Merewether duo Jackson Baker and Ryan Callinan will lead the local charge in the City of Newcastle Pro presented by Burton Automotive QS5000 – the main event on the Surfest program – at their home break this month.

The Novocastrians are expected to lock horns with top seed Italian Leonardo Fioravanti when the competition takes place from Tuesday 29 March to Sunday 3 April.

World Tour rookie Baker has already shown everyone this year that he has the ability and commitment to be a force in international surfing and is a strong contender to claim a hometown victory.

The pair, who grew up surfing at Merewether Beach, are vying to become the first locally born-and-bred male competitor to raise the Mark Richards Trophy.

“There’ll be less pressure on me at this Surfest than before,” Baker said.

“But, I’d love to win at Merewether.”

The weight of expectation has been on him in the past to do well.

The last time Baker surfed at Merewether in a WSL contest jersey he was given the wildcard into last year’s Rip Curl Newcastle Cup, where he was edged out in the round of 32 by eventual event winner Italo Ferreira.

“It’s good to be on home turf,” he said.

“Merewether has sanded up a fair bit but that can change quickly.

“I’ll surf here a fair bit but I’m ready to chase swells that will give me good preparation for Bells.”

Meanwhile, reigning Surfest champion Julian Wilson will return to defend his 2020 title, too.

The former world number two, who now calls Newcastle home, announced last July he intended to take an indefinite break from competitive surfing to spend more time with his young family.

Wilson was part of Australia’s first ever team to contest Olympic surfing at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.

He and Callinan also provided one of pro surfing’s greatest finals at the 2020 Surfest when both racked up scores of 14.27 when the final siren sounded.

However, Wilson took the title on countback.

The World Surf League QS5000 men’s event will start with a round of 96.

The AAP Consulting Women’s Pro, also slated to run at Merewether Beach from 29 March to 3 April, begins with a round of 64.

Keely Andrew from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast will enter as top seed and Macy-Jane Callaghan, who has two Surfest Pro Junior titles under her belt, is hoping to add her name to an enviable list of female champions.

Contest organiser Warren Smith said it’s great to be back.

“Surfest was postponed last year due to COVID-19 but it’s full steam ahead for 2022,” he stated.

“The main events have attracted more than 150 surfers in the City of Newcastle Pro and the AAP Consulting Women’s Pro.

“It’s terrific to see the 2021 finalists Julian [Wilson] and Ryan [Callinan] in action again and to welcome back previous champs Philippa Anderson, Ellie Brooks, Dimity Stoyle and Matt Banting, as well as emerging talents like our 2022 Lake Mac City Pro Junior winners Marlon Harrison from Queensland and Ellie Harrison from Victoria.”

2022 Surfest program

• Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 March: Sanbah Cadet Cup supported by Ocean and Earth South (Bar Beach)
• Thursday 25 – Friday 25 March: Surfest High Schools Team Challenge (Merewether Beach)
• Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 March: Wandiyali Indigenous Classic (Merewether Beach)
• Tuesday 29 March – Sunday 3 April: City of Newcastle Pro presented by Burton Automotive (Merewether Beach)
• Tuesday 29 March – Sunday 3 April: AAP Consulting Women’s Pro (Merewether Beach)
• Friday 1 April: Evolution Charity Cup supporting Mark Hughes Foundation

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