Layne Beachley – Dee Why Classic.
Get down to Dee Why and support the Layne Beachley Classic. There are some fantastic womens surfers and a great atmosphere.
Layne Beachley believes a men’s World Tour event should be held along the northern beaches Picture: MARTIN LANGE
Manly Daily
Dee Why ready to host mens ASP.
3 May 11 @ 04:02pm by Andrew Prentice
SEVEN-TIME world champion Layne Beachley believes “there is definitely room” for a men’s ASP world tour event on the northern beaches.
Manly beach hosted the last elite world tour event when Taj Burrow won the Coke Surf Classic in 1999.
North Narrabeen also entertained the men in the early 1990s, with the world junior titles also held there in recent years.
Beachley launched her own event for women in 2006, which current world no. 1 Stephanie Gilmore took out after receiving a wildcard.
Gilmore is now a three-time Beachley Classic winner, with Brazilian Silvana Lima (2009) and south coast youngster Tyler Wright (2008) the other victors.
Beachley yesterday said she would love to see the likes of Kelly Slater and Jordy Smith ripping at Dee Why Point.
“It would be fantastic, an event plenty of people would be drawn to,” she said as she launched the sixth Beachley Classic yesterday with perfect waves in the background.
“We have been fortunate in recent years to attract the top women’s surfers to our shores, and the standard has been incredible.
“A perception seems to exist that the northern beaches doesn’t have the best waves, but you wouldn’t find many complaining about what has Dee Why dished up this week.
“It would be fantastic to have both the guys and girls competing for ASP points in our community backyard.”
Beachley was also chuffed at the success of her wildcard competitors.
“Steph (Gilmore) led the way early on, and we all saw what Tyler(Wright) did at the age of 14,” she said.
“Now we have Nikki van Dijk, to beat Sally Fitzgibbons and Laura Enever at the age of 16 is out of this world.
“That is what the event is all about, giving youngsters an opportunity.
“There is no pressure, it is a great learning curve.”
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