Surfest Women’s Pro Crowd Funding is back!
After a global pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the 36th Surfest event, organisers were extremely excited to kickstart the 2022 Surfest Women’s Pro Crowd funding initiative Wednesday night.
Each year local businesses are invited to sponsor a female surfer in the Women’s Pro event and this year the response has been overwhelming.
“Last year was certainly tough on everyone, including local businesses so it is incredible to see just how many people have put their hand up to support our crowd funding initiative for 2022,” Surfest Coordinator, Warren Smith said.
Due to COVID-19 constraints there is currently 64 female surfers competing in the Women’s Pro event 2022. This means 65 organisations and individuals, had the opportunity to become a crowd funder, and after Wednesday nights event spaces are already filled.
“Having a fully subscribed crowd funding pool for 2022 highlights the incredible support we continually receive from local businesses to ensure this event can go ahead,”
“In the hope that restrictions continue to ease, we are now waitlisting other businesses who want to get on board the crowd funding initiative,” Warren said.
Surfest Women’s Pro 2020 was the first year female surfers were given the same prize money as the men and Surfest 2022 will be no different.
“Each of the 65 businesses have again contributed $1,750 to support the event allowing the young female surfers to receive equal prize money to their male contemporaries” Warren said.
One of the 65 organisations will be drawn from the ‘hat’ at an event later this year and be named as the ‘Naming Right Sponsor’ of the event. The other 64 participants are also drawn one of the event’s competitors just before the event next year. Organisations who draw the top four place winners will also receive a cash prize.
“After the response we received at our launch Wednesday night from our business community we are ready to bring an even better Surfest Women’s Pro in 2022,” Warren said.
