The world’s best surfers return to the iconic waves of North Narrabeen Beach in May for the second stop on the WSL Challenger Series.
So, hang on, what’s the Challenger Series?
Professional surfing is made up of three tours; The Championship Tour where the World Champions are crowned. The 2nd tier tour is the Challenger Series. It’s where surfers compete for the chance to make the big league, and with only six events making up the “Changers”, it’s cutthroat. Only the top 10 men and 5 women surfers will graduate at season’s end, so the competition is fierce and the surfing of the highest level. The 3rd tier tour is the Qualifying Series, consisting of regional events for aspiring local pros to advance to the Challengers.
The history of professional surfing events being held on the Northern Beaches runs deep. From the crowning of the first ever World Champions; Midgett Farrelly and Phyllis O’Donnell back in 1964, to the iconic 2SM Surfabout held in pumping 8 foot waves at North Steyne Beach in ‘78, to the Coca-Cola Classic which shared residence at Queenscliff Beach and North Narrabeen through the 90’s and 2000’s. Most recently we’ve hosted the 2021 Championship Tour event at Narrabeen during the pandemic year, and the Sydney Surf Pro (Challenger Series) at Manly
over the past few seasons.
One thing is for sure, Sydney- siders and Northern Beaches locals are some of the most passionate surf fans on the planet, and they love it when the circus rolls into town. It gives local grommets through to the oldest of purists a chance to watch, critique and admire the wave wizardry of the top pros. It also gives them a chance get behind the local heroes on the rise.
Historically, the Northern Beaches has produced a steady stream of professional surfers that have dominated the tour at every level. World Champions Damian Hardman, Barton Lynch, Tom Carroll, Stuart Entwistle, Layne Beachley and Pam Burridge all reached the highest pinnacle of the sport. Not to mention the likes of Rob Bain, Kai Otton, Dayyan Neve, Nathan Webster, Chris Davidson and yours truly, all enjoyed decorated careers in professional surfing.
What can you look forward to with this year’s event.
Last year the Sydney Surf Pro was won by Rio Waida from Indonesia and Teresa Bonvalot from Portugal, both of whom are now competing on the Championship Tour. Which goes to show you, a win at this event can literally launch your career into overdrive. It should also be noted that WCT surfers can compete in Challenger events, and last year’s winners overcame a stacked field which included Jack Robinson (Current #1), Leo Fioravanti (former winner) and CT charger Ryan Callinan.
This year the action moves from my home beach at North Steyne up the peninsula to North Narrabeen. And while I’m a little sad about the move, North Narra is regarded as the most consistent and high-performance beach break on the Northern Beaches regardless of the swell direction. This guarantees epic surfing action, but it can be a tricky wave at times, and as a competitor you need to adapt as the tides change and the wave takes on different personalities. There’s also an undeniable energy at Narra that radiates from past performances and a heavy local committee on watch.
Typical North Narrabeen conditions surfers must navigate
Typically, Narra offers up a long running left-hander that allows for multiple turns, and the right on the other side of the peak, known as Alley Rights, is a super high-performance wave that invites a really progressive approach. From 1 foot peelers to 8 foot bombs, Narra is always contestable. It’s also an epic venue for the fans with plenty of vantage points to view the action and activations around the event from the family.
This year the field will be made of the CT surfers who recently failed to make the mid-year cut, returning surfers who didn’t quite reach their goals on the CS, and recently qualified newcomers who’ll be keen to make their mark. There’ll be a strong international field including the Brazilians who’ve dominated the draw in recent years and will be out in force again. They possess a drive to succeed that’s been missing from the Aussie contenders over the past years, but we’re experiencing a big shift.
Australian surfers to watch
Our Aussies are on a tear this year. On the men’s side, there’s a few names to watch. Joel Vaughan, from the Central Coast, is in great form and has an air game to rival the best. World Junior Champion, Jarvis Earl, is showing maturity in his surfing that’s well above his years. And my primo pick is for Manly local George Pittar to make the podium. George recently qualified for the CS and has the full repertoire of power, flare and progression that could see him raise the trophy. The talent is certainly there, but there’ll be a new level of exposure and pressure that he’ll have to manage mentally if he’s to do well.
Out of our Aussie women, I see Kobie Enright and Nyxie Ryan doing well. Both women put serious power into their turns, and if the swell kicks in, they will be hard to match. Kobie comes from the competitive Snapper Rocks area and has that smooth point surfing pedigree that will suit Alley Rights. Nyxie is on the rise, the results are building, and her surfing is underpinned by great timing, which is something you need when the Narra lefts are firing.
The eventual winner of the event will be the surfer who cannot only show trickery in the air but can perform the type of power hacks and critical turns that’ll garner a tip-of-the-cap from local legends like Simon Anderson. Adaptation will also be a crucial element needed as Northy changes its personality through the event window.
I’ll be in the booth calling the action for everyone watching online. There’ll be plenty happening in and around the event, so come grab and autograph or selfie with the some of the world’s best surfers as they do battle on our doorstep.
The GWM Sydney Surf Pro presented by Bonsoy runs from 17-24 May at North Narrabeen.
Visit worldsurfleague.com, follow WSL on Instagram and Facebook, and get along to the event to check out the action.
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