UPDATE: 2008 GLOBAL SURF INDUSTRIES NOOSA FESTIVAL OF SURFING
Le Monde Ocean Paddle
Marathon is Fresh New Addition
Some like to conquer mountains, others opt for the challenges thrown at them
by Mother Nature and place themselves at the mercy of the ocean's elements.
This new category has deep roots in surfing's early development stages world
wide particularly throughout Polynesia and has found a resurgence globally
that has participation rates climbing skywards and has definitely found
favour amongst the oceans elite and festival supporters alike.
"As a long time supporter of the Noosa Festival of Surfing, we (Cafe Le
Monde) are proud to be involved in another first for the Festival since its
inception 16yrs ago. It's great to see the event evolve and we view this as
a fresh opportunity to leverage our involvement. We encourage all extreme
ocean paddlers to participate in the Le Monde Ocean Paddle Marathon. Our
venue on Hastings St, Noosa is a haven for extreme sports people across a
diverse range of disciplines including true watermen and women. This
gruelling event will showcase the best of the best in a test of will,
strength and stamina. The race after-party at Café Le Monde should be one
to remember," said Café Le Monde's spokesman Ryan Taylor.
With the race start(s) at Mooloolaba and Coolum, the course will take
competitors charging north along some of the most beautiful waters South
East Queensland has to offer past Mudjimba Island, Coolum, Sunshine Beach,
Noosa National Parks hidden coves and finishing on Noosa's Main Beach.
Already, the word is out and we have attracted some of the world's elite
ocean endurance paddlers; Jamie Mitchell (5x Hawaiian Molokai Ho Paddle
Board Champion), Mick Di Betta (Legendary AustralianWaterman), Brian
Keaulana (World Renowned Waterman) and the C4 Watermen, Guy Walker (2nd
Honolua SUP Pro), Billy Watson (1st Honolua SUP Pro), Kirsty Holmes (Ironwoman
Champion), Chris De Aboitiz and Eugene 'Woogie' Marsh who earlier this year
attempted the first SUP circumnavigation of Fraser Is.
Surf Industry stalwart Guy Walker of SUP brand Honolua is one competitor
totally enthused about the addition to this years Festival schedule and
believes organisers are on the right track. "Here's hoping the wind is
behind us in the Le Monde Ocean Paddle Marathon. It's a great addition to
the festival and gives competitors on all type of craft the opportunity to
test themselves, and their equipment. I know I won't be leading the field at
any stage, but that's the beauty of these paddle races, finishing is the
reward, and I'll be looking forward to an icy beer and plate lunch at Café
Le Monde when I do," said Guy Walker.
The Le Monde Ocean Paddle Marathon will be held on Saturday 8 March and is
open to amateur and pro competitors, male or female, 16 years and over.
Categories include; Unlimited Paddleboard (over 12' long) Stock Paddleboard
(12 no rudders), SUP, Unlimited Surf-Ski (male & female).
Quality Reigns Supreme at Memorabilia
Auction
This year, for about the hundredth year in a row, Bobby Johnson has ridden
in from Tamworth on his trusty steed to handle proceedings in his usual
professional manner, and we're stoked to have the world's leading surf
auction director, Randy Rarick, back down from the North Shore of Oahu to
offer his expert advice. In addition to running the world's biggest surf
auction in Honolulu every second year, Randy is the long-term director of
the Hawaii Triple Crown, a founding father of professional surfing and one
of our sport's leading craftsmen and adventurers. Also on deck to assist are
Bob McTavish, Aussie surf pioneer and patron of the Noosa Malibu Club, and
some of surfing's biggest names, including world champs PT and MR.
"We've put this auction on in some funny places over the years - some
successful, others not so - but weather permitting, our venue this year in
the Festival Village will be the best ever," says Phil Jarratt, auction
convenor & Festival Coordinator.
"Darryl and I have been working on this auction for months now, and we
sincerely hope this is reflected in the quality of the offerings, which this
year include items from many of Australia's leading collectors and some
treasures from the personal collections of our surfing legends. We wish you
a fun night and successful bidding," said Jarratt.
