VISSLA NSW PRO SURF SERIES TO HIT NSW BEACHES AGAIN IN 2022.

The Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series will return to the NSW coastline in 2022 with four elite World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) events hitting the shores of the Great Lakes, Port Stephens, Avoca and Maroubra.
 
Once again Surfing NSW has joined forces with the NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, Vissla and World Surf League to bring four QS events back to the previously mentioned regions.
 
The four-event series will see three QS1000 rated events (Maroubra, Port Stephens and Great Lakes) and one men’s and women’s QS3000 (Central Coast).
 
Late in 2021 WSL revealed a new format, which included creating distinct seasons between the QS (the regionalised development tier), the Challenger Series (the global battleground for Championship Tour qualification) and the Championship Tour (the world’s best surfers competing for the World Title).
 
The new tour structure will provide a more streamlined and affordable career pathway for WSL athletes by allowing up-and-coming surfers to develop closer to home without financially overleveraging themselves. Athletes will compete on their regional QS tour in hopes of qualifying for the Challenger Series (CS), and ultimately the Championship Tour, which will reduce the economic pressure on surfers and their sponsors, as well as provide increased opportunities to celebrate local stars.
 
Each region will have an allocation of surfers that can qualify for the CS through their regional tour.
 
Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said: “The NSW Pro Surf Series brings recreational tourism and economic benefits to our surfing communities by providing a coastal road trip for visiting surfers, giving them the opportunity to explore the variety of breaks, visit local communities and experience NSW’s unique surfing culture. The NSW Government is proud to work with Surfing NSW and continue its support for the NSW Pro Surf Series. Events of this calibre showcase the natural beauty of our state to the world and help us achieve our goal of being the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.”
 
The series was officially launched by Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch and 2021 Sisstrevolution Central Coast Pro Champion and local surfer Molly Picklum.
 
Crouch said he looked forward to seeing Avoca Beach packed with competitors and spectators again, after a tough few years.
 
“Having hundreds of competitors and spectators descend on Avoca Beach not only showcases our beautiful region to the world but injects significant tourism dollars into local businesses, accommodation providers, restaurants and retail,” Mr Crouch said. “The Central Coast is the perfect location for this event and I look forward to seeing our beaches and incredible local Central Coast talent featured on the world stage once again.”
 
Surfing NSW CEO Luke Madden said that the four-event series has become one of the benchmark events on the Surfing NSW calendar.
 
“Since we began this series back in 2016, the Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series has become one of Surfing NSW’s key assets and it’s a series we want to continue to see growing,” said Madden. “Events like this on the Central Coast, Port Stephens, Great Lakes and Maroubra have exceeded all of our expectations and we can’t wait to see them kick off again next year.”
 
Vissla’s John Mossop shared his excitement at seeing the series return and is looking forward to seeing the next crop of talent attack the series as they endeavour to qualify for the WSL Championship Tour.
 
“The series has been grown in leaps-and-bound over the years and it’s been a pivotal platform for emerging talent to graduate to the world stage,” Mossop said. 
 
WSL Australia / Oceania Regional Tour Manager Will Hayden-Smith expressed his gratitude for the long-running partnership between all event stakeholders.
 
“Events of this size are so important to us and having Surfing NSW, Vissla and Destination NSW as a partner makes this possible which we are extremely grateful for. Thanks to partnerships like these, we have little doubt that this series will continue to grow over the foreseeable future,” said Hayden-Smith.
 
The Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series was developed for Australian surfers to gain ranking points and prize money on the WSL Qualifying Series. The series also creates an NSW coastal road trip for all to explore the variety of waves, visit local communities and enjoy NSW surfing culture.
 
All events will be webcast through worldsurfleague.com and the WSL App.
 
All event news, images and highlight clips will be housed at surfingnsw.com.au in the coming weeks.
 
For more information on these events head to worldsurfleague.com or check the free WSL App.
 
Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series Dates
February 22 – 25 – Carve Great Lakes Pro QS1,000, Pacific Palms NSW
February 27 – Mar 1st – Port Stephens Pro QS1,000, Port Stephens NSW
March  4 – 6 – Mad Mex Maroubra Pro QS1,000, Sydney NSW
March 14 – 19 – Vissla and Sisstrevolution Central Coast Pro, presented by Mad Mex QS3,000, Avoca NSW
 
The 2022 Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series will be proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The series will also be proudly supported by Vissla, Randwick City Council, Central Coast Council, Mid Coast Council, Port Stephens Council, Mad Mex, Sisstrevolution, Middle Rock Holiday Park, Moby’s Beachside Retreat, Avoca Beach Hotel, WSL and Surfing NSW.