CONDITIONS for the Port Stephens Toyota NSW Pro surfing event at Buribi Beach were excellent over the weekend with the ladies pumping 3-to-4 foot waves for the final WSL Qualifying Series (QS) event of the season.

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116 competitors and around five hundred people in total have trekked to enjoy the unique conditions which Buribi Beach offers to surfers on the East Coast of Australia.

Tom Bennett of the World Surfing League told News Of The Area, “The surf at Buribi and its waves are unique in the area with the beach facing south.”

The event had previously been scheduled for Cronulla however a sponsor pulled out at the last minute.

“The event was left high and dry however Port Stephens Council, Port Stephens Toyota and Destination NSW banded together to get the event up and running, with a great show of dedication to see the event go forward in such a beautiful destination with great waves,” he said.

Seven of the world’s top 16 women surfers have been a part of the tournament including Sage Erickson who is currently placed seventh, and Macy Callaghan from the Central Coast who is placed tenth.

Macy Callaghan said, “I’m trying not to think about it all but it is still in the back of my head; I just want to surf heats here like I would at any other contest but it is definitely hard to ignore.

“That was a really fun heat, the waves are so good right now which is always good for an event, especially one that is this important to everyone,” she said.

Further down Buribi Beach the Port Stephens Toyota NSW Pro presented by Newcastle Airport Men’s QS1,000 was underway as well.

Dean Bowen said of the conditions, “The waves have been really fun here at Birubi, I haven’t had the best competitive year, but I’ve got a couple of really good boards that feel awesome and hopefully I can keep the ball rolling into tomorrow.”

While parking at the event was minimal the parking management was effective with shuttle buses in place to assist spectators to access the event.

By Marian SAMPSON