COOLANGATTA, QLD/AUS (Thursday, November 10, 2022) - On Saturday 10th December, 80 male and female surfers from across Australia / Oceania will compete in the Rip Curl Pro URBNSURF presented by Pirate Life QS1,000 at URBNSURF Melbourne in the first World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) competition to be held in a Wavegarden Cove.
This event comes on the back of WSL announcing it will permit the sanctioning of wave basin-based events across Pro Junior, Qualifying Series, and Longboard Tiers at the regional level.
URBNSURF Melbourne will play host to some of the countries best this December. - WSL / URBNSURF
As always, the waves will be pumping at URBNSURF as 40 men and 40 women surfers carve it up on the left and right handers at the point, while live acoustic music adds to the summer vibe from The Lawns and brings the park to life.
Local surfers, Tully Wylie and Ellie Harrison, are set to join Australia's best up-and-coming surfers to compete in the Rip Curl Pro URBNSURF QS1,000 event, which offers $20,000 in prize money and valuable regional qualification points for competitors looking for a spot on the 2023 WSL Challenger Series.
Fans of surfing can check out all the action at URBNSURF with general admission entry tickets starting at only $10 to watch all the action in the waves, listen to live tunes and enjoy a range of other activities happening in the park.
A perfect way to kick start summer with a full day of action-packed fun complete with food and drinks. The event will kick off at approximately 10am and the Final will wrap up at 6pm.
URBNSURF will work with Surfing Victoria, Surfing Australia, and the WSL to deliver the event as well as a live broadcast streaming across WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL's YouTube channel, and the free WSL app.
"URBNSURF has been the base of so many ‘firsts' this year, we had a world-first with Winter Jam in August and now we have a WSL Qualifying Series event in Australia's first surf park, perfectly timed to kick off what is set to be a cracking summer at URBNSURF," said Damon Tudor, CEO URBNSURF.
"We are so lucky to have a park that has the unique Wavegarden technology, open and undercover spaces and the awesome team of staff to facilitate and host large events like the Rip Curl Pro QS1,000. We cannot wait to welcome some of the best homegrown surfing talent from across the region, serve up perfect waves and celebrate with fans of the sport and surfing lifestyle," Tudor added.
Bella Wilson will be one of the Victorian hopefuls at the inaugural Rip Curl Pro URBNSURF. - WSL / Matt Dunbar
Local surfer and recent Phillip Island Pro QS1,000 Men's event winner Tully Wylie says he is "so excited to compete for qualification points in a World Surf League event at URBNSURF. I was lucky enough to compete in the first event held in the lagoon and know how epic the experience will be for competitors and spectators. No doubt the event will attract the best surfers in Australia given its significance but the Victorians will have the home-field advantage as we train here so much with Surfing Victoria".
Andrew Stark, WSL APAC President, commented on the new WSL Qualifying Series event at URBNSURF: "The WSL is extremely excited to be working with URBNSURF Melbourne to deliver this QS1,000 event for our members and fans. It's a unique facility and offers a great opportunity to deliver a QS1,000 in a one-day format. This is the first official WSL QS to be held in wave pool technology, so we are very interested to see the event come to life in such a unique setting and wave."
The 2022 Rip Curl Pro URBNSURF presented by Pirate Life QS 1000 will run at URBNSURF Tullamarine, Melbourne Victoria on December 10, 2022. For more information head to WorldSurfLeague.com or download the free WSL app.
ABOUT URBNSURF: URBNSURF is a proudly Australian company with offices in Melbourne and Sydney. The team are stoked to be building Australia's first urban surf parks to help people of all ages and abilities to surf more, and to surf better. URBNSURF Melbourne is the company's first venue, followed closely by URBNSURF Sydney at Sydney Olympic Park, set to open in 2024 with further projects planned around the country. The park was recently recognised as the Most Appealing Surf Park Destination, The Most Popular Surf Park for Beginners & Intermediates and The Most Appealing Surf Park Amenities, at the 2021 Surf Park Awards hosted in San Diego in October 2021.