Feature items to go under the hammer include:
Bill Wallace: Duke Kahanamoku replica
Back in 1998, we made legendary surfboard shaper Bill Wallace our festival
poster boy and had a celebratory dinner in his honour. A decade later, now
into his ninth decade on the planet, Billy is still going strong and still
turning out works of great craftsmanship from his base in Noosaville.
Along with Gordon Woods, Barry Bennett, Joe Larkin and others, Bill built
"toothpicks" after the Second World War and then pioneered the introduction
of the okinui and Malibu surfboard to Australia in the 1950s. He went on to
become on of Australia's leading manufacturers in the 1960s, at the cutting
edge of the shortboard revolution. These days, he is more interested in
surfing's past than its future, and the beautiful Duke Kahanamoku replica
offered in this auction is a classic example.
Built from the exact specifications of the board the Duke carved from sugar
pine to give boardriding exhibitions in Sydney in the summer of 1914-15,
this superb piece is shaped by hand from Canadian red cedar. With Bill's
hands not as nimble as they once were, this may well be one of the last from
a great tradition.
Sidewalk Surfin': full set of Farrelly
skateboards
Back in the early '60s, the skateboard craze rolled across the Pacific from
California and took the idea of surfing to the streets. Australia's first
world surfing champion, Midget Farrelly was the biggest name in the sport,
so the enterprising Witzig brothers, John and Paul, cut a deal with Midget
to manufacture Australia's first signature model skateboards.
We're proud to be offering a full set of Farrelly skateboards at this
auction. This is a rare and treasured offering, so expect bidding to be
intense.
Bolts from the blue: Three Gerry Lopez
Lightning Bolt boards
There was a time in surfing's history when no surfer who wanted to make the
big time could afford to be without one. It was the most revered brand name
in surfboards and carried with it a guarantee of respect in the water. These
were the glory days of Lightning Bolt, the brand started by Jack Shipley and
Gerry Lopez in 1971. Over the next decade, virtually every shaper on note
carved boards under the Bolt logo.
Veteran Hawaiian craftsman, surfer and event organizer Randy Rarick knows
his Bolts backwards, and he's brought with him three absolute gems of the
genre. Bidding will be fierce.
ASP WCT Men's/Women's Champs Confirm Noosa
Attendance!
As if Kelly Slater (8 world titles), Layne Beachley (7 world titles), Mark
Richards (4 world titles), Tom Curren (3 world titles), Damien Hardman (2
world titles), Tom Carroll (2 world titles) plus other world champions
Rabbit, Shaun Tomson, Peter Townend, Josh Constable and Jen Smith weren't
enough, Rip Curl International Team Manager Gary Dunne today confirmed that
Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore will definitely attend. Truth be told,
Dunne himself decided that he will come along too! Seems the word is out
that this year could be a real ripper - just add water, arrrr, make that
swell.
It's all in the stars
The surprises just keep coming and it's all good news for this year's
Festival. Both the Men & Women's Pro events have been upgraded to officially
become the first ASP LQS 2 Star Rated competitions since the Festival began.
What's it all mean? For a start; more ratings points for the competitors and
more cash in the prize purse! For the Men there is a total of $US10, 000 and
for the Women, $US3000.
In between the recent showers Festival organisers were lucky enough to catch
a falling star and put it in their pocket and now the Tandem Pro is
officially a WTT 3 Star sanctioned event boasting a prize purse of $US3000.
16 teams in total will vie for this year's crown with the world's best
already confirmed starters.
To quote the ITSA Co President/Founder, Rico Leroy: "It looks like we gonna
have a really GREAT Tandem contest again this year because the 4 best teams
in the world will compete at Noosa to earn point for the Tour. Aloha!"
Call to Action - Please Support the Festival
Charities
It wasn't an easy choice with so many worthwhile charities to choose from.
At the end of the day after lengthy discussions, three organisations will
benefit from major fundraising activities during Festival Week such as; the
Surf Memorabilia Auction, Global Surf Industries surfboard daily giveaways,
Tropicsurf Summit Charity Dinner, Sails Restaurant Presentation Lunch and
representation at SURFEXPO each