THE World Surf League (WSL) thanked its local, national and global event partners and athletes at a special function last night (Thursday, July 17) to launch the 2024 Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic.

More than 70 surfers and event partners attended the Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay for the WSL event.

The event featured a welcome from Surf Coast Shire mayor Liz Pattison and speeches from WSL senior manager of global development tours and longboards Will Hayden-Smith and WSL vice president commercial Scott Hargreaves.

All speakers said they looked forward to a fantastic event ahead.

The Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic will run until this Sunday, July 21.

Read Surf Coast Times story here.

Image credit: Margaret Goss, Paul Wyton, world tour competitor Declan Wyton, Chloe Taylor and Belen Kimble. Photos: PETER MARSHALL