Elite World Tour Surfers Joel Parkinson and Taj Burrow Set To Star At Surfest, Newcastle Australia 2012
(Merewether, Newcastle, NSW, Australia, 9 February, 2012)
THE NUMBER two surfer in the world Joel Parkinson and number three ranked Taj Burrow have given early confirmation that they will be donning the competitor's singlets at Surfest, Newcastle, Australia next month.
The Aussie duo will battle an array of the world's best surfers for the right to etch their names on the prestigious Mark Richards Trophy at next month's Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star rated $US155,000 Burton Toyota Pro at Merewether beach.
Parkinson will be the event's number one seed and Burrow the number two, but it's not just the men's event that has attracted many of the world's finest surfers to the shores of Newcastle.
The top two women surfers on the planet have also given Surfest organisers early confirmation that they too will be putting their awesome abilities on show.
The ASP 6-Star $US40,000 Hunter Ports Women's Classic will feature reigning ASP Women's World Champion Carissa Moore from Hawaii and world number two Sally Fitzgibbons from the south coast of New South Wales.
Moore will be the event's number one seed and Fitzgibbons the number two seed.
While entries for both events remain open until February 14, Surfest organiser Warren Smith said that the top seeds will not change due to the high rankings of the surfers that have already committed themselves to Newcastle.
"It's fantastic to host dual ASP 6-Star men's and women's competitions and see the entire event at the level we have long argued it needs to be to provide Newcastle with surfers of such outstanding caliber," Mr Smith said.
Both Burrow and Fitzgibbons will be back for another crack at joining some of the greatest names in surfing on the prestigious Surfest winners' list.
Fitzgibbons has won in Newcastle as a junior but was bundled out of last year's semi-final in the women's event.
Burrow will be looking for a result that will make last year's interference disqualification in the quarter-finals at Newcastle nothing but a distant memory.
"This is a great event with a lot of history and with the increased event rating this year, everyone will be going all out to hold up the Mark Richards trophy at the end," said Burrow.
While Joel Parkinson and Carissa Moore have never surfed in the event, they are both pumped for success at Newcastle.
"I am looking forward to Surfest in Newcastle," Moore said.
"I have never been to the area and I've heard the breaks are fun.
"Hopefully women's surfing can put on a good show," she said.
NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events George Souris said that this year's Surfest will see Newcastle's stunning beaches play host to the world's surfing elite.
"Surfest is a key regional event in Destination NSW's upcoming campaign - It's ON - in Newcastle and the Hunter commencing this Saturday.
"Throughout March, Newcastle and the Hunter will host a spectacular array of events.
"In addition to Surfest, country music superstars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw will join other international and Australian country artists at CMC Rocks the Hunter, the Newcastle Knights will kick off the NRL season on March 1 and the Newcastle Jets will put on two big weekends of A-League action at Hunter [formerly Ausgrid] Stadium," Minister Souris said.
The ASP has already secured over 120 entries for the Burton Toyota Pro and 70 entries for the Hunter Ports Women's Classic. Almost a dozen of the planet's top surfing nations will be represented in Newcastle.
Organisers are confident the Burton Toyota Pro will start a field of 144 surfers, while 60 surfers will hit the water in the Hunter Ports Women's Classic.
Man-on-man heats get underway from the round of 48 in both events.
Local surfers flying the flag in the Burton Toyota Pro will include Merewether trio Ryan Callinan, Jesse Adam, and Jake Sylvester.
2009 Surfest women's champion and 2011 ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series champion Philippa Anderson carries the hopes of the Hunter in the Hunter Ports Women's Classic.
Member for Newcastle Tim Owen said it was terrific for the region to have Surfest offer 6-star competitions for both men and women.
"In 2012, thanks to the investment from Destination NSW, a webcast of the men's and women's event, along with a live broadcast of the two final days on Fuel TV, will show our region to the world," Mr Owen said.
About the 2012 Surfest Newcastle Australia
The 2012 Surfest Newcastle Australia features the Burton Toyota Pro (Men's ASP 6-Star) and the Hunter Ports Women's Classic (Women's ASP 6-Star), along with eight supporting events. The event is made possible with the support of Burton Toyota, the Hunter Sports Sports Group and the NSW Government through Destination NSW. Surfest Newcastle Australia is conducted over 12 days from March 7-18 at Merewether beach, a recognised Australian National Surfing Reserve. Merewether is home to festival patron and Australia's most accomplished men's world professional surfing champion, four-time world champion Mark Richards (1979-82) and presents the winner a trophy in his likeness. 2012 marks the festival's 27th year and with over 800 national and international competitors, Surfest Newcastle Australia is the largest festival of surfing in the southern hemisphere. Get up-to-the minute updates, photos and interviews, as well as the program of events at surfest.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
