3 minute read

Australia's six best-performed surfers will get the chance to familiarise themselves with the Olympic conditions when they compete in Japan in September.

Australia will send its strongest contingent yet to September's World Surfing Games in what will be a dress rehearsal for the sport's Olympic debut in Japan next year.

Ryan Callinan, Nikki Van Dijk, Stephanie Gilmore , Sally Fitzgibbons, Julian Wilson and Owen Wright will compete for Australia in the International Surfing Association-sanctioned event.

Competition will take place at Miyazaki in Japan, the same venue that will host the world's best during the 2020 Games.

Only the top two from each country on the World Surf League's elite tour can qualify to compete.

Currently Callinan (seventh), Wilson (13th) and Wright (14th) hold the top three spots for Australians on the men's tour with a host further back and needing to make up ground.

Gilmore leads the race to defend her women's crown, while Fitzgibbons sits fourth and Van Dijk is 10th.

Fitzgibbons knows the dress rehearsal will provide tremendous value if she makes the cut.

"We don't get to experience that team culture as a group very often," she said.

"To come together as Aussies and really have that intention of being there for each other and our country is powerful.

"I think the rehearsal vibe for what an Olympic Games would be like and the energy at this year's ISA World Games is going to be perfect to continue to build the performance culture within team Australia."

Brazil and the United States will also send strong teams for the September 7-15 event.