Surfing WA announced that two World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) events have been added to WSL Australia Oceania regional event schedule for October 2018.
The WAn Pro Surf Series will put the surfing spotlight on the South West in the coming months, with consecutive mens and womens QS1000 competitions set to run in Mandurah and Yallingup from October 13 to 21.
The WA Pro Surf Series has been made possible thanks to a successful partnership between Surfing WA, WSL, City of Mandurah, City of Busselton, and the WA Government through its Regional Events Scheme.
Surfing WA events manager Justin Majeks said the Pro Surf Series will give WA's new generation of promising local surfers the chance to compete in an internationally rated event alongside some of the best surfers from across Australia and throughout Oceania.
“The WA Pro Surf Series will provide a much needed stepping stone for young surfers who aspire to compete in higher rated QS events,” he said.
“For WA surfers to compete in their backyard in an internationally rated event is an amazing opportunity and we look forward to hosting surfers from far and wide in the coming months.”
Tourism is key for the WA Governments plan to diversify the economy, create jobs and develop business opportunities, especially in regional WA.
Tourism minister Paul Papalia said the WA Pro Surf Series helped attract more visitors to WA, encouraged them to stay longer, disperse further and do more while they are here.
The WA Pro Surf Series will commence with the Mandurah Pro, which is set to run from October 13 to 16.
Following the Mandurah Pro, the Series will head south to wave-rich Yallingup, with the Cape Naturaliste Pro running from October 18 to 21.
Yallingup is another tourism hotspot, famous for its powerful surf, limestone caves, amazing wineries, restaurants and much, much more.
Home to WA's most successful surfer Taj Burrow, as well as former championship tour surfers Jake Paterson, Claire Bevilacqua, and Melanie Redman-Carr.
City of Busselton mayor Grant Henley said the city was proud to support the Cape Naturaliste Pro.
“This will be the first time multiple international Qualifying Series events have run in WA and we are exceptionally pleased to be able to host one of the two events in the iconic Yallingup region,” he said.
“This event will bring invaluable regional promotion and a real boost to the local economy. I applaud Surfing WA for its efforts to bring such a world-class event to WA.”
WSL Australia Oceania Tour Manager Will Hayden-Smith is excited to see the QS Series return to WA for this first time since 2013, when the Margaret River Pro was elevated to the Championship Tour (CT).
“WSL is very grateful to Surfing WA for bringing QS events back to the West,” he said.
“Everyone knows WA has a lot of great waves that our QS surfers will now have the chance to get over and check out.
“These two events will be a great addition to the WSL Australia Oceania schedule and will play a huge part in crowning our 2018 Regional Champions.”
Entries are now open for the Mandurah Pro and the Cape Naturaliste Pro via worldsurfleague.com.
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