Latest news with #QualifyingSeries
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Everything you need to know about Surfest in 2025
Forty years after its inception, dreamed up as the uniquely Newcastle surf event that would help carry the city out of its industrial past, Surfest has returned in 2025, arguably bigger and better than ever after rising to the World Surf League's second-tier Challenger Series. "It's radically different," Andrew Stark, the WSL's Asia-Pacific president, said of the main contest's elevation from the third-tier Qualifying Series in November last year. With heightened status, the competition from June 2 to June 8 promises bigger names, better surf and more eyeballs on Newcastle's glorious coastline. Public transport is the best way to get to Surfest with buses running regularly to Merewether Beach, where most of the surf action is happening, the event has advised. The Newcastle light rail runs regularly from the Newcastle Interchange on Stewart Avenue to Newcastle Beach, connecting to regional train lines. Event goers using the light rail can connect with route 12 at Hunter Street at Florence Street - a short walk from Newcastle Interchange or connect with route 21 at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. The ferry operates between Stockton and Queens Wharf with services every 15 minutes during peak periods and 20 minutes throughout the day and weekends. Event goers can connect with the Route 21 service at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. Surfest events have been running since December, but the height of the action brings the show to a rollicking climax in Newcastle from Monday, June 2, to Sunday, June 8. Here is the full event schedule. If you cannot make it to the beach, the Surfest website will live stream events as they happen, including the June 1 to June 8 Challenger Series. You can watch the events here. Surfest 2025 is returning "home" to The Beach Hotel at Merewether from June 2 to 8. Not only is the hotel stepping up as an official event sponsor this year, it's also acting as a hub for Surfest entertainment and sponsoring Merewether's own Ryan Callinan, a world-class surfer and proud representative of the local Boardriders club and celebrating the rich surfing heritage of the region. The hotel is also hosting a string of Surfest events, including the Ain't That Swell live podcast with Vaughan Blakey and Jed Smith (June 1); the Go For Broke breakfast and panel with Morgan Cibilic, Andrew Stark, Mitchell Ross, Kate Wilcomes and Stace Galbraith (June 5); and the Surfest Closing Party with Tommy Trash (June 8). "We're stoked to partner with The Beach Hotel for this year's Burton Automotive Surfest Challenger Series," says World Surf League (WSL) Asia Pacific (APAC) president Andrew Stark. "It's an iconic venue with deep roots in the local surf scene - especially with the Merewether Boardriders and the local community. "With its epic location, great food, and surf history on the walls, it's the perfect spot for competitors and fans to kick back after a day in the water. We're pumped to see it all come to life." With Merewether being the original birthplace of Surfest, The Beach Hotel has long been woven into the fabric of Newcastle's surf culture. It's something owner Glenn Piper was adamant about preserving - and honouring - while renovating the building. "Surfing is in our veins here at The Beaches," he said. "Bringing Surfest back to its original home and supporting local legends like Ryan is about honouring our past while investing in the future of Newcastle's surf culture." Added Ryan: "The Beach Hotel has always been at the heart of Merewether's surf scene, whether it's boardriders swapping stories after a comp or locals celebrating a perfect run of swell. Having them back in the 2025 season is more than a sponsorship; it's a show of community strength and pride. Carrying the Beaches logo in the line-up reminds me I'm representing everyone who calls this place home." The 2025 Surfest will be the opening event of the World Surf League Challenger Series, drawing over 120 of the world's best surfers to Merewether Beach from June 2 to 8. It's the largest surfing festival in the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing Newcastle's vibrant coastal community to a global audience. To see the full Surfest program at The Beach Hotel, visit In coordination with the event, Sanbah Surf Shop - a major supporter of Surfest - is coordinating surf classes with professional coaching staff from Newcastle Surfest Surf School. Instructors are accredited with Surfing Australia and operate as a licensed Surfing Australia surf school, teaching surf