Red Bull Cape Fear – the one-of-a-kind, invitation-only surf competition is back in 2016. The greater the risk, the greater the reward.
One of Australia’s heaviest slabs, located on the south side of Sydney, is the kind of wave that only attracts madmen – it’s cold, it’s raw, it’s fierce and it’s shallow – but those that dare to brave it can’t help but to return year after year.
The waiting period this year has been called – beginning on April 15 and staying open all the way through to August 31. This will ensure Red Bull Cape Fear is run in the most optimal swell of the big wave season.
When it’s inevitably called ON, 16 of the world’s most skilled and daring slab specialists will paddle out and put on a show to remember.
This includes icons like Mark Mathews, Ryan Hipwood and Makua Rothman, as well as rising Aussie stars like Russell Bierke and Jack Robinson.
“Everything is ready to go. Now it’s all up to Mother Nature to do her thing. I’ll be glued to the weather forecast with my fingers crossed for the next few months!”
Mark Mathews, Red Bull Cape Fear Contest Director
Red Bull Cape Fear employs a unique, overlapping heat format.
The 16 surfers compete in eight designated head-to-head battles in a thrilling wave arena combining paddle and tow-in surfing.
This battle style format is used to maximize the short waiting period and potential peak in a large swell and will give viewers the chance to witness epic contests.
Of the eight battle winners, the top four scoring surfers will progress to the final, with the winner being crowned the Red Bull Cape Fear Champion for 2016.
The event site for Red Bull Cape Fear will be closed to spectators, however the entire competition will be broadcast LIVE and free at redbull.tv. Safety is our priority – the event site does not allow organisers to safely accommodate large crowds and protect the integrity of the environment. All other areas of the National Park will remain open for visitors.