“Narrabeen is one of Australia’s most iconic surfing beaches and we want to make sure the community can make the most of the recreational, tourism and economic benefits that surfing provides,” said NSW Deputy Premier, John Barilaro. “The impacts of COVID-19 hit the Northern Beaches hard, with forced lockdowns over Christmas last year, and our support for this event will stimulate the local economy and showcase Narrabeen as a world-class surfing and tourism destination.”
“This highly coveted Championship Tour will bring much-needed tourism dollars into the local shops, eateries, and accommodation here in Narrabeen and surrounds, helping to rebuild our economy after a very tough year for many local businesses,” said Rob Stokes, Member for Pittwater. “I’m thrilled to see this spectacular event coming to our shores, boosting our profile on the global stage and encouraging a sense of pride in our community.
“This is a huge opportunity to showcase the Northern Beaches on the world stage for ten days,” said Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan. “The WSL is a perfect fit with the lifestyle we are very proud of in our coastal community. This will bring much-needed economic activity and jobs to local businesses.”
“We haven’t had a world tour event on the Northern Beaches for over 20 years, it is going to be great for surfers, particularly grommets, to see the best surfers in the world competing at Narrabeen, the most consistent wave in Sydney,” said local legend and two-time World Champion Damian Hardman. “After the impact of the Northern Beaches being forced into a COVID lockdown over the busy Xmas period this event could not come at a better time for many businesses.”
The third event of the Australian leg is a more familiar one for competitors and surf fans alike, Margaret River, where competition returns to the rugged and raw waters of South West Western Australia. Competitors will be tested as always with one of the most diverse events seeing Main Break and The Box coming into play across the event window.
The pristine nature reserve of Rottnest Island will host the fourth stop of the Australian Championship Tour leg. The island is offshore from Western Australia’s capital, Perth, and its breaks are some of the most consistent in the state. Strickland Bay, where the event will take place, is predominantly a left and is considered one of the best waves in south-west Western Australia.
“The Margaret River Pro has already captured the hearts and minds of this audience the world over with its waves, wines and magnificent forests. The Rip Curl Rottnest Search is a great platform to open their eyes further to the adventures that await them here,” said Tourism Western Australia Acting Managing Director, Derryn Belford. “We have an excellent long-term relationship with the WSL and were delighted that WA could be part of a solution to the current challenging environment they’re working in. The addition of the Rip Curl Rottnest Search to the tour is a win for our partnership. This one-off event gives the WSL a much-needed world-class stop on the tour, while significantly bolstering the profile of Western Australia as a surf tourism destination.”
“This one off event represents another real opportunity for a WA female and male surfer to compete at the highest level possible in Surfing,” said Surfing WA CEO Mark Lane. “Bronte MacAuley and Jack Robinson are both examples of WA surfers who have been provided with a similar opportunity via Wild Card positions in the past - and have successfully taken the step to legitimately earn themself a full time position on the World Championship Tour.”
While Rottnest Island will remain open for visitors while hosting the event, spectators won’t be permitted in order to limit environmental impacts to the island.