Surfest's main events will remain at the second-highest level on the qualifying series despite a drop in points on offer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The men's and women's pro contests will be 5000-point competitions in 2020, instead of 6000, after a revamp of the QS tour.
Under World Surf League changes, 10,000-point events - the highest on the QS - will be expanded and become known as the Challenger Series. The number of competitions will increase from six to eight for men and from two to four for women.
The Sydney Surf Pro, from March 8-14, has been elevated from 6000 to 10,000 points and will be the first stop on the Challenger Series. Surfest's senior contests will be on March 2-8 at Merewether.
The QS changes, which coincide with the introduction of equal prizemoney across all men's and women's events, also include the downgrade of 6000-points contests to 5000 points. The 3000, 1500 and 1000-point events remain the same.
The jump to a 10,000-point event requires a significant increase in prizemoney. The winners of Surfest this year received $US20,000 (male) and $US12,000 (female), while victors at 10,000-point contests earned $US30,000.
Surfest organisers were involved in early discussions about the WSL changes but event chief Warren Smith was happy to see the homegrown contests stay at the second-tier of the QS.
"We're still there at the second-highest level and we're looking good so we're anxious and keen for it," Smith said.
Local wildcard trials for entry into the 2020 Surfest Pro Junior will be held on Saturday at Redhead. The main event is February 8-9.
"It's something that's been brought up by Lake Macquarie City Council," Smith of the trials.
"It's for residents of Lake Macquarie only, 18 years and under, and they have to be a member of a Lake Macquarie board club.
"It's free entry and it is to promote and develop surfing in the Lake Macquarie area, so we're very proud of that."
The Surfest carnival kicks off with the Port Stephens Toyota Wildcard Trials at Birubi Beach on January 25.
Burton Automotive remains sponsor of the men's pro, while Doyle Partners Chartered Accountants won the draw to become naming-rights backer of the women's pro. A crowd-funding model, supported by local businesses, was again used for the women's contest.
Meanwhile, Merewether's Ryan Callinan appears set to start his last-ditch push for a 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games berth at the Pipe Masters on Wednesday (AEDT).
Trials for the season-ending championship tour event in Hawaii were held on Tuesday. Locals Billy Kemper and Imaikalani deVault finished first and second respectively to gain places in the world title decider.
Callinan, the joint world No.12, faces Hawaiian Seth Moniz and Brazilian Yago Dora in the last heat of 12 in the non-elimination round one. He needs a finals finish to break into the world top 10 and push his claims for one of two Australian male surfing spots at Tokyo.
