Meet The Guy Who Saved Professional Surfing in 2021

It is no exaggeration to say that Andrew Stark saved the 2021 Championship Tour.

With Sunset, Steamer Lane, and Portugal canceled, and the other events on the schedule looking questionable at best, Australia was the WSL’s only hope to hold a semi-legitimate Tour in this calendar year. And as the WSL’s General Manager of APAC, this was Starky’s domain.

Losing Bells was not helpful. Getting 86ed by an enlivened Lennox crew was a real punch in the gut. But Starky didn’t wince. Twenty-four hours after they were run out of the shire, the WSL had an event approved in Newcastle. Then they pulled the plug on Snapper and filled that void with Narrabeen. Last but not least, they added a secondary event in WA—Rottnest Island.

If the WSL is able to complete this four-stage Australian leg, then follow it with a wavepool event in Lemoore, they’ll have six qualifying events from which they can select the top performing men and women to compete for a title at Lowers.

Out of reverence and curiosity, we asked the great Aussie pillager and lover of Dick Brewer surfboards, Andrew Stark, if he’d like to join us on an episode of the Stab CUSP. He agreed, we hit record, and the rest is history.

Listen above, or search ‘Stab Podcasts’ on Spotify or Apple Pods.