Day one of the 2021 Vissla Central Coast Pro and Sisstrevolution Central Coast Pro, men’s and women’s QS3000 event enjoyed a rising swell and good conditions for men’s round one, two and half of round three.
The event opened with the appearance of high profile elite surf coach Glenn ‘Micro’ Hall (Umina, NSW) who surfed his first WSL heat in over five years and the powerful goofy footer showed all he has maintained the skills that saw him compete on the elite Championship Tour in 2015 and 2016.
“It was fun to put the jersey back on and compete again. It’s about getting out there and doing my best, it’s not about winning and it’s a good opportunity while here at my home beach. Don’t worry, this is not a comeback,” laughed Hall after his win.
By days end Hall had advanced through rounds one, two and three and faces an intriguing matchup against his team member and fellow local Adrian Buchan in round four.
“There’ll be no favours going Adrian’s way in that heat, maybe he can give me a few,” added Hall.
Nathan Hedge (Narrabeen, NSW) was the other high profile veteran and former CT surfer to appear at Avoca today. Looking as fit and determined as he was through his prime years on the elite tour over a decade ago, Hedge’s competitive nous and determination saw him advance on his final ride of his round two heat.
“I still love competing when the opportunities arise,” said Hedge. “There’s no pressure now and it’s good to stay in touch and see all the emerging talent and with good waves likely all week this should be a great event. I will always give it 100 percent.”
Former event champion Shane Holmes (Shelly Beach, NSW) revelled in the increasing surf today and the powerfully built local Central Coast surfer won his way through rounds one, two and three today with a style focused on big powerful moves.
“I have not competed since this event last year and it is so good to be back and doing what we all do best” said Holmes. “It’s good to be surfing in my local region and with this swell on the increase I feel good and confident I can keep advancing. Let’s see though, the field is extremely strong with some great top seeds.”
The live broadcast of the Vissla Central Coast Pro and Sisstrevolution Central Coast Pro will begin on Thursday, 4 March 2021 and will be streamed live on Surfing NSW website and Facebook.
The elite six-day World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3000 rated event formed the final of four stops on the Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series and will take place in Avoca from Tuesday, 2 March 2021 until Sunday, 7 March 2021.
The four-event series will see three QS1000 rated events (Maroubra, Great Lakes and Port Stephens) and one men’s and women’s QS3000 (Central Coast).
In 2020, the WSL revealed a new format for 2021, 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.
The QS will run from January through to July 2021 and determine who has qualified for the CS, which will run from August through to December 2021. Each region will have an allocation of surfers that can qualify for the CS through their regional tour. Athletes will be able to roll over points from 2020 QS events into the current season. Australia/Oceania will receive an allocation of ten men’s and eight women’s spots onto the Challenger Series based on the regional QS rankings.
All events will be webcast through worldsurfleague.com, surfingnsw.com.au and the WSL App.
For more information on these events head to worldsurfleague.com or check the free WSL App.
2021 Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series Event Schedule
Event 1: Great Lakes Pro, Boomerang Beach, Tuesday 16 – Friday 19 February 2021.
Event 2: Port Stephens Pro, Birubi Beach, Sunday 21 – Tuesday 23 February 2021.
Event 3: Mad Mex Maroubra Pro, Maroubra Beach, Friday 26 – Sunday 28 February 2021.
Event 4: Vissla Central Coast Pro, Avoca Beach, Tuesday 2 – Sunday 7 March 2021.
The 2021 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.
