In a “world first” collaboration between Billabong and Hurley, the two action sports giants announced they’ve partnered up to bring an ASP championship surfing event to Manly Beach, Australia. As an extension of the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach (the world’s largest action sports festival), organizers expect to attract over 125,000 people to come witness the world’s best in surfing, skate, music, fashion and art.

Manly Beach was the site of the first World Surfing Championships in 1964, the same year that surfwax was invented. The region of New South Wales hopes to generate $6 million dollars for their economy and re-establish Manly Beach as a world class surfing mecca.

US Open of Surfing in HB (top) Site of AUS Open of Surfing Manly Beach (Bottom)

Local surf icons like Occy, Rabbit, and Fanning were very outspoken in support of event during today’s ASP press conference.

The partnership between competing brands came to the surprise of many, but the Billabong’s expansive retail chains have long supported the Hurley brand. Both companies have long supported the evolution of the sport or surfing. Billabong will move their World Junior Title from Narabeen to Manly, combining the exploding junior scene with the stadium setting of this world class action sports showcase. “The ASP World Junior Championships provides a window into the future of surfing and by wrapping the season-deciding event into the broader Australian Open of Surfing, we now provide the competitors with an incredible opportunity to showcase their talents,” Derek O’Neill, Billabong International CEO.

Derek O'Neill, Mick Fanning & Bob Hurley © ASP / Dunbar

The event, set to take place at Sydney’s iconic Manly Beach February 11 – 19, 2012. Surfline describes the Manly Beach area as “The Bondi of the northern beaches – crowded with tourists, filled with the stench of stale fish and chips, crowded bars that get violent after midnight and bursting with retail shopping, including several massive surf emporiums. Manly is the first beach you’ll come to when you cross the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

“Who’d think it has beachbreaks that get epic and a series of points at the southern end that can hold 12-foot barrels?” -Derek Rielly

AUSTRALIAN OPEN OF SURFING (February 11 – 19, 2010)
- Men’s ASP 6 star – $250,000
- Women’s ASP 6 star – $80,000
- Australian Open Men’s World Juniors – $75,000
- Australian Open Women’s World Junior – $20,000