lessons to children and adults from Nobby's Beach, Newcastle. Bookings and details are available here. Forty years after its inception, dreamed up as the uniquely Newcastle surf event that would help carry the city out of its industrial past, Surfest has returned in 2025, arguably bigger and better than ever after rising to the World Surf League's second-tier Challenger Series. "It's radically different," Andrew Stark, the WSL's Asia-Pacific president, said of the main contest's elevation from the third-tier Qualifying Series in November last year. With heightened status, the competition from June 2 to June 8 promises bigger names, better surf and more eyeballs on Newcastle's glorious coastline. Public transport is the best way to get to Surfest with buses running regularly to Merewether Beach, where most of the surf action is happening, the event has advised. The Newcastle light rail runs regularly from the Newcastle Interchange on Stewart Avenue to Newcastle Beach, connecting to regional train lines. Event goers using the light rail can connect with route 12 at Hunter Street at Florence Street - a short walk from Newcastle Interchange or connect with route 21 at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. The ferry operates between Stockton and Queens Wharf with services every 15 minutes during peak periods and 20 minutes throughout the day and weekends. Event goers can connect with the Route 21 service at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. Surfest events have been running since December, but the height of the action brings the show to a rollicking climax in Newcastle from Monday, June 2, to Sunday, June 8. Here is the full event schedule. If you cannot make it to the beach, the Surfest website will live stream events as they happen, including the June 1 to June 8 Challenger Series. You can watch the events here. Surfest 2025 is returning "home" to The Beach Hotel at Merewether from June 2 to 8. Not only is the hotel stepping up as an official event sponsor this year, it's also acting as a hub for Surfest entertainment and sponsoring Merewether's own Ryan Callinan, a world-class surfer and proud representative of the local Boardriders club and celebrating the rich surfing heritage of the region. The hotel is also hosting a string of Surfest events, including the Ain't That Swell live podcast with Vaughan Blakey and Jed Smith (June 1); the Go For Broke breakfast and panel with Morgan Cibilic, Andrew Stark, Mitchell Ross, Kate Wilcomes and Stace Galbraith (June 5); and the Surfest Closing Party with Tommy Trash (June 8). "We're stoked to partner with The Beach Hotel for this year's Burton Automotive Surfest Challenger Series," says World Surf League (WSL) Asia Pacific (APAC) president Andrew Stark. "It's an iconic venue with deep roots in the local surf scene - especially with the Merewether Boardriders and the local community. "With its epic location, great food, and surf history on the walls, it's the perfect spot for competitors and fans to kick back after a day in the water. We're pumped to see it all come to life." With Merewether being the original birthplace of Surfest, The Beach Hotel has long been woven into the fabric of Newcastle's surf culture. It's something owner Glenn Piper was adamant about preserving - and honouring - while renovating the building. "Surfing is in our veins here at The Beaches," he said. "Bringing Surfest back to its original home and supporting local legends like Ryan is about honouring our past while investing in the future of Newcastle's surf culture." Added Ryan: "The Beach Hotel has always been at the heart of Merewether's surf scene, whether it's boardriders swapping stories after a comp or locals celebrating a perfect run of swell. Having them back in the 2025 season is more than a sponsorship; it's a show of community strength and pride. Carrying the Beaches logo in the line-up reminds me I'm representing everyone who calls this place home." The 2025 Surfest will be the opening event of the World Surf League Challenger Series, drawing over 120 of the world's best surfers to Merewether Beach from June 2 to 8. It's the largest surfing festival in the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing Newcastle's vibrant coastal community to a global audience. To see the full Surfest program at The Beach Hotel, visit In coordination with the event, Sanbah Surf Shop - a major supporter of Surfest - is coordinating surf classes with professional coaching staff from Newcastle Surfest Surf School. Instructors are accredited with Surfing Australia and operate as a licensed Surfing Australia surf school, teaching surf lessons to children and adults from