Some of the world’s most accomplished surfers will venture to Maroubra today for the start of the 2019 Carve Pro World Surf League Qualifying Series 1000 rated event.
The elite four-day QS1,000 rated event will form the first of three stops on the Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series and will take place in Maroubra Beach from the 23rd January – 26th January 2019. The event will also kickstart the new calendar year for the 2019 WSL Australia / Oceania QS series.
Entered into the Men’s division is a range of former WSL Championship Tour surfers including Cronulla’s Connor O’Leary , Keanu Asing (HAW), NSW), Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Head, NSW) and Mitch Crews (Tugan, Qld).
"I'm stoked to get to Australia and kick off my year in my sponsor's event," said Asing. "I hope I can get the ball rolling early in 2019, especially after some less than ideal results last year. I hope I can use this event to build my heat confidence for the entire year."
The Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series was developed for Australian and International surfers to gain ranking points and prize money on the WSL Qualifying Series.
There are enough points on offer with the 2 1000 point comps and the 3000 pt Vissla Central Coast Pro and 6000 pt Newcastle contest to make it a viable way to get enough points to get ahead on the World QS Tour.
Cronulla junior Jay Brown is in the first heat and the 2ft conditions may suit him.
Once again there is no real good news for Cronulla surfers with the 2-3ft waves keeping on rolling in.
It could be worse but the never ending cycle of nor-east,south-east swell doesn't get you very excited especially with the massive 2 metre highs and .2 lows-that's as big and small as it ever gets.
There is the odd day of pulse but if you blink you will miss it-the forecast is exactly the same as last week with small waves on offer every day2-3ft .Winds are variable and the swell direction changes but not the size.
I took todays pics just north of the Wall yesterday where there was the odd set but very few and far between-today it is just 2ft and barely worth a surf.
When Mark Rogers was diagnosed with stage three esophageal cancer in July last year his world turned upside down.
At only 48 years of age and with a loving wife and four children the impact has been dramatic and costly.
The Cronulla Point Boardriders life member now lives in Torquay and has just been through a marathon 10-hour surgery for the aggressive cancer.
Mark’s other family, the Sutherland Shire Surfing community and Cronulla Point Boardriders, are trying to help Mark get back on his feet by running a “Help a mate” day of competitive surfing at Cronulla Point on March 9.
The day will be followed by a fundraising event at Cronulla RSL that night.
“My relationships with my Cronulla friends haven’t changed since we were kids,” Mark said and he was “truly grateful” for the Sutherland Shire surfing spirit.
Mark would like to thank the sponsors and everyone that is helping for their donations and support through this ordeal.
To help Mark and his family visit gofundme.com/Mark Rogers M.R Fundraiser.
To contribute to the fundraiser contact Dean Martin on 0487 797 579.
