Bede Durbidge (Gold Coast, QLD/AUS) is the Chiko MP Classic’s No. 1 seed. Pic ASP/Kirstin.
COOLANGATTA/QLD (31st January, 2014) - Tomorrow will see Chiko MP Classic surfers compete for ASP Qualifying Series points for the first time in the event’s 11 year history. The event that honours the late and great Michael Peterson carries an ASP 1-Star rating, and has attracted entries from three current ASP WCT top 34 surfers – Bede Durbidge (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS) and Mitch Crews (AUS), plus an impressive list of local and international up-and-coming talent.
Scott Gillies, CEO of Surfing Queensland is proud to see one of Australia’s favourite surfing events continue to grow. Along the with the ASP 1-Star rating, the Chiko MP Classic is the first stop on the Chiko Queensland Championship Circuit, a four event series that see’s the top surfer win the right to compete in the Quiksilver Pro trials.
“The Chiko MP Classic has grown in stature every year for the past 11 years,” Gillies said. “We’ve had a record amount of entries this year and with a potential cyclone swell on the horizon for this weekend’s competition, it’s the perfect scenario for such an iconic event.”
Bede Durbidge, who is about to enter his 10th year among the elite Top 34 surfers on the ASP World Championship Tour is relishing the opportunity to get his 2014 competitive campaign underway at the Chiko MP Classic this weekend.
“I really hope we get to surf at Kirra,” Durbidge said. “It would be such an amazing way to start the year and with so many great surfers in the draw, it’s going to be a great event – I can’t wait”
Dane Jordan, ASP Australasia General Manager is thrilled to have such an iconic event on the 2014 ASP calendar, and is grateful to Chiko, Surfing Queensland and the surfers for all getting behind the event.
“I’ve got images of MP surfing at Kirra burnt into my brain, and I think most surfers know exactly what I’m talking about, so it’s great to have an event honouring such a legend of our sport,” Jordan said. “It’s taken a lot of work so I’d like to thank Chiko and Surfing Queensland for everything. I’m looking forward to a great weekend of surfing, whoever wins this event is going to have to earn it because the field of talented surfers is unbelievable.”
The 2014 Chiko MP Classic will also feature surfers the likes of – Wade Carmichael (Central Coast, NSW/AUS), Matt Banting (Port Macquarie, NSW/AUS), Billy Stairmand (NZL), Hiroto Arai (JPN), Enrique Ariitu (Tahiti), Leonardo Fioravanti (Italy) and many more.
The 2014 Chiko MP Classic is proudly supported by Surfing Queensland, ASP, Chiko, Gold Coast City Council, Be the Influence, Australian Skin Cancer Clinics, World Surfaris, HIF, Coastalwatch Plus, Surfing Life Magazine, and 5 and a half eyewear
About MP Michael Peterson is one of Coolangatta’s original ‘Coolie Kids’. He was on the forefront of the shortboard revolution in Australia in the 1970s and was one of the most successful professional surfers of his era, winning at Bells Beach three times, and claiming the first ever man-on-man surfing competition event win at the Stubbies Pro at Burleigh Heads, in classic conditions over Mark Richards. MP passed away last year and will forever be remembered as one of Australia’s favourite surfing sons because of his feats in competition and because of the way he dominated sessions at Kirra as featured in the cult surf film Morning of the Earth.
