Surfing

Former Australian National Rugby League players Andrew “Joey” Johns and Mark Gasnier have confirmed their attendance and will surf in the Battle of the Shire pres. by FCS on Saturday evening at Cronulla. IMAGE: Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW

Andrew Johns to join a giant long weekend of surf action at Cronulla Beach

Cronulla can look forward to a giant three days of surf and lifestyle action with the Volkswagen Tradies Surfmasters, Volkswagen Kombi Rally, Battle of the Shire pres. by FCS and the Volkswagen Cronulla Open (part of the six-event Australian Open of Surf series) all taking place on the southern Sydney beach.

The elite two-day Australian Open of Surfing event will get underway from the Sunday, 8th – Monday, 9th November 2020 and bookend an exciting long weekend of surfing in the Sutherland Shire that will begin with the Volkswagen Tradies Surfmasters and Volkswagen Kombi Rally on Saturday, 7th November 2020.
 
The Volkswagen Cronulla Open will be the first of six NSW based Australian Open of Surfing events.
 
To add to the excitement of the event, former Australian National Rugby League players Andrew “Joey” Johns and Mark Gasnier have confirmed their attendance and will surf in the Battle of the Shire pres. by FCS on Saturday evening.

The Battle of the Shire pres. by FCS is a grassroots tag-team style surfing competition for Sutherland Shire Boardrider Clubs.
 
Surfing NSW CEO Luke Madden expressed his joy at seeing such a high-calibre event run on one of Sydney’s most popular beaches.
 
“It’s fantastic to be able to kick off the NSW events in the 2020 Australian Open of Surfing at Cronulla Beach. The entire three days of surfing is shaping up to be huge, with plenty of surfing and Kombi Rally action that will shape up to be an incredible long weekend of surfing action in the Sutherland Shire.”
 
The entirety of all surfing action will be broadcast via the Surfing NSW webpage and Facebook page.

The Volkswagen Cronulla Open will see a total $7000 prize purse, with $1500 going to the winner of the Men’s and Women’s divisions.
 
The 2020 Australian Open of Surfing events were created for Australia’s best surfers in iconic Australian surf locations.
 
The events will take place in the latter months of 2020 and provide professional and aspiring surfers with the opportunity to win prize money and gain momentum going into 2021.
 
The NSW leg of the 2020 Australian Open of Surfing will see events in:
Cronulla – 8th – 9th November, 2020
Port Macquarie – 14th – 15th November, 2020
Kiama – 22nd – 23rd November, 2020
Coffs Harbour – 29th – 30th November, 2020
Far South Coast – 5th – 6th December 2020
Northern Beaches – 13th – 14th December, 2020
 
All events will adhere to strict COVID-19 policies and regulations outlined by the NSW Government and council protocols.
 
The NSW leg of the 2020 Australian Open of Surfing Tour is proudly supported Destination Kiama, Coffs Harbour City Council, Sutherland Shire Council, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council and Northern Beaches Council.