WOLLONGONG’S first all-female invitational surf event, The Ocean Queen Classic (OQC) will be held in May at Woonona Beach.

Hosted by Woonona Boardriders, the event will showcase the area’s rich and rising talent, and will highlight surfing by the regions hottest female surfers.

There will be an Open Women’s and a Junior division with Queens crowned by days end on May 5.

The Open Women’s champion will receive $3,000, while second, third and fourth place will also receive cash prizes in both divisions.

The event will feature a heritage heat including Australian surfing icon and world champion Pam Burridge and local ex-world tour surfers Jenny Gill, Yvonne Turner, and Kim Wooldridge.

Local ex-world tour legend, Yvonne Turner said the OQC has been long overdue in the region.

“It will help to undo some past misdoings in our sport, it will financially support and showcase our best current elite surfers, and it will help inspire the next generation of female surfers,” she said.

“Our community will get to see the beauty of female surfing.”

Contest director Kirby Mowbray said organisers have received significant community support for the event with many local businesses and the Wollongong City Council providing sponsorship.

“We’re uniting the past, present, and future of surfing into one great event,” Kirby said.

The event will be launched on Friday March 22 at 9.30am at Woonona Beach (near the surf club) with local surf stars Oceanna Rogers, Alice Hodgson and Pearl Peters. Also attending the launch will be local ex world tour legends Yvonne Turner, Kim Wooldridge and Fiona Hunt.

For information visit Instagram @oceanqueenclassic

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