Press Release

 

16 October 2008

International Surf Event Comes Ashore in Tasmania

The Minister for Tourism, Michelle O’Byrne, today announced that Tasmania had secured a round of an international surfing event featuring some of the world’s best surfers.

Ms O’Byrne said Tasmania would be a new destination in the 2009 O’Neill Coldwater Classic World Tour Series.

“The organisers’ aim was to provide a series of cold water experiences for the world’s best surfers and with our average water temperature in March being around 13 degrees, Tasmania’s world class reef and beach breaks will certainly provide that to competitors.”

Ms O’Byrne said the event was being supported by Events Tasmania and was scheduled to take place from 23 to 29 March.

“The key role of Events Tasmania is to stimulate event tourism in the State, and their work with event organisers to bring the Coldwater Classic to Tasmania has the capacity to attract significant numbers of national and international visitors.

“The expansion of the classic Californian series by international lifestyle company O’Neill represents a new market which matches some of Tasmania’s great natural selling points,” said Ms O’Byrne.

“Tasmania’s magnificent coastline meets all the desired event qualities - naturally experienced ruggedness, exploration and adventure – and I’m told that surfers love the surfing experience offered here, with hollow reefs that are magnets for the great Southern and Indian Ocean swells.

“Tasmania joins other new destinations Nova Scotia (Canada) and Capetown (South Africa), and established locations Santa Cruz (California) and Scotland in the World Tour Series as the southernmost location, in a contest that also includes the most northern, the wildest, the coldest and the most classic surf on the planet.

“All events are six-star Association of Surfing Professional World Qualifying Series events attracting around 150 participants and associates.

“The event offers significant tourism business opportunities, through the proposed partnership between Events Tasmania and O’Neill, as well as significant exposure through specialist surf and mainstream media, and digital activities linked to O’Neill’s 3000 outlets across Europe and Australia.

Ms O’Byrne said securing the event was another vote of confidence for the State Government’s commitment to growing Tasmania’s tourism industry.

“The State Government’s support for the tourism sector allows us to continue to add new and unique events, such as the O’Neill Coldwater Classic, to the Tasmanian calendar, all which both promote our State and bring in tourists.

“This is part of the State Government’s plan to keep our tourism sector growing, even in the face of a challenging global market,” Ms O’Byrne said.

The CWC Series will be officially launched during the Cold Water Classic event from 21-26 October 2008 in Santa Cruz, California.

Further information: Rohan Wade (03) 6336 2443 or 0417 051 255