THE world's top female surfers, including Culburra Beach's Tyler Wright and Gerroa's Sally Fitzgibbons, will gather next week on the Valley Isle for the start of the 2021 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) - as the 12-day waiting period for the Maui Pro at Honolua Bay begins on Friday, December 4.
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After the cancellation of last year's CT due to the COVID-19 pandemic, months of anticipation for both surfers and fans will finally reach a climax, as the top contenders do battle in one of the most epic surf breaks in Hawaii, the impeccable but always challenging Honolua Bay.
"We could not be more excited to kick-off the Championship Tour season at Maui next week," WSL vice-president, tours and competition Jessi Miley-Dyer said.
"We've missed the Championship Tour and it will be special to welcome back the world's best surfers to Honolua Bay.
"We plan to execute the competition in a safe and responsible environment, thanks to the careful planning and procedures developed with our teams in collaboration with public health officials, medical experts, and local government agencies."
To be decided during the next nine months of exciting competition is whether Australia's Gilmore will secure her eighth WSL title, the most-ever by any woman and just three shy of Kelly Slater's record-setting eleven World Championships.
Not to be outdone will be South Coast's Fitzgibbons or Wright, who will be gunning for their first and third world titles respectively.
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