Mandurah’s beaches are set to play host to some of the finest surfing talent in the country after Surfing WA announced the city would one of two South West destinations to hold the Western Australian Pro Surf Series this October.
The Mandurah Pro – an unprecedented event for the sport in the Peel region – will be the first of two World Surfing League (WSL) qualifying series events making up the WA Pro Surf Series, with Yallingup to host the second.
The series will put the spotlight on the South West of WA, with a string of quality men’s and women’s surfers set to hit the water in Mandurah.
Surfing WA event manager Justin Majeks said the series will give WA’s new generation of promising local surfers the chance to compete in an internationally rated event alongside some of the best surfers from across Australia and throughout Oceania.
“The WA Pro Surf Series will provide a much needed stepping stone for young surfers who aspire to compete in higher rated qualifying series events,” he said.
“For WA surfers to compete in their backyard in an internationally rated event is an amazing opportunity and we look forward to hosting surfers from far and wide in the coming months.”
The Mandurah event will span across four days of surfing, kicking off on Saturday, October 13 before wrapping up on Tuesday, October 16.
The event is expected to attract a host of visitors to the region, with City of Mandurah Mayor Rhys Williams thrilled Surfing WA earmarked the town for the event.
Being out in the water is part of the Mandurah community’s DNA. We have some of the best beaches in WA, and some great surf breaks, and I hope we can attract more events like this to our shores into the future,” he said.
“As Mandurah’s worst amateur surfer, I think it’s really exciting that this event is coming to our city, and I can’t wait to check it out in October.”
WSL Australia Oceania tour manager Will Hayden-Smith is excited to see the qualifying series return to WA for this first time since 2013, when the Margaret River Pro was elevated to the Championship Tour.
“[We’re] very grateful to Surfing WA for bringing qualifying series events back to the west,” he said.
“These two events will be a great addition to the WSL Australia Oceania schedule and will play a huge part in crowning our 2018 regional champions.”
The series heads to Yallingup just two days after the Mandurah Pro concludes.
Entries are now open for the Mandurah Pro and the Cape Naturaliste Pro via worldsurfleague.com