Sally keen to get new talent on board
SALLY Fitzgibbons admits her first venture into running a major sporting event could trigger a wave of new talent and cost her a spot at surfing’s Olympics debut in 2020.
Fitzgibbons will show off new moves in and out of the surf when the fitness entrepreneur both runs and competes in her own four-day beach and surfing event at Cronulla from November 3-6.
With surfing to become an Olympic sport in Tokyo, Fitz- gibbons’ Sydney International Pro will help unearth our next starlets.
“It’s one of the things that’s so exciting to me to see the next generation coming up like Steph (Gilmore) and Tyler (Wright) and I did,” said Fitzgibbons, who will open her own contact book to entice both current champions and stars of the future to the event.
“And trust me, it makes us all step up knowing they are coming through so fast and want everything so badly.
“I just wanted to create more platforms for them to do their stuff and achieve their dream.
“Maybe they will be the one we have to beat to make the Olympic team.
“But that race in itself is going to be awesome.”
In her first big business venture, Fitzgibbons will play a hands-on role to help find the next star of world surfing and give established players a second chance at requalifying for the world tour with the event carrying valuable qualifying points. “It will be hugely important
in deciding the overall rankings for the 2016 women’s qualifying series,” World Surf League women’s commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer said.
The Sydney International Pro will be the showpiece of a beach festival involving triathlon and ironman distance runs and ocean swims, fun events for beginners and families, a girls junior Como and a Pro Assist for groms.
“I want it to be all-encompassing and to just celebrate our beach and surfing culture,” Fitzgibbons said.
“I want this playoff run to be there for the next generation.”