- WSL / Damien Poullenot
- WSL / Damien Poullenot

With less than a week until Sydney Women's Pro hits Manly, some of the world's best female surfers are preparing for the WSL Qualifying Series 6000 event. With valuable QS rankings points up for grabs Manly will become the epicenter of world surfing for Sydney's biggest surfing event.

Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)  placed 2nd in  Quarters Three at Women's Maui Pro 2017 in Honolua Bay Nikki Van Dijk will head into the Sydney Women's Pro as the top seed. - WSL / Damien Poullenot

With Manly being the home of one of her biggest WSL victories, Victorian Nikki Van Dijk is pumped to return to the iconic strip of coast to compete at this year's Sydney Women's Pro. It will play as the perfect kick-start to the 2018 Championship Tour (CT) season.

"I'm feeling really great heading into the 2018 season," Van Dijk said. "I've had a great off-season spending some much needed time at home but am ready to get back on the road. I can't wait to head to Manly, it's one of my favourite places in Australia. I have friends that live on the Northern Beaches so have spent a lot of time there plus it holds great competitive memories. As I have won at Manly before I definitely feel really comfortable surfing and competing there."

Nikki Van Dijk Nikki getting progressive at Manly in 2016. - WSL / Bennett

Although the event top seed Van Dijk spends the majority of the year competing for a shot at the World Championship, these major Qualifying Series events play as the perfect proving ground for her and her CT counterparts.

"The field at Manly is crazy," Van Dijk continued. "Events like the Sydney Women's Pro are a great way to get your year rolling and the best way to warm you up for the CT's. The level of competition and talent at these QS events are so high, every heat is tough."

Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) placed 1st in Heat 3 of Round Four at Women's Maui Pro 2017 in Honolua Bay Nikki Van Dijk - WSL / Damien Poullenot

There will be over 10 females from the elite Championship Tour competing at the Women's Sydney Pro when it kicks off in just under a week. WSL Australia / Oceania Regional Manager Will Hayden-Smith is excited to see the world's best continue surfing's great lineage with Manly.

"Manly has so much Surfing history over the past 100 plus years and WSL are excited to work closely with Surfing NSW for the latest chapter. We have 10 of the top 18 female surfers coming to the event and it's exciting for us to have the likes of Nikki Van Dijk who's won a major event here in the past coming to town again. There are early indications that we should have some really fun surf and I'm looking forward to watching our biggest event in Sydney get underway."

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