2020 COFFS HARBOUR OPEN KICKS OFF WITH A BANG

The inaugural 2020 Coffs Harbour Open – stop six on the Australian Open of Surfing series – got underway in playful two-foot surf at Macauleys Beach with punchy peaks on offer for the opening rounds of competition.
 
Fresh off a win with his native Le-Ba Boardriders at the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle yesterday, Mikey McDonagh (Lennox Head, NSW) showed he was eager to keep his roll going, charging out of the gates in the opening heat of the morning. The stylish and talented natural footer posted a decent 13.40 heat total to claim an opening heat victory and a 13.16 in the second round to finish in second position behind Soli Bailey (Byron Bay). McDonagh will meet Ethan Stocks (Coffs Harbour), Micah Margieson (Cabarita, NSW) and Hinata Aizawa (Burleigh, Qld) in tomorrow’s third-round heat.
 
Soli Bailey (Byron Bay, NSW) showed why he was a former World Championship Tour surfer nailing an array of technical and powerful snaps and carves in his second-round heat. The lightning fast natural-footer posted a 13.60 two-wave heat total to claim the win and seal himself a spot into the third round.
 
Micah Margieson (Cabarita, NSW) sent a warning shot over the head of his fellow competitors, posting high 13-point two-wave heat totals in his opening two heats. Margieson will feature in the aforementioned heat tomorrow against Mikey McDonagh, Hinata Aizawa and Ethan Stocks.
 
Tru Starling (Narrabeen, NSW), Amelie Bourke (Newcastle, NSW), Philippa Anderson (Merewether, NSW) and Freya Prumm (Merimbula, NSW) all put on a dominant display of surfing in the small conditions, nailing a handful of beautiful snaps and carves to post first-round victories with two-wave heat totals in excess of 12-points. All four surfers will join their fellow round one victors and runner-up finishers in the second round.
 
Tucked in the dunes just behind all the on-water action was the Coffs Coast Eco Surf Fest – a free grassroots, family-friendly event providing the cool on-land vibes and an exciting and engaging array of hands-on activities, creative fun and loads of sustainable living inspiration. 
 
Surfing Australia and Surfing NSW are stoked to announce the three NSW qualifying events and the National Final in the 2020/21 nudie Australian Boardriders Battle Series and the remaining Australian Open of Surfing series events will be streamed live on Kayo Sports.
 
The prime locations for the Coffs Harbour Open is Park Beach and Macauleys with backup locations of Diggers, Gallows and Sawtell.
 
All competitors are advised to ring the event hotline (0458 247 212) by 6.45am on the days of competition to confirm location and running order.
 
The entire Australian Open of Surfing series features eight events that will take place in the latter months of 2020 and provide professional and aspiring surfers with the opportunity to win prize money and gain momentum going into 2021.
 
Each event in NSW will see a total $7000 prize purse with $1500 going to the winner of the Men’s and Women’s divisions.
 
In addition to a larger prize purse, all events on the Australian Open of Surfing series will be webcast live through surfingnsw.com.au and the Surfing NSW Facebook.
 
The 2020 Australian Open of Surfing series will see events in:
Sunshine Coast, Qld – 19th – 20th September 2020
Gold Coast, Qld – 31st October – 1st November 2020
Cronulla – 8th – 9th November 2020
Port Macquarie – 14th – 15th November 2020
Kiama – 22nd – 23rd November 2020
Coffs Harbour – 29th – 30th November 2020
Far South Coast Open – 5th – 6th December 2020
Northern Beaches – 13th – 14th December 2020
 
All events will adhere to strict COVID-19 policies and regulations outlined by the Australian Government and council protocols.
 
The 2020 Australian Open of Surfing NSW Series is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event is also supported by Destination Kiama, Coffs Harbour City Council, Sutherland Shire Council, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council and Northern Beaches Council.