Hurley today announced that North Shore native John John Florence will kick start the New Year by riding his wave of success straight to Manly Beach for the 2014 Hurley Australian Open of Surfing in February 2014. Taking over the Sydney Northern beach from 8-16 February, 2014 – Hurley are bringing the world’s most exciting surfer and two-time Triple Crown of Surfing Champion title holder, Florence, Down Under for the one-of-a-kind festival featuring a fusion of the biggest action sport, music and art names in the business. Hurley’s Australian stable of world class athletes, Julian Wilson, Adrian Buchan and 2014 ASP World Tour rookie Mitch Crews will join 21 year old Florence in the Manly surf, this time competing under the Australian summer sun. Two time and current Women’s ASP World Champion, Carissa Moore will also join the crew from Hawaii to hit the waves at Manly, while on the beach, internationally renowned Hurley skateboarders such as Australian bowl riders #1 Jack Fardell will skate amongst some of the world’s best Skateboarders during the Nike SB Classic’s Cup. “We are excited to be heading back to Manly beach for the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing. The community and fans embraced the event in 2012 and with expectations of 200,000+ visiting the event over the nine days in February, and the announcement last week of Birds of Tokyo and The Presets headlining the music line up, plus now some of our big name internationals joining us, it’s going to be great,”   says Jason Haynes, Hurley Australia General Manager. And for those who are more beach babe than a water baby, Hurley’s got you covered with all the action continuing onshore. Over the nine day event, nine local Australian artists will be in residence at Manly Beach to create limited edition t-shirt designs and screen-prints. Using the new Hurley Printing Press, this unique fashion opportunity will give attendees the chance to customise tees and meet the artists who will be printing live throughout the day. Each day a new artists will be featured, with the hot line-up of artists including internationally renowned Craig Stecyk III, Tim Hendricks, and local Australian artists Chris Yee, Cam Wall, Benjamin Fesselet, Ben Brown, Mitch Revs and Furry Little Peach with the printing press running from 12pm – 5pm 8-13 February and 11am – 6pm 14-16 February. And keeping the massive crowds quenched, the hugely popular Hurley H2O Blue Room hydration station will return to Manly beach, providing much needed free water re-fills during the long hot days, as well as creating awareness of the Hurley H20 program that brings safe, clean drinking water to third world countries. “The inaugural Australian Open of Surfing saw more than 6,500 litres of water dispensed as part of our H20 hydration station.  And more than 3,500 H2O drink bottles sold to raise money to help us bring fresh water to third world countries,” added Jason Haynes, Hurley Australia General Manager. Keeping the Manly Beach promenade buzzing, Hurley will also have a retail concept store on site, showing the latest in product innovation and giving the public the opportunity to meet Hurley athletes for in-store signings.  Athletes will also visit the Hurley H20 Blue Room throughout the festival. Visit http://www.australianopenofsurfing.com/ for more information  ]]>