UPDATE: 2008 GLOBAL SURF INDUSTRIES NOOSA FESTIVAL
OF SURFING
A
long list of celebrity surfers, world champions and legends have announced
their involvement in the 2008 Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of
Surfing as Australia's biggest surf cultural event goes into countdown for a
March 3 start.
BUSTIN' IN NOOSA
Little more than a month after its world premiere at the Santa Barbara
International Film Festival, surf champion Shaun Tomson's much-anticipated
surf documentary Bustin' Down The Door will have its Australian premiere at
the GSI Noosa Festival of Surfing.
The red-carpet charity premiere at Noosa 5 Cinemas on Thursday, March 6 will
be attended by world surfing's A-list, including producer Tomson and the
other stars of the film, former world champions Mark Richards, Rabbit
Bartholomew and Peter Townend. Noosa Surf Festival co-ordinator (and PLB
contributor) Phil Jarratt, who also worked on the film, described the
premiere as a major coup for Noosa. "This is not your average surf movie,"
said Jarratt. "People in the industry have been talking about it for almost
two years and, having seen the film in post-production, I can tell you it's
a powerful chronicle of a surfing revolution that took place more than 30
years ago and yet still resonates today. The fact that it's showing at the
highly-regarded Santa Barbara Festival is proof of its appeal way beyond the
surf crowd, and I think everyone who sees it will be profoundly moved by the
level of commitment these guys had."
Bustin', which borrows its title from a controversial Rabbit Bartholomew
magazine article of the time, tells the story of the "backside attack" on
the Banzai Pipeline in the Hawaiian winter of 1975 by a group of young
surfers from Australia and South Africa, and the dramatic repercussions
their heroic feats and brash attitudes had over the next two years,
including violence between surfers, and later the establishment of a world
professional surfing tour. Shaun Tomson, world champion in 1977, guides his
audience through the period with as much detachment as one of the key
players can muster. A consummate media performer, Tomson's in-person
introduction to the film is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Rabbit Bartholomew, Mark Richards, Shaun Thomson.
TROPICSURF SUMMIT TO MIX BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE
Australia's first "surf summit", sponsored by surf travel company Tropicsurf,
will bring together the biggest names from the surfing and corporate worlds
to discuss sustainability in the surf industry and other hot issues. But,
according to organisers, summit attendees will also have plenty of time to
relax and enjoy Noosa's surfing lifestyle…and the Festival.
The Summit, to be held at South Pacific Resort, Noosa, between March 6 and
8, will feature presentations from leading environmentalists, including
surfer and ocean activist Dave Rastovich, and a series of forums involving
industry leaders. Other events include a breakfast with some of surfing's
greatest champions, a gala charity dinner and the Telstra Corporate Surf
Challenge, featuring 12 surfing world champions.
SURFEXPO FILLING UP FAST
The week-long SURFEXPO at the Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of
Surfing is filling fast with exhibitors. The Expo, under marquees in Noosa
Lions Park, will be right in the hub of activity at the Festival, with live
music, photo exhibitions, book launches and other entertainment drawing
crowds to the venue each afternoon and evening.
Expo will open from Sunday, March 2 (5pm to 8pm) through to Saturday, March
8 (10am to 3pm). Weekday hours will be 2-8pm. With a full bar in operation
and GSI surfboard giveaways every day, Surf Expo is sure to be action
central throughout the Festival.
For more information visit www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com