Dane Renyolds Set To Heat Up The Aussie Open Of Surfing.

Article  by australianopenofsurfing.com

Professional Surfing returns to iconic Manly Beach with big names announced for the Australian Open of Surfing
JULIAN WILSON / KAI OTTON / ADRIANO DE SOUZA / FILIPE TOLEDO / ADRIAN BUCHAN / JEREMY FLORES / MATT WILKINSON / FRED PATACCHIA / DANE REYNOLDS / CARISSA MOORE / TYLER WRIGHT / SALLY FITZGIBBONS

Manly Beach is set to welcome some of surfing’s biggest names for the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing (8-16^th February). World-renowned surfers announced today for the ASP blue-ribbon six-star Men’s division include the event’s #1 seed Julian Wilson (QLD, AUS) and fellow Australian and ASP Men’s world-rated #7 Kai Otton (NSW, AUS).

Joining Wilson and Otton in the men’s lineup are a host of international stars including Adriano de Souza (BRA), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Adrian “Ace” Buchan (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA) and Dane Reynolds (USA). The winner of this Men’s 6-star WQS (World Qualifying Series) will win US $25,000 and receive 3,500 points towards qualification for the elite ASP Men’s World Tour.

Reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW), ASP Women’s world rated #2 Tyler Wright (NSW, AUS), and defending Australian Open champion Sally Fitzgibbons (NSW, AUS) are among the crowd favourites also confirmed today for the 6-star Women’s tournament. The winner of which will receive US $15,000 and 3,500 points towards qualification for the elite ASP Women’s World Tour.

The Hurley Australian Open of Surfing celebrates and showcases the best in surfing, skateboarding, music, fashion and art across nine days at one of Australia’s most iconic beaches. It is is a global, multifaceted, youth and sporting event owned and produced by IMG, that this year is expected to attract an audience of in excess of 175,000 people. The US-based version held annually at California’s Huntington Beach is the largest outdoor sporting event by attendance in America, and in 2013 saw 750,000 people enjoy nine days of non-stop action.

Julian Wilson said: “I’m excited to put on a singlet and get the year started at the Australian Open. It’s going to be a fantastic event with all the entertainment right on the beach, as well as the surfing action. It’ll be a really fun week and let’s hope we get a little swell!”

Sally Fitzgibbons said: “It’s really exciting to kick the season off close to home with the Australian Open at Manly. I always hold with me the great winning memories from the inaugural event and I will use this to inspire me for this year’s campaign. There is no better feeling than running out to perform in front of a home crowd and having them back you in every heat. The event creates such an electric atmosphere with all that’s going on in and around the surfing. I can’t wait for it all to get underway.”

Martin Jolly, Senior Vice President Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand IMG, said: “This year we have a truly international surf line-up. It’s great to see not only our own homegrown talent competing, but also other world-renowned surfers taking centre stage at Manly Beach. With live webcasts, fans from across the world will be able to tune in and see how their favourite surfers are progressing.”

The event also boasts the high rated ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) two-star Junior Pros for boys and girls.

Widely known as the birthplace of Australian surfing, Manly was the location for the first World Surfing Championships held in 1964. Since, the location has hosted numerous world professional surfing tournaments and boasts many historical moments. World titles, record prize purses and breakthrough performances are woven throughout Manly’s rich surfing tapestry.

NSW Treasurer and Member for Manly, Mike Baird said: “I encourage everyone to get down to Manly Beach – the birthplace of modern surfing – to enjoy the country’s biggest ever action sports and youth culture festival, which is free for all to attend.”

At the inaugural event in 2012, Australian junior surfer Matt Banting (Port Macquarie, NSW) made history by winning both the juniors and open men’s division with a fairytale performance, that included victory over the likes of eventual World Champion, Joel Parkinson.

Manly will also be welcoming a huge field of international skateboarding talent who will shred the Nike SB Classics Pool. Fans can look forward to the event climax of two days of live music on the sand, headed up by homegrown headline acts Birds of Tokyo and The Presets on the Channel [V] stage.

We know you don’t want to miss a single heat with athletes like Adrian Buchan in the water! Download the official app to get closer to the action with news, live scores, video highlights, and the LIVE webcast!