The next generation will have the chance to rub shoulders with surfing greats when the annual Hurley BL’s Blast Off returns to Sydney’s northern beaches from September 26 to 29.
Founded and directed by surf legend Barton Lynch and supported by Hurley, the school holiday event is billed as the world’s biggest surf festival for pre-juniors.
There are three kids from the shire set to compete this year – Luke Boer, Jacks Webster and Cruz McKee.
Blast Off brings together 350 of the keenest young surfers from around Australia for a program of ocean activities.
“The future is bright for shire surfers,” Lynch said.
“With Connor O'Leary powering on the World Tour it should inspire other young surfers in the shire to follow their dreams as well.
“Blast Off is more of a development program than a traditional comp where everyone gets at least two or three chances to surf and be coached by the state-of-the-art Hurley Surf Club,” explained Barton, who was inducted into the US Surfing Walk of Fame last month.
Events like Hurley BL’s Blast Off are discovering and cultivating young Aussie talent in the lead up to surfing’s Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 and its youth are looking good thanks to the current state of surfing in the Sutherland Shire and O’Leary’s major assault on the 2017 rookie of the year race.
Cronulla surfers have had more joy this week with Spring delivering another good South swell with nice offshore winds.
The reefs and Points were good early Monday and yesterday the beachies were still showing promise although a bit smaller-Swellnet predicts a new fun Southerly pulse today with 3-4ft waves but becoming smaller to finish the working week.
The weekend doesn't look good so maybe find something else to do.
Meanwhile in Casablanca-I know its fantastic but ,Jarred Hickel got half a result in the 1,500 point Anfaplace Pro Casablanca with a round 4 exit-it was taken out by Rafael Teixeira of Brazil so that means more Brazzo’s on tour.
Its hard work on the QS but that's what you have to do ,just tap away and get some points-Jarred is now ranked 140th -needing to get into the 100’s to get a start in the big contests.
Brazilians Filipe Toledo and Silvana Lima have claimed victory at the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro at Trestles in three-to-four foot waves at the famed cobblestone break of Lower Trestles.
Lima’s win over CT Sophomore Keely Andrew (AUS) in the Final came after a thrilling week of competition at Stop No. 7 of the World Surf League Championship Tour , while Stop No. 8 saw Toledo defeat defending event winner and current World No. 1 Jordy Smith (ZAF) in the Final for a Brazilian sweep.
Toledo put on spectacular performances for the San Clemente crowd with his powerful turns and big airs throughout the event.
The Final Series witnessed Toledo continue to turn up the heat en route to the 5th CT victory of his career. Prior to taking down Smith in the heated Final match-up, Toledo knocked out 2016 WSL Champion John John Florence (HAW) in the Semifinals and Kanoa Igarashi (USA) in the Quarterfinals.
In a stroke of luck Connor still sits at 10th position-50 points and 1 spot in front of Dogs surfer Frederico Morais-the battle of the Rookie race!