The region’s leading surfers have backed City of Newcastle’s (CN) bid to transform Surfest into one of the top 16 contests on the global calendar.
Jackson Baker, Philippa Anderson, Ryan Callinan, Julian Wilson and adopted Novocastrian Sarah Baum, along with the competition’s founder Warren Smith, are keen to see the iconic event take pride and place in the Challenger Series (CS), the second-highest tier on the World Surfing League (WSL).
Newcastle’s reputation as a premier destination was enhanced when it hosted the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup in 2021.
It marked the first time a combined male and female World Championship Tour (WCT) event had been staged in NSW since 1999.
Not only did it showcase Merewether Beach and Newcastle to a global audience of more than 10 million people, it injected an estimated $15 million into the local economy.
Now, a Lord Mayoral Minute, unanimously adopted, called on CN to advocate for Surfest with the NSW Government for further funding, as well as the WSL.
Merewether’s Baker praised the initiative.
“Having won Surfest in 2022, it would mean the world to me to have an opportunity to win a Challenger Series event at home,” he said.
“I travel the world all year to compete at all the CS stops.
“So, having an event in Newcastle would definitely boost my chances at requalifying for the Championship Tour.”
Anderson, another Merewether surfer, admitted Surfest inspired childhood dreams.
“From the age of 12, I watched it at Newcastle Beach, then when it moved to Merewether where I started to compete a few years later,” she said.
“As an experienced surfer, I now look back on how much those events meant to a young girl who had aspirations to become a professional.
“If the Challenger Series comes to town, all the young Novocastrians who hope to follow in the footsteps of Mark Richards, Ryan (Callinan), Morgan Cibilic and Jackson (Baker) will get to watch and maybe even surf with amazing female and male professional surfers.
“There’s just nothing that can compare to that.”
Having won Surfest in 2022, it would mean the world to me to have an opportunity to win a Challenger Series event at home.
Jackson Baker
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes believed Newcastle had proven it was more than capable of hosting major events.
“We’ve become a destination of choice for promoters around the world thanks to the success of the Supercars Newcastle 500, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John and Pink concerts, as well as various international rugby union, league, football and netball matches,” she said.
“City of Newcastle also has a proud history of supporting world-class surfing as the founding sponsor of Surfest, which this year celebrated its 38th anniversary.
“Securing Surfest as part of the Challenger Series in 2025 and beyond represents a significant opportunity that would bring substantial economic, cultural and tourism benefits to Newcastle and the wider Hunter.”
Smith will meet with WSL officials in Queensland this week.
“When the World Surf League restructured its competition three years ago, Surfest became a Qualifying Series event for the Asia-Pacific region, essentially a third-tier comp,” he said.
“If we’re successful in being added to the Challenger Series, we’ll welcome the return of surfers from all over the world.”
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