BODYBOARDING will take top billing on the waves for the next four days for the third leg of the Australasian Pro Tour and the NSW titles at Newcastle Beach.
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A host of Novocastrians will feature, led by Dallas Singer, John Cruickshank and Lauren Knowles.
Singer is ranked 16th in the world, and the Anna Bay local is the only Hunter-based elite bodysurfer to compete on the world tour.
The 22-year-old missed the first two rounds of the Australasian tour in Queensland and will be keen to prove himself against the country's best.
Cruickshank is the former Australasian Pro Tour champion and at 28 is one of the veterans of the circuit.
"I am now a dad and don't have as much spare time, but I want to see how far I can lift myself against the new crew," Cruickshank said.
Knowles said she planned to use the Australasian series as a stepping stone to the International Bodyboard Association world tour. Her top-five national ranking puts her in strong contention for the title.
"You would think that it's an advantage surfing at home, but sometimes it can add pressure when your friends and family are watching," Knowles said.
Beside the local competitors another name likely to catch the eye of bodyboarding enthusiasts is Queenslander Mitch Rawlins.
Rawlins leads the tour after finishing second and first in the opening two rounds.
IBA general manager Terry McKenna said southerly winds were predicted, offering a good swell for bodyboarders.
"It is almost the equivalent of Surfest for bodyboarding because you get to see the stars of the sport," McKenna said.
"Worldwide bodyboarding is going through a resurgence and it's a pretty exciting sport at this level. At the top level it's like aerial gymnastics."
The pro event starts today and the NSW titles begin tomorrow for the amateurs.
