URBNSURF Melbourne to Host 2024 BYD Pro presented by Rip Curl & Pirate Life Qualifying Series Event This February

COOLANGATTA, Queensland / AUS (Wednesday, January 17, 2024) – On Saturday, February 3, more than 120 of the Australia / Oceania region’s best surfers will compete at this year’s BYD Pro presented by Rip Curl & Pirate Life. The World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) event has been upgraded to a QS 3000 in 2024 and will once again take place at Australia’s first and premier surf park, URBNSURF Melbourne.

The waves will be pumping at URBNSURF as the athletes carve it up on a new competition setting while spectators get their taste of true homegrown surfing talent. URBNSURF Melbourne was the first ever wave park to host a World Surfing League QS event in 2022 and is once again hosting the competition off the back of the success of its debut event.

“The WSL is excited to continue working with URBNSURF Melbourne to grow this fantastic event to a QS 3000 in 2024,” said WSL APAC President Andrew Stark. “Events in wave systems like this are important to the WSL and a great opportunity for our surfers who get to compete for valuable points and prize money in a scheduled, one-day format. We look forward to seeing events like this continue to pop up in other regions around the world and thank the team at URBNSURF Melbourne for the continued support.”

Local surfer Tully Wylie (AUS) is currently 2nd on the regional QS rankings, and a solid result in the highly-rated competition could see him seal a spot on the World Surf League Challenger Series for 2024. Regional QS rankings leaders Dakoda Walters (AUS) and Philippa Anderson (AUS) are also in the elite field, as well as New Zealand Olympian Billy Stairmand (NZL). They, along with other notable up-and-coming surfing talent, are up against some of the country’s best, as well as previous Championship Tour competitor Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) and newly crowned World Junior Champion Sierra Kerr(AUS), all doing battle for a spot on the 2024 Challenger Series.

“We are so lucky to have a park that has the unique Wavegarden technology, open and undercover spaces and the awesome team of staff to facilitate and host large events like the BYD URBNSURF QS 3000,” said CEO Damon Tudor. “We cannot wait to welcome some of the best homegrown surfing talent from across the region, serve up perfect waves and celebrate with fans of the sport and surfing lifestyle.”

“This is one of the biggest WSL events on the calendar, and I’m so excited to be kicking off the 2024 series at URBNSURF in February. It’s the perfect conditions for a competition like the WSL QS 3000 and even better that surfing fans can be up close and personal with all of the athletes competing at the point at the back of the lagoon,” Victorian-born and bred surfer Ellie Harrison said. “This qualifying series is an important one to smash through and gain some points at the start of the calendar year.”

The 2022 Rip Curl Pro URBNSURF QS1000 presented by Pirate Life saw Victorian surfer and URBNSURF regular Xavier Huxtable take home the final win.

“I was stoked to take the win at my home state for the QS1000 at URBNSURF in 2022; I’m even more stoked that I’ll get the chance to compete again at URBNSURF, and this time for the BYD Pro QS 3000,” Huxtable said. “The atmosphere was insane in the water last time, and it’s a really unique competing experience compared to other events.”

“We’re thrilled to be able to host once again another WSL qualifying series, with this year’s BYD Pro QS3000 presented by Rip Curl & Pirate Life,” URBNSURF Head of Sales & Partnerships James Miles said. “We have worked with Wavegarden and the WSL to ensure we continue to improve the waves and format to create the best possible event for surfers and spectators”.

There will be a BYD Experience Hub onsite at URBNSURF Melbourne this summer and at the event where guests have the unique opportunity to test drive BYD’s top models available in Australia, including the BYD ATTO 3 and the Oceanic Series featuring the BYD DOLPHIN and BYD SEAL. The BYD Experience Hub will allow guests to immerse themselves in the innovative world of BYD’s electric vehicles, displaying the convergence of luxury, innovation, and state-of-the-art technology.

Surfing fans can catch all the action by purchasing general admission at just $10 a ticket, enjoying some awesome live music from a range of different Australian DJs before enjoying some delicious food and drink offerings available at the onsite restaurant, Three Blue Ducks.

The event is the perfect way to soak up the warmer weather, kicking off at 9:30 am and finishing at 6:30 pm; it’s set to be a day out filled with action-packed fun.

The 2024 BYD Pro presented by Rip Curl & Pirate Life World Surf League Qualifying Series 3000 Event will run at URBNSURF Melbourne on February 3, 2024. For more information and to watch the event live, head to WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL’s YouTube channel, or download the free WSL app.