Australia’s Three Newest WSL Events

The 2021 WSL Championship Tour will be unique for a range of reasons, but probably most notable among them is the format of the Australian leg of the tour. Rather than the Gold Coast/Bells/Margaret River ritual to which we’ve become so accustomed, this year we’ll, unfortunately, miss out on the first two courtesy of logistical issues relating to the pandemic, government regulations, and all that other jazz to which we’ve also become very accustomed over the past year. Those events will be sorely missed, but of course, the flip side to their absence is that we’ll be treated to three new events, and Rip Curl has jumped right in to sponsor all of them alongside their sponsorship of the new season-ending event at Trestles. Let’s take a look at where they are, and what we can expect from them. 

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup

Newcastle has long been an important part of surfing in Australia, but not for over two decades has it been included on the Championship Tour. Nonetheless, it’s been a drawcard for many of the world’s best surfers, with names like Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Steph Gilmore and Tom Curran all having won there in the past. 

It was only relatively recently – back in 2007 – that the event moved from Newcastle Beach to Mereweather, where this tournament will be held. Mereweather is on the southern side of Newcastle, which is, of course, located on the Central Coast, a couple of hours north of Sydney. The beach is a long and exposed stretch of sand facing south-east, perfectly poised to bear the brunt of the Pacific. 

The type of wave dished up at Mereweather can vary significantly depending on swell direction. If a southerly swell comes up from Tasmania-way, we’ll see the long, stretched out right-handers of Mereweather Point for which this beach is predominantly known. Alternatively, cyclones in the Coral Sea can also see Newcastle hit by north-east swells – if this is the case, you can expect barrelling left-handers. They’re two pretty contrasting options, meaning surfers of all styles have the capacity to come into play at this location. 

Once a small, industrial town, Newcastle is rapidly becoming a bustling metropolis, so the big, sandy beach and cliffs which overlook Mereweather Point will no doubt be packed come tournament time. It might not be as iconic – nor as good a wave – as the event at Bells that it will replace, but Newcastle has a pretty long history of surfing itself, and if conditions line up this will be a memorable tournament.

Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic

Sydney’s northern beaches have not, in the past, been touted as potential locations for a Championship Tour event, and had COVID-19 not come along they might never have been. The waves of Narrabeen, however, are renowned, both for their quality and for the, let’s say, robust passion of the locals. 

What is perhaps less well-known, however, is just how significant an impact Narrabeen has had on professional surfing. Back in 1974, it was here that Coca Cola sponsored an event with $7,000 in prize money – at the time touted as the biggest prize pool in surfing around the globe. It maintained that claim for the rest of the decade and hung around for another couple of decades after it lost it. 

20 years later competition will return, and like with Mereweather, there are a number of waves here that the pros can be given license to tear up. It’s generally accepted that the best waves here are the lefts which peel off the rivermouth, and if we get some solid north-west swells expect to see the goofy-footed barrel lovers among the professional fraternity light up the event. There are also quality rights coming off what’s known as The Alley, and a big, slabbing shorebreak, so there are plenty of potential options for the tournament depending on the conditions.

Rip Curl Rottnest Search

Most people know Rottnest Island predominantly for the quokkas which run the show there, and the fact that – courtesy of the lack of any predators on the island – they are incredibly friendly and more than happy to jump in a selfie with you. What fewer people know is that there are also a whole lot of really, really good waves there.

Rip Curl has revived its affiliation with Rottnest Island – previously involved in the part-marketing-campaign, part-lifestyle-concept known as The Search – for the fourth and final leg of this extended Australian tour. The event will take place at Strickland Bay, located on the south-west side of the Perth-adjacent island. 

While the Newcastle Cup and Narrabeen Classic will no doubt be quality events, this might be the new addition to the tour likely to drum up the most interest. There may not be the same surfing history at Rottnest as there is at Newcastle or Narrabeen – though who knows what the quokkas get up to when the tourists leave – but it is almost certainly the wildest venue on tour and will bear very few similarities to the jam-packed NSW events.

Rottnest Island is home to only around 300 people, and bicycles are the only way to get around. To preserve the surrounding environment, no crowds will be allowed at the event, so it’ll just be the surfers, support staff and their bikes. 

The best wave here is a left-hander which breaks over a shallow reef and can barrel at the end. It can handle a whole heap of swell, so if the ocean cooperates we could have some really fun viewing. Regardless though, even if the waves aren’t quite Teahupo’o or Pipeline, the surrounding scenery and what will be something of an eerie background will make for a very particular event. 

Let’s be honest – none of these locations are the WSL’s first choice, and many would rather see the world’s best out at Bells or Snapper Rocks. All three of Newcastle, Narrabeen and Rottnest Island, however, have plenty to offer, both in terms of the quality of wave they can produce and the setting which surrounds them. What’s more, there’s every chance their presence on the tour will be a one-off, so it shapes as a unique and compelling few weeks of surfing.