championship Tour, the Roxy Pro Gold Coast, full of confidence.
“This has been such a fun week,” Van Dijk said. “Coming up against Malia was always going to be tough so I knew I’d have to rip every wave the best I could. I won this event two years ago and Malia won last year so there was definitely some rivalry out in the water so I was happy to come out on top. I’m so keen for the CT to start next week at Snapper Rocks but for now I’m going to just enjoy this win.”
In what was her third straight final appearance at Manly, Manuel looked on point posting a 14.10 two-wave total to give herself a chance at going back-to-back at Sydney’s biggest professional surfing event. Unfortunately for the Hawaiian natural footer she was left chasing a 7.44 to take the lead but forced to finish runner-up to Van Dijk once again.
“Regardless of the conditions it’s been a really fun week,” Manuel said. “It was a great challenge coming up against all of these women and in some tough waves but as always at Manly, the atmosphere was great. Apart from the last two days the waves were incredible, I’ve been surfing so much since I arrived. It was cool to meet Nikki in the Final again here at Manly it feels like just yesterday that we were facing off last time. I’m really excited ahead of the CT season and a Final to kick it off is a great way to prepare for Snapper.”
Deivid Silva and Nikki Van Dijk Take Victory at 2018 Vissla Sydney Surf Pro at Manly Beach - photo by M. Dunbar
