Victoria’s best surfers to battle it out at Gunnamatta

THE Surf Coast and Bellarine’s best surfers are set to descend on Gunnamatta Beach on the Mornington Peninsula this weekend when Round 2 of the Victorian Open Series and Victorian Masters Titles hits the water.

With valuable rating points on the line to qualify for the Rip Curl Pro Trials, the Victorian Open Series tomorrow (Saturday, January 27) will see the best surfers in the state try to clinch limited spots available in the premier event.

Current ISA World Junior Surfing Champion Willis Droomer is set to go into Round 2 of the series with a head full of steam, currently sitting on top of the ratings going into the Mornington Peninsula event.

Droomer will be hoping to repeat the strong form he held in 2021, when he was able to clinch a junior state title at the venue.

On the women’s side of the draw, local names to watch out for include Qualifying Series surfer Angela Ball (Jan Juc) and Emily McGettigan (Jan Juc), who will both be looking to assert their dominance on the women’s field and inch closer to a Rip Curl Pro Trials berth.

“The Mornington Peninsula has an incredible history of surfing dating back to the 1960s,” Surfing Victoria chief executive officer Adam Robertson said.

“We are stoked to be heading back for the Victorian Open Series and Victorian Masters Titles.

“This is a critical event for our open surfers in the race to gain a position in the Rip Curl Pro Trials, so I expect the level of surfing to be amazing!”

The Victorian Masters Titles will also be held on Sunday, January 29, with rivalries set to reignite for the best surfers over 35-year-old surfers in the state.

Stalwarts of the sport who are set to pull on the jersey include current Over 60s Australian Women’s Champion Gayle Main (Queenscliff), Tim Birnie (Jan Juc) and 2022 Over 35s Women’s champion Tiffany Riggs (Torquay).

Live scores, schedule and heat draws for the event can be found on surfingvic.com/live