Nobby's Beach, Newcastle. Bookings and details are available here. Forty years after its inception, dreamed up as the uniquely Newcastle surf event that would help carry the city out of its industrial past, Surfest has returned in 2025, arguably bigger and better than ever after rising to the World Surf League's second-tier Challenger Series. "It's radically different," Andrew Stark, the WSL's Asia-Pacific president, said of the main contest's elevation from the third-tier Qualifying Series in November last year. With heightened status, the competition from June 2 to June 8 promises bigger names, better surf and more eyeballs on Newcastle's glorious coastline. Public transport is the best way to get to Surfest with buses running regularly to Merewether Beach, where most of the surf action is happening, the event has advised. The Newcastle light rail runs regularly from the Newcastle Interchange on Stewart Avenue to Newcastle Beach, connecting to regional train lines. Event goers using the light rail can connect with route 12 at Hunter Street at Florence Street - a short walk from Newcastle Interchange or connect with route 21 at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. The ferry operates between Stockton and Queens Wharf with services every 15 minutes during peak periods and 20 minutes throughout the day and weekends. Event goers can connect with the Route 21 service at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. Surfest events have been running since December, but the height of the action brings the show to a rollicking climax in Newcastle from Monday, June 2, to Sunday, June 8. Here is the full event schedule. If you cannot make it to the beach, the Surfest website will live stream events as they happen, including the June 1 to June 8 Challenger Series. You can watch the events here. Surfest 2025 is returning "home" to The Beach Hotel at Merewether from June 2 to 8. Not only is the hotel stepping up as an official event sponsor this year, it's also acting as a hub for Surfest entertainment and sponsoring Merewether's own Ryan Callinan, a world-class surfer and proud representative of the local Boardriders club and celebrating the rich surfing heritage of the region. The hotel is also hosting a string of Surfest events, including the Ain't That Swell live podcast with Vaughan Blakey and Jed Smith (June 1); the Go For Broke breakfast and panel with Morgan Cibilic, Andrew Stark, Mitchell Ross, Kate Wilcomes and Stace Galbraith (June 5); and the Surfest Closing Party with Tommy Trash (June 8). "We're stoked to partner with The Beach Hotel for this year's Burton Automotive Surfest Challenger Series," says World Surf League (WSL) Asia Pacific (APAC) president Andrew Stark. "It's an iconic venue with deep roots in the local surf scene - especially with the Merewether Boardriders and the local community. "With its epic location, great food, and surf history on the walls, it's the perfect spot for competitors and fans to kick back after a day in the water. We're pumped to see it all come to life." With Merewether being the original birthplace of Surfest, The Beach Hotel has long been woven into the fabric of Newcastle's surf culture. It's something owner Glenn Piper was adamant about preserving - and honouring - while renovating the building. "Surfing is in our veins here at The Beaches," he said. "Bringing Surfest back to its original home and supporting local legends like Ryan is about honouring our past while investing in the future of Newcastle's surf culture." Added Ryan: "The Beach Hotel has always been at the heart of Merewether's surf scene, whether it's boardriders swapping stories after a comp or locals celebrating a perfect run of swell. Having them back in the 2025 season is more than a sponsorship; it's a show of community strength and pride. Carrying the Beaches logo in the line-up reminds me I'm representing everyone who calls this place home." The 2025 Surfest will be the opening event of the World Surf League Challenger Series, drawing over 120 of the world's best surfers to Merewether Beach from June 2 to 8. It's the largest surfing festival in the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing Newcastle's vibrant coastal community to a global audience. To see the full Surfest program at The Beach Hotel, visit In coordination with the event, Sanbah Surf Shop - a major supporter of Surfest - is coordinating surf classes with professional coaching staff from Newcastle Surfest Surf School. Instructors are accredited with Surfing Australia and operate as a licensed Surfing Australia surf school, teaching surf lessons to children and adults from Nobby's Beach, Newcastle. Bookings