After the success and positive response to the Her Wave Teams Classic launch in 2022, Surfing NSW, with the support of the NSW Government, is delighted to announce the return of the events for 2023. The Australian-first female surfing series is confirmed to run in two iconic NSW coastal regions, North Shelly (Central Coast) and Jones Beach (Kiama).
The Her Wave Teams Classic is a series that aims to increase female participation and support across the state through events that focus on fun, skills development and community. Surfing NSW’s female platform Her Wave’s ethos is to encourage girls and women of any age and ability to sign up and enjoy the ocean.
Each event will provide over 200 females with the opportunity to showcase their skills thanks to a $156,000 grant from the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Regional Events Acceleration Fund.
Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said the Regional Events Acceleration Fund is supporting the growth of existing regional events and attracting new major domestic and international events to regional NSW.
“Sport, and surfing in particular, is a huge part of our coastal communities and by attracting these major events to our State, we are driving tourism and creating enormous economic benefit,” Mr Henskens said.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the NSW Government was throwing its support behind Surfing NSW’s Her Wave Teams Classic.
“We want to see even more and more women hitting the waves and showcasing their skills, whether they’re beginners on the board or seasoned surfers,” Mr Crouch said.
“Surfing is a huge part of our coastal communities. Investing in the Her Wave Teams Classic is not only great for local surfers but will attract more visitors to town, putting more heads on beds and injecting money into the local economy.”
This unique and highly anticipated series will take place at North Shelly from the 10th – 12th of March, and Kiama from the 31st – 2nd of April which will see over 200 surfers from around the state participate at each location.
Following the enthusiasm from last year’s three-event series, Surfing NSW’s General Manager Kate Cass explained her excitement to see its return to Kiama for the second year in a row, and North Shelly for the first time.
“I am thrilled to confirm that the Her Teams Classic is back for its second year. This series and the sport of surfing have the amazing ability to connect women from all walks of life, so it is a great privilege that Her Wave has the opportunity to further inspire interest in the sport in a fun and inclusive way.”
“This is going to be a very special event for both the Central Coast and Kiama which will see the local restaurants, cafes and accommodation benefit from the increased visitation of the Her Wave community to our beautiful regional areas,” said Kate Cass.
Regional coastal towns across the NSW state continue to see increased participation in female surfing. Surfing NSW CEO Luke Madden expressed his excitement for the return of the Her Wave Teams Classic events.
“The 2022 Her Wave Teams Classic events received such an incredible response, with Kiama a major highlight. In 2022 the events were oversubscribed, with teams from boardrider clubs, surfing groups, sporting teams and even universities. This funding and support from the NSW Government allows us to build on a great foundation, expanding the event by an extra day and delivering more opportunity for female participation in surfing as the interest continues to grow”.
“We are excited to lock North Shelly in as a location for 2023. The region currently hosts Australia’s number one boardrider club that has a very strong existing women’s surfing community. I am excited to see the Challenge Her Team’s Classic events continue to support and nurture female participation in surfing whilst also driving much-needed tourism to regional wave-rich locations’. Said Luke Madden.
The Her Wave Teams Classic events do not run like a typical surf event. Instead, the structure has been carefully curated to increase participation and boost confidence.
The event will host teams of eight surfers and will follow a surf teams format of competition with a twist. The teams of eight surfers will be composed of four longboard surfers and four shortboard surfers. The weekend is set to be full of encouragement and friendship.
Both the North Shelly and Kiama Her Wave Teams Classic events will also host a number of Her Wave festivities, workshops and clinics in tandem with the surf competition. These are open to the community as well as both recreational and aspiring surfers, which aim to provide opportunities for females to grow their skill set and open up career pathways in the industry.
North Shelly local surfer and Female Boardrider Competition Director Halle Hunt said she is excited to see the Her Wave event confirmed for North Shelly and can’t wait to be amongst the action.
“I am so stoked to know that Her Wave is coming to North Shelly. I was a part of the Her Wave events last year and saw first-hand the incredible atmosphere and infectious fun that everyone on the beach had the entire time. We have a great community of female surfers on the Central Coast, but it is events like Her Wave that bring everyone from far and near closer together.” said Halle Hunt.
The Challenge Her Team’s Classic is part of the Surfing NSW Her Wave platform, supported by the NSW Government and Kiama Council. Head to the Surfing NSW Her Wave website to find out more about the events and register a team.
