Sydney will host a major lead-in event to next year's world surfing tour with a bumper $500,000 contest to be held at Manly Beach.
The inaugural Australian Open of Surfing will run from February 11-19, and will include Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) six-star events for men and women.
Two-time world champ Mick Fanning said the event would be a good warm-up for next year's ASP tour opener on the Gold Coast in February-March.
"I've been going to the US Open for years and the job they do over there makes the athletes feel super special," he said.
"So I think this event will be on my radar ... it's a good lead-up event to the world tour."
The Australian Open will also absorb the final event of the world junior championship, which will move from from its traditional home at Narrabeen.
The event will be open to all world-ranked professional surfers, with big names Fanning and Sally Fitzgibbons all likely starters.
