The World Surf League has announced the new Pro Netanya, a QS1,500 men’s event and the first event of the 2016 European Qualifying Series.
The Pro Netanya will offer 1,500 ranking points, as well as a $25,000 prize purse.
International and professional athletes will hit up the Kontiki Beach in Netanya for the January 16-27, 2016 event.
“Netanya is a surf-stoked city with impressive breaks and a large community of surfers. Kontiki’s beach breaks are well known for their hollow conditions, which light up on a northern swell to produce some of the best waves in the country,” reads a WSL announcement.
“It is always exciting to take the QS series to new locations,” said Rob Gunning, WSL Europe Tour Manager. “After having surfers from Israel competing in our European events for so many years, it is great for the local surfers to have an event staged in their country.”
The Pro Netanya is the second professional surfing event staged in Israel. In 1983, the Association of Surfing Professionals (now WSL) ran a specialty event here. Hawaiian 1993 World Champion, Pipe Master and multiple Triple Crown-winner Derek Ho, won that event.