and details are available here. Forty years after its inception, dreamed up as the uniquely Newcastle surf event that would help carry the city out of its industrial past, Surfest has returned in 2025, arguably bigger and better than ever after rising to the World Surf League's second-tier Challenger Series. "It's radically different," Andrew Stark, the WSL's Asia-Pacific president, said of the main contest's elevation from the third-tier Qualifying Series in November last year. With heightened status, the competition from June 2 to June 8 promises bigger names, better surf and more eyeballs on Newcastle's glorious coastline. Public transport is the best way to get to Surfest with buses running regularly to Merewether Beach, where most of the surf action is happening, the event has advised. The Newcastle light rail runs regularly from the Newcastle Interchange on Stewart Avenue to Newcastle Beach, connecting to regional train lines. Event goers using the light rail can connect with route 12 at Hunter Street at Florence Street - a short walk from Newcastle Interchange or connect with route 21 at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. The ferry operates between Stockton and Queens Wharf with services every 15 minutes during peak periods and 20 minutes throughout the day and weekends. Event goers can connect with the Route 21 service at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. Surfest events have been running since December, but the height of the action brings the show to a rollicking climax in Newcastle from Monday, June 2, to Sunday, June 8. Here is the full event schedule. If you cannot make it to the beach, the Surfest website will live stream events as they happen, including the June 1 to June 8 Challenger Series. You can watch the events here. Surfest 2025 is returning "home" to The Beach Hotel at Merewether from June 2 to 8. Not only is the hotel stepping up as an official event sponsor this year, it's also acting as a hub for Surfest entertainment and sponsoring Merewether's own Ryan Callinan, a world-class surfer and proud representative of the local Boardriders club and celebrating the rich surfing heritage of the region. The hotel is also hosting a string of Surfest events, including the Ain't That Swell live podcast with Vaughan Blakey and Jed Smith (June 1); the Go For Broke breakfast and panel with Morgan Cibilic, Andrew Stark, Mitchell Ross, Kate Wilcomes and Stace Galbraith (June 5); and the Surfest Closing Party with Tommy Trash (June 8). "We're stoked to partner with The Beach Hotel for this year's Burton Automotive Surfest Challenger Series," says World Surf League (WSL) Asia Pacific (APAC) president Andrew Stark. "It's an iconic venue with deep roots in the local surf scene - especially with the Merewether Boardriders and the local community. "With its epic location, great food, and surf history on the walls, it's the perfect spot for competitors and fans to kick back after a day in the water. We're pumped to see it all come to life." With Merewether being the original birthplace of Surfest, The Beach Hotel has long been woven into the fabric of Newcastle's surf culture. It's something owner Glenn Piper was adamant about preserving - and honouring - while renovating the building. "Surfing is in our veins here at The Beaches," he said. "Bringing Surfest back to its original home and supporting local legends like Ryan is about honouring our past while investing in the future of Newcastle's surf culture." Added Ryan: "The Beach Hotel has always been at the heart of Merewether's surf scene, whether it's boardriders swapping stories after a comp or locals celebrating a perfect run of swell. Having them back in the 2025 season is more than a sponsorship; it's a show of community strength and pride. Carrying the Beaches logo in the line-up reminds me I'm representing everyone who calls this place home." The 2025 Surfest will be the opening event of the World Surf League Challenger Series, drawing over 120 of the world's best surfers to Merewether Beach from June 2 to 8. It's the largest surfing festival in the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing Newcastle's vibrant coastal community to a global audience. To see the full Surfest program at The Beach Hotel, visit In coordination with the event, Sanbah Surf Shop - a major supporter of Surfest - is coordinating surf classes with professional coaching staff from Newcastle Surfest Surf School. Instructors are accredited with Surfing Australia and operate as a licensed Surfing Australia surf school, teaching surf lessons to children and adults from Nobby's Beach, Newcastle. Bookings and details are available here.
