CT surfers will travel on a private plane and will have to remain in quarantine in New South Wales.

The World Surf League (WSL) has scheduled its return to Australia for the next stage of the Championship Tour (CT). The organization has confirmed its approval from the New South Wales government to land a private flight and quarantine the athletes in Sydney.

The WSL also announced Newcastle (NSW), Australia, as the fourth event of the Australian leg, which will begin on April 1.

The WSL will continue working with state governments to update the dates for the other three Australian stages, working in accordance with the constantly changing state border closures due to COVID-19.

The World League is strictly adhering to the government's process for entering Australia and has worked closely with the New South Wales government to reach an agreement that will allow all international competitors to board a flight in Los Angeles that will land in Sydney.

Once in Australia, all athletes traveling to the event and support staff will undergo a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine and must receive medical clearance from public health officials before entering the wider community and preparing for the competition in Newcastle.

The event organizer will implement a robust and comprehensive health and safety plan for each event during the Australian leg of the CT that complies with federal and state guidelines.

The WSL's health and safety plan includes physical distancing measures, temperature checks, enhanced high-touch cleaning at event sites, contact tracing procedures, disinfection stations throughout the event site, and minimal on-site staff.

With over 35 years of history in professional surfing, Merewether Beach in Newcastle is the perfect location to launch the Australian leg of the CT in 2021. Merewether's beach peaks and right-hand reef are responsible for unearthing surfing legends like Mark Richards, Luke Egan, Matt Hoy, and Ryan Callinan, to name a few.

The biggest names in surfing have won events in Newcastle, including current CT competitors Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Sally Fitzgibbons, Julian Wilson, Yago Dora, Malia Manuel, Bronte Macaulay and Johanne Defay.

The Newcastle Pro 2021 will not only be the first time world title points have been offered at the venue since 1991, but also the first combined men's and women's CT event to be held in NSW since the Coke Classic in Manly in 1999.

“This is a great opportunity to promote Newcastle, with its world-class waves, the region’s natural assets, and visitor attractions, to tens of millions of avid surfers and potential tourists worldwide. The WSL Championship Tour profile will undoubtedly put Newcastle on the minds of many fans and kick off the all-important ‘dreaming’ phase of planning holidays for when we can welcome international visitors again,” said NSW Minister for Work, Investment and Tourism, Stuart Ayres.

Ryan Callinan, Merewether's local favorite and current world No. 9, will be looking to take home a victory on his home beach at this unique CT event in Newcastle. If he does, it will be the first time a local surfer has won a major event on his home turf in Surfest's 36-year history, something that would greatly please Surfest co-founder and local legend Warren Smith, who will be heavily involved with his team in running the upcoming CT.

The WSL is currently working with Australian state governments to finalize the last three Australian CT events and will publish the updated schedule as soon as possible. Australian CT events will proceed based on state border closures, strictly adhering to federal and state government guidelines and restrictions.

All tour stops and dates are subject to change due to applicable COVID-19 related restrictions, including global travel restrictions.

Note: WSL