The elite four-day World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 1000 rated event is the first of four stops on the Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series and will take place at Boomerang Beach from February 22 to 25.

The four-event series will see three QS1000 rated events (Maroubra, Great Lakes and Port Stephens) and one men's and women's QS3000 (Central Coast).

The Qualifying Series will run from February through to May 2022 and determine who has qualified for the World Surf League's Challenger Series (CS), which will run from May through to December.

It is the first time a regionalised format of the qualifying series has been implemented, with each region allocated a quota of surfers who can qualify for the challenger series.

Boomerang Boardriders Club surfer, Ross Cadden, will be hoping his local knowledge will deliver benefits come round one.

"I am very excited and grateful for this opportunity to surf in front of my family and friends," Cadden said.

"This means a lot to me as it shows my hard work and dedication to training and getting better is paying off."

Newcastle's Philippa Anderson, who has been surfing at Boomerang Beach with her brother Craig for more than a decade, said there was no better place to start the competitive year.

"We've had so many contests at Boomerang Beach over the years from juniors right through to elite events and the waves always turn on for us," Anderson said.

"Every event there has been great conditions, no matter the swell, you know you'll get good waves which gives us a solid base to show what we're capable of," she said.

"It's not just the waves, the whole area has the best laid-back small-town feeling combined with uncrowded, picturesque beaches."

Surfing NSW CEO, Luke Madden, said the event was the perfect way to kick-start 2022.

"The Great Lakes Pro is one of the most exciting events on the Surfing NSW calendar and we couldn't think of a better place to kick-off the professional surfing year in Australia," Madden said.

Minister for Tourism and Sport, Stuart Ayres said the Great Lakes was a stunning location to launch the NSW Government's recently announced three-year partnership with the NSW Pro Surf Series.

"The C A R V E Great Lakes Pro will showcase the region's spectacular coastline to surfers from around the globe and confirm its reputation as one of Australia's premier surfing destinations," Mr Ayres said.

"The competition will also draw surfing enthusiasts, maintaining the momentum of recent school holiday activity to provide a further boost to the local visitor economy."

Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead, said the NSW Government was proud to support the Great Lakes Pro, which has been a feature of the Surfing NSW calendar for five years.

"After a challenging year, I am delighted to welcome back the Great Lakes Pro," Mr Bromhead said.

"The event plays a significant role in showcasing our spectacular surfing beaches and boosting local businesses with tourism dollars.

"The Great Lakes are looking forward to again welcoming competitors and spectators to Boomerang Beach this February for another incredible event."

WSL APAC tour manager Will Hayden-Smith said the Great Lakes Pro shaped up as one of the most exciting contests of the year, with the added significance of the new regionally focussed qualification pathway.

"Not only will the contest be the first qualifying series event globally in 2022 but it will be the first of our new regionally focussed tour ensuring more opportunities for surfers," Hayden-Smith said.

"With this in mind, I'm sure we are going to see incredible surfing from Australia and New Zealand's most exciting up and coming talent.

"World Surf League would like to thank Surfing NSW and the NSW Government for their continued support and always assisting to create a pathway for the next generation of Championship Tour surfers."

Supported by C A R V E , the event will see some of the best surfers from around the country travel to the Great Lakes region.

"Our event puts some of the best surfers from around Australia and the world in a beautiful location with a high chance of scoring perfect waves to showcase their surfing," C A R V E director, Matt Whyte said.

Vissla has again come onboard to support the NSW Pro Surf Series.

Company CEO, John Mossop, was excited to be able to support the premier event series.

"Once again we are promoting the best surfers in Australia to showcase their extraordinary talent over four amazing events," Mossop said.

"At this time when we need positive influence in all aspects of life, we are proud to provide ongoing support to supporting professional events in regional NSW."

The Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series was developed to support Australian and International surfers in gaining ranking points and prize money on the World Surf League's Qualifying Series.

Additionally, the month-long series provides an opportunity for surfers and visitors alike to explore the variety of waves, visit local communities and everything the NSW coast has to offer.

All events will be webcast through worldsurfleague.com and the WSL App. All event news, images and highlight clips will be available at surfingnsw.com.au

For more information head to worldsurfleague.com or check the free WSL App.

Did you know? Great Lakes Advocate online subscribers not only have 24/7 access to local and national news, sport, what's on and entertainment - they also have access to our print edition in digital format, with all the advertisements and classifieds at their fingertips.