Ya Biladi
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
World Surf League removes Israeli flag from competitor's profile during Morocco event
Israel's Olympic surfer Anat Lelior competed at last month's WSL (World Surf League) Qualifying Series event in Morocco with her nationality designation temporarily altered. During the Pro Taghazout Bay competition, the Israeli flag was absent from Lelior's profile on the WSL website, where she was instead classified as «World». The flag reappeared once the event concluded. According to The Inertia, this decision likely aimed to protect Lelior during her time in Morocco amid tensions related to the Gaza conflict. Israel had previously issued travel advisories urging its citizens to exercise caution when traveling to several countries, including Morocco, citing security concerns. WSL did not provide immediate clarification about the flag removal, while the Israeli Surfing Association acknowledged the situation but deferred to Lelior's management team, the same source added. Lelior secured third place in the competition, earning 1825 points toward her Qualifying Series ranking and $2,000 in prize money after being defeated by Portugal's Francisca Veselko in the semifinals. Following the event, Lelior posted on Instagram: «3rd place finish in Taghazout, Morocco. Qualified for the Challenger Series! Not much to say other than, let's go! Proud of myself».
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
In Last-Minute Decision, WSL Reaffirms Ban on Portuguese Surfer Vasco Ribeiro
After several years without surfing in a jersey, it appeared Vasco Ribeiro was about to get his wish. The powers that be had permitted him to enter a regional Qualifying Series contest at a pumping Moroccan pointbreak. Then, it was gone. It's been a difficult road for the Portuguese surfer Ribeiro. Now age 30, he was once one of the best-up-and-coming surfers from Portugal. He was the WSL World Junior Champion in 2014 and has been a wildcard in the Peniche CT event five times. But his unfortunate saga began when Ribeiro refused to take a drug test in April 2022, which violated the International Surfing Association's anti-doping rules. In 2023, the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport banned him from all events. Ribeiro appealed, but the decision was upheld. The court also disqualified all his results since April 17, 2022 (when the test occurred) which included a runner-up finish at a QS 3,000 in Portugal. The ban excluded him from all ISA and World Surf League events until July of 2026. However, the ISA reportedly gave consent for him to surf in the upcoming Pro Taghazout Bay in Morocco because it had no bearing on Olympic qualification.A week ago, when he found out that he was going to compete in Morocco, he wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram thanking the WSL and noting how he had worked to overcome personal struggles that led to the ban on competitive surfing. 'I'm very grateful to the WSL for this opportunity to get back to doing what I love most, which is competing,' he said. 'I want to take this opportunity to better myself, to prove to myself that I'm capable of continuing at the highest level. 'I went through a period of major difficulty with addiction, which forced me to relearn how to organize my life and live without drugs. It's an ongoing process and a daily commitment, but with the support of my family, friends, and professionals, I've managed to pick myself up and find myself again. He concluded, 'If my journey can inspire or help someone to see that there is always a way back, then all this effort will have been worth it. Now I'm looking forward to putting on the jersey and getting back to the heats.' However, on Friday, the day before the event began Ribeiro (who was in Morocco) received word from the WSL that he was still suspended from competing. The league is reportedly going to cover Ribeiro's travel costs and registration fees. As for the reasoning behind upholding Ribeiro's ban, the WSL released a statement saying, 'Following further correspondence with the International Surfing Association, the WSL has determined that Vasco Ribeiro will not be eligible to compete in the upcoming WSL event in Morocco. The WSL is currently reviewing these developments to determine whether the ISA's current ban will apply to all WSL events.' A tough blow for Ribeiro, who was no doubt looking forward to laying his rail into the rifling righthand pointbreak. You can see how good the first day was here. 'The WSL, as an independent entity from the International Surfing Association, had assured me I was eligible for this event,' Ribeiro said. 'However, in a last-minute decision, without giving me any chance to respond, the WSL reversed its position based on new information and pressure from the ISA.'
