2014 SURFEST Hits the Waves This Month

Organisers of the 2014 Surfest in Newcastle are ecstatic with the overwhelming response from many of the world's best surfers seeking a place in the marquee events to be held this month.

Newcastle is the hometown of four-time world champion and Australia's most influential surfer, Mark Richards.

Surfest chief Warren Smith said the number of surfers seeking entry to the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star events – the Burton Toyota Open and the Hunter Ports Women's Classic – necessitated the running of international trials to determine the final field of 144 male competitors.

"When entries closed for the 29th Surfest, 215 men had nominated and 13 of the top 17 women surfers in the world had signed on for the Hunter Ports Women's Classic,” Mr Smith said.

"We haven't seen interest like that since the mid-1990s.

"Surfest are working with the ASP to run international trials at Dixon Park on Sunday February 16 to determine the final field of 176 surfers competing for both the Mark Richards trophy and US$155 000 on offer in the Burton Toyota Open," he said.

Long-time ASP tour manager Al Hunt says the big field is most likely due to the existence of just two six-star competitions in Australia - Newcastle and Manly - being scheduled for the 2014 pro surf tour.

Heading up the contingent for the event is defending champion and current world number three, Joel Parkinson and world number six Julian Wilson with other including ASP World Championship Tour surfers Matt Wilkinson (NSW) and Yadin Nicol (WA) along with two-time ASP world junior champion Jack Freestone (QLD).

Other highly ranked surfers to line up in the Burton Toyota Pro include Californian sensation Dane Reynolds, Brazilian duo Adrian De Souza and youngster Felipe Toledo, Hawaiian Fredrick Pattachia and former champ Glenn Hall (Ireland).

Current world number three, Australian Sally Fitzgibbon, who won the trophy in 2012, is the top seed in the Hunter Ports Women's Classic.

Five-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore, currently ranked world number five, will again don the coloured singlet in Newcastle. Other Aussie women competitors include Laura Enever (NSW) and three-time champion at this event, Rebecca Woods (NSW).

For further information, please visit: www.surfest.com