Pictured (L-R): Grayson Hinrichs (Bondi Boardriders wildcard), Victoria Austin (Bondi Boardriders President), Luke Madden (Surfing NSW Chief Executive Officer), Brenda Miley (Bondi Girls Surfriders president), and Poppy O’Reilly (Bondi Girls Surfriders wildcard). Credit: Surfing NSW
BONDI BEACH, NEW SOUTH WALES (Friday 14 October, 2022) – The stage is set for the finale of the 2022 Australian Open of Surfing Tour (AOS) presented by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – Bondi Open Grand Final.
With light offshore winds and 3 – 4ft of swell predicted, it’s shaping up to be an exciting day of action to conclude the AOS tour and crown the male and female champions at the iconic Bondi Beach.
The one-day final will showcase the top 16 men and women qualifiers from the combined two event series and local Bondi Boardrider Club wildcards, with surfers vying to win a a slice of the $30,000 prize pool, including a $10,000 winners cheque.
Bondi Boardriders President, Victoria Austin said having the AOS Grand Final at Bondi is amazing for the local community.
“Bondi Boardriders is super grateful to have the AOS Grand Final here at Bondi with the inclusion of our local wildcards – Grayson Hinrichs and Codie Klein,”said Austin.
Bondi Boardrider Club male wildcard, Grayson Hinrichs said he’s stoked to have the opportunity to compete in the AOS Grand Final and hopes to make his local club proud by bringing home a result.
“I’m really excited for tomorrow,”said Hinrichs. “There hasn’t been many big surfing events at Bondi outside of Boardriders competitions, so it’s going to be great for Bondi, the locals, and the next generation of surfers to see competition at an elite level.”
Bondi Girls Surfriders President and Owner of Let’s Go Surfing (surf school at Bondi), Brenda Miley, said having the final at Bondi is an amazing opportunity for all of us to see the best female and male surfers here at our local break.
“I’ll be at Bondi on Saturday supporting one of our junior surfers, Poppy O’Reilly, she’s only 13 and our Bondi Girls Surfriders local wildcard,” said Miley. “I’m looking forward to supporting women’s surfing and also taking learn-to-surf lessons for spectators interested.”
The 2022 AOS Tour hosted by Surfing Queensland and Surfing NSW, inaugurated a non-traditional heat-format with surfers best single-wave score making up their final heat placing rather than two-waves.
The AOS tour included two qualifying events, The Bonsoy Coffs Harbour Open presented by Gage Roads (24-25 September) and the Sunshine Coast Open (1 October), with the top 16 qualifiers from the two events being invited to compete at the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Bondi Open.
The prize pool for the AOS Grand Final is $30,000, a significant amount provided to support professional and aspiring Australian surfers in their campaign to qualify for the World Championship Tour. The male and female Grand Final winners will both take home a huge $10,000 cheque.
Competition will be underway at 7:30am and will wrap up at 12:30pm.
The afternoon activities will continue across the road at Bondi Beach Road Hotel from 2pm onwards to crown the champions and celebrate the conclusion of the 2022 AOS Tour.
The 2022 Australian Open of Surfing Tour presented by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is supported by Gage Roads, Bonsoy, Tracks Magazine, Oakberry, Mad Mex (official webcast partner) and Waverly Council.
2022 Australian Open of Surfing Tour, presented by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Qualifier One, Bonsoy Coffs Harbour – September 24 – 25, 2022
Qualifier Two, Sunshine Coast Open – October 1, 2022
Grand Final, Bondi Open – October 15, 2022
Grand Final
Bondi Grand Final Open, 15 October 2022
Prize Money Breakdown: Equal Men and Women
1st Place $10,000.00
2nd Place $1,000.00
3rd Place $750.00
4th Place $500.00
$250 for all Grand Final competitors who do not place
