THE start of the big wave season signals the imminent return of some of the world's top surfers to Kurnell for the Red Bull Cape Fear invitation-only big wave surfing event.
They will ride the infamous Cape Fear surf break, which produces some of the world's most daunting and dangerous waves just metres off the Kamay Botany Bay National Park's coastal cliff face.
In order to capture optimal surfing conditions, there is a waiting period between May 5 and August 1 for the competition to begin.
While it is a major event on the international surfing calendar, the site will be closed to the public.
The adjoining headland within the national park cannot safely accommodate the large crowds that are attracted to the event without damaging the environment.
This includes the Yena Gap picnic area, which will be closed to the public for the duration of the event.
But it will be broadcast live and free on redbull.tv.
Returning this year is Cronulla invitee Kirk Flintoff, who last year won his first-round contest and progressed with other local winners
Richie Vas, Koby Abberton and Jesse Polock, who all claimed victories.
Fellow Australians Laurie Towner and Dean Morrison rounded out the winners's list to ensure a clean-sweep against their US competitors.
The event's organiser and big-wave surfer Mark Mathews said he hoped 2015 would dish up the biggest Red Bull Cape Fear on record.
"Pound for pound, Cape Fear is the heaviest and most dangerous wave in the world," he said. "The last few winters have been slow and we are overdue for a massive swell."
The 16 invited surfers compete in eight head-to-head battles, combining paddle and tow-in surfing before the top four scoring surfers progress to the semi-final and final.
Details: redbullcapefear.com
