3 October 2014
Merewether Beach, Newcastle, Australia.
THE WANDIYALI ATSI Indigenous Classic at Surfest is set to offer Australia’s biggest purse for an Indigenous surfing competition in 2015.
The event has doubled its 2014 prize money and will provide a total prize pool of $20,000 for Indigenous surfers.
The Wandiyali ATSI Indigenous Classic will take place next February 11-12 as part of Surfest Newcastle Australia.
And the surfer who has won the competition nine times and is the nation’s current number two Indigenous surfer, Russell Molony from North Shelley Boardriders on the NSW Central Coast, reckons the boost in prize money will see a massive increase in Indigenous surfers from around the nation converging on Newcastle.
“This bigger prize money is great news for Indigenous surfers and a real incentive for Indigenous surfers and their families from around Australia to get to Newcastle,” Mr Molony said.
“Newcastle has been a really good place for me as a competitor and everyone who turns up is made to feel welcome. It’s a great opportunity for people to catch up and hear what’s going on with mobs everywhere,” he added.
Wandiyali CEO Steve Kilroy said his organisation was proud to be backing the nation’s richest surfing contest for Indigenous surfers.
“Making the competition a two day event and doubling the prize money is something the board of directors at Wandiyali signalled following the success of the 2014 competition,” Mr Kilroy said.
“We wanted to take the event to the next level and making it a two day event allows families to catch up, exchange yarns and help keep our culture strong,” he said.
Surfest chief Warren Smith said the Wandiyali ATSI Indigenous Classic has become a key part of Surfest and the doubling of prize money will further enhance the event.
“Wandiyali ATSI have been a long term supporter of Indigenous surfing and Surfest. It’s such a great event. It’s much more than a surfing competition – it’s about making new friends and catching up with old ones too, Mr Smith said.
“The increase in sponsorship is fantastic news for Indigenous surfing and we look forward to seeing the best Indigenous surfers once again making their way to Newcastle and stamping their approval on what we want to become the nation’s premier Indigenous surfing competition,” he said.
For further information, contact Warren Smith +61 412127525.