Surfest shoots for stars through community support

In a luncheon presentation yesterday, four-time world champion Richards, Surfest organiser Warren Smith, Lord Mayor John Tate and Newcastle MP Tim Owen led the push for extra sponsorship.

Organisers hope to lift the men's four-star rated event to the highest level, six-star, which the women's contest reached last year in remarkable circumstances.

On the brink of extinction, the women's pro was rescued by Nathan Tinkler's Hunter Sports Group and has its future as a six-star event guaranteed by HSG for the next four years.

HSG chief executive Troy Palmer also spoke yesterday to the audience, which included prominent businessman Hilton Grugeon and Keith Stronach, on the benefits of backing Surfest and attracting the world's best boardriders to Newcastle.

Smith, the driving force behind Surfest since it began in 1985, was "very confident" of continuing the relationship with major sponsor Burton Toyota but was focused on making the men's event the best it could be.

"We wanted to show people our thoughts and it seems like it's been well-received," he said."Now we've got to go out and talk to the community.

"We might not achieve the six-star, but we're going to give it a good shot."

Smith said prizemoney would need to increase from $85,000 to $155,000 to gain a six-star rating, and other costs would rise as a result.

Richards hoped the event on his home break at Merewether would reach six stars.

"It was great to see the Tinkler group get involved last year and save the women's event," Richards said. "It's really nice to see the women in front for a change.

"There's always been more emphasis on men's professional surfing in terms of sponsorship, so it's good to see the tables turned.

"Now we need to make both events the best they can be."