The Rip Curl Pro Surf & Music Festival has been granted funding for a further three years by the Victorian Government leading up to the 50thanniversary in 2011 the Premier John Brumby announced yesterday at Bells Beach.
Mr Brumby and the Sports and Recreation Minister, James Merlino met with two-time World Champion and Rip Curl Pro Contest Director Damien Hardman at Bells Beach today to make the announcement.
“The Rip Curl Pro is a major draw card on a dynamic calendar of major events including the Melbourne Grand Prix, Australian Open and the AFL Grand Final,” Mr Brumby said.
“That’s why I am delighted to announce that the Victorian Government will support the Rip Curl Pro for a further three years, delivering on our commitment to building on Victoria’s world-class major events.”
Mr Merlino congratulated event organisers for supporting both men’s and women’s surfing at the annual Rip Curl Pro Surf & Music Festival.
“It creates an exciting platform to celebrate excellence in sport and attracts strong tourism to the region,” Merlino said.
Rip Curl Group Advertising and Marketing Chairman Neil Ridgway said Rip Curl was excited to extend its relationship with Victoria for a further three years and to have the world’s most prestigious surfing contest sit in the Victorian ‘Hallmark Events’ program sanctioned the Rip Curl Pro as elite.
“This partnership helps to cement both men’s and women’s professional surfing for the next three years and that is very important for both ASP world tours. Rip Curl sees surfers as equal no matter what their gender and that attitude is epitomized in the Rip Curl Pro.”
Surfing Victoria Rip Curl Pro Event Director Max Wells welcomed the announcement.
“The Rip Curl Pro is an amazing event that is held in very high regard by our surfers worldwide, so on behalf of Surfing Victoria, I wish to express our appreciation of the long term and continuing support of our iconic event by the Victorian Government,” Mr Wells said.
