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FESTIVAL STATUS
EVENT: Event is over for 2008. Congratulations winner of the Mark Richards Pro, Brazilian Adriano de Souza and winner of Midori Pro, Stephanie Gilmore.
Organisers wish to thank all the event sponsors and look forward to seeing everyone again in 2009!
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| LOCAL DATE | 10 Sep 2010 |
| LOCAL TIME | 08:40 pm |
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MIDORI PRO TO CARRY 6 STAR BADGE IN 2008
WORLD'S BEST WOMEN SURFERS MEREWETHER BOUND NEXT MARCH
THE 2008 MIDORI PRO is set to become the richest surfing contest ever held for women in the 23 years of Newcastle's Surfest festival.
And as a result, the Midori Pro is destined to attract the best female surfers on the planet to Merewether's fabled right handers that have been the proving grounds for surfing superstars including four-time world champion Mark Richards and former world number two Luke Egan.
Scheduled to start on the last day of March, the Midori Pro will be one of just six World Qualifying Series events for women around the globe in 2008 that boasts both the maximum 6 Star tag and a guaranteed total purse of $US 30,000.
Surfest chief Warren Smith says the Midori investment guarantees a stellar line up of female surfing talent.
"This is great news for Surfest and women's surfing. The 2007 Midori Pro carried a 5 Star rating and it attracted many of the world's best," Mr Smith said.
"But now the Midori Pro boasts a maximum rating in the incredibly competitive WQS and Newcastle can expect to see just about every top female surfer in the world."
"In 2007 the final of the Midori Pro came down to two of Brazil's best, but if Stephanie Gilmore can bag a better placing than Peruvian Sofia Mulanovich in the last tour event in Hawaii in the next few days, Newcastle could have a world champion lining up in the competition."
Speaking from Hawaii just before she gets the chance to realise her childhood dream of wearing the world champion's crown –in her rookie year - sensational Stephanie Gilmore said she hopes to again be in Newcastle for the Midori Pro.
"It is fantastic for the ASP women's tour to see the Midori event rated as a 6 Star WQS in 2008," the 19-year-old said.
"This really makes the Australasian leg of the WQS tour a significant leg of the tour. The boost in rating will bring all the top internationals to Newcastle for the Midori Pro and it's going to be a super event," the Gold Coast surfer said.
The Association of Surfing Professional's Australasian Tour Manager, Glenn Best said the event can be assured of a terrific roll up of big names.
"The 2008 Midori Pro will again be a super event, and we look forward to seeing the top ranking competitors of the ASP Women's Tour in action at Merewether Beach."
Midori Brand Manager, Tanya Deighan said the 2007 event was so well received that the company had no hesitation in boosting involvement for 2008.
"Midori welcomes the opportunity to support both the developing surfing talent here in Australia and also the growth of women's professional surfing through the Surfest event.
"Newcastle's Merewether Beach provides a perfect home for the 6 Star Midori Pro and the ASP Womens WQS Tour and we are very much looking forward to the 2008 event," Ms Deighan said.
For further information on the 2008 Midori Pro contact:
Warren Smith - Surfest Organiser 0412 127 525
Paul Scott - Surfest Media 0405 748 284
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