TOP SURFERS HEAD HOME FOR NSW EVENTS

Connor O’Leary

Three of the State’s best male surfers are home for a month of blockbuster surfing in NSW.

2017 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour Rookie of the Year, Connor O’Leary, WSL surfer, Adrian Buchan, and 2017 WSL Championship Tour fifth place finisher, Matt Wilkinson, will all contest events in NSW this month.

The three will compete for their local clubs in the Australian Boardriders Battle this weekend at Newcastle Beach, and contest the Burton Automotive Pro as part of Surfest at Merewether Beach from 19 to 25 February.

O’Leary will also contest the inaugural Vissla Sydney Surf Pro at Manly Beach from 26 February to 4 March.

All three events were secured exclusively for the State by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said surfing was a key component of the NSW Summer sports calendar.

“The NSW Government supports 10 surfing events in the State, with nine of them taking place over the Summer months, showcasing the stunning NSW coastline and our fantastic weather to visitors from all over the world,” Mr Marshall said.

“Surfest and the Australian Boardriders Battle are both significant events for regional NSW and last year cumulatively attracted more than 2,000 overnight visitors to Newcastle, injecting more than $2 million into the local economy.

“The Vissla Sydney Surf Pro is an exciting new event for Manly Beach, the spiritual home of surfing in Australia, and will see the best international surfers descend on the iconic beachside suburb.”