Surf forecasts for beaches all round Australia, this Week 15th – 21st February, 2021

For conditions at a beach near you see the drop down boxes at Gone Surfing.

16th February, 2021

The World Surf League has announced its finalised Australian CT leg.

The four-event leg includes two NSW and two WA events, and is almost wholly backed by long term tour supporter Rip Curl.

Here’s the timetable:

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup, Merewether, NSW April 1-11

Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic, North Narrabeen, NSW April 16-26

Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro, Margaret River, WA May 2-12

Rip Curl Search Rottnest Island, Strickland Bay, WA May 16-26

All four events will have the same presenting sponsor in Corona.

North Narrabeen makes a comeback to CT status, backed by an alternative venue at Dee Why. But the biggest surprise to tour-watchers will be the appearance of Rottnest Island, which will round out the leg after Margaret River in May.

Autumn at Narrabeen might shock a few people. Ben Short. Photo: Mark Onorati

Margie’s was speculated as a no-no by tour watchers thanks to Western Australia’s hard border closures during the Covid-19 pandemic. But WA was the only state after NSW to sign off on a CT “bubble” permit, allowing WSL surfers and staff to enter the state even if the WA border is closed.

Both Victoria and Queensland declined to sign off on such a permit. This has led to the cancellation of both Bells and Snapper as venues for 2021. While Bells has been re-signed for 2022 onward, Snapper is yet to be re-confirmed as a CT venue

The announcement follows weeks of frantic behind the scenes effort from WSL Australia/Pacific, as the organisation tried to re-set a CT leg that for a while looked like it was broken in at least two places.

Surfline…