Drug Aware Margaret River Pro confirmed as WCT in 2013

WA's own Taj Burrow © ASP

ASP World Tour Updates

Margaret River Back On the World Stage

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 November, 2012 : - - In a major sporting coup for Western Australia, Premier Colin Barnett has today announced that the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro has been granted World Championship Tour (WCT) status by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP).

“This is a fantastic outcome for WA and in particular the Margaret River region, as it will drive visitation and provide priceless international exposure,” Mr Barnett said.

“WCT status guarantees that the top 32 ranked male and top 18 ranked female surfers in the world will compete at Margaret River, with the competition expanding to 12 days from the current seven. National and international media coverage is also expected to at least double to an estimated media equivalency value of $50 million”.

The State Government supported Surfing WA’s bid for WCT status through its events arm Eventscorp and with additional funding from Royalties for Regions’ Regional Events Program.

Upon his return from the United States on Friday, Surfing WA CEO Mark Lane confirmed the agreement had been struck with ASP during a final meeting in California. “This has been a long and serious negotiation over the past 12 months and completes the transition of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro back onto the elite world stage, where this event truly belongs”.

Lane, whose team worked tirelessly on the bid with both the state, local government bodies, and major partners including Healthway, is ecstatic with the outcome for the sport of surfing in Western Australia.

“This has been a super exciting period of change for the sport of surfing on an international level and also now locally,” stated Lane. “Bringing the best surfers back to our premier surf break every year now is also going to be a wonderful motivator to our next generation of up and coming young talent.”

ASP WCT status for the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro will kick in next year for the women’s event and in 2014 for the men’s. Both ASP WCT licences extend until 2017. The men’s event will remain a Prime Event for 2014 and is again expected to attract the cream of Australia’s surf talent including 2012 WCT title contenders Joel Parkinson, Mick Fanning, Taj Burrow, Owen Wright and Julian Wilson.

“ASP is very pleased to announce the sanctioning of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro as a WCT event in the coming years,” Renato Hickel, ASP WCT Manager, said. “Margaret River is a long-standing event on the ASP World Tour and a favourite stop for many of the world’s top men’s and women’s surfers already. We are pleased to add such a quality event and location to our elite World Championship Tour.”

Yallingup local and perennial ASP World Title contender, Taj Burrow, will lead the world’s best surfers to his home region, beginning in 2014.

“This is an exciting time for Margaret River,” Burrow said. “The waves in the region are world class and to bring the ASP WCT-level surfers here is going to be big for the region. I get jealous of Mick (Fanning) and Joel (Parkinson) every year for having an event at their home and the advantage of getting to sleep in their beds and surf their local spots. I’m sure all the kids out West will be excited to see the world’s best surfers in their backyard.”

The ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, led by five-time ASP World Champion, Stephanie Gilmore, will commence sanctioning of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro this coming season in 2013.