By Andrew Starke
Layne Beachley’s Celebrity Surf Challenge has been saved from extinction at the eleventh hour thanks to a long association with the Bayfield family, joint-owners of the Dee Why Grand which is due to be opened in April 2010.
Beachley regularly completed shifts at the family’s Dee Why Hotel during the early days of her career when female sponsorship was scarce.
“This year’s event has a real sense of community so it is fantastic to welcome the Dee Why Grand as one of the Northern Beaches biggest supporters into our Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic event team,” Beachley said.
The $260 million Dee Why Grand, a retail-residential-commercial-hotel complex, is still under construction, but the owners have already shown a commitment to supporting the local community.
The Dee Why Grand Celebrity Challenge will be held on October 3 at 1pm at Dee Why Beach and will feature some great local personalities including: Libby Trickett, Lauryn Eagle, Liz Ellis, Kerry Pottharst , Matt White and Matt Shirvington.
“It’s great Layne is injecting such a vibrant contest into Dee Why,” said the Dee Why Grand’s Wayne Bayfield. “We always love supporting Layne because she is such a genuine ambassador for the Northern Beaches and its culture.”
“Our project at Dee Why Grand is a perfect fit for the Celebrity Challenge,” he continued. “It’s beachside, offers great retail space already taken advantage of by Harris Farm Markets, Coles Supermarkets and Bayfields – liquor superstore plus will offer a multitude of commercial offices for those looking for new premises close to the beach.”
The Dee Why Grand development will be showcased at an expo stand on the day of the surf challenge for any of the celebrity surfers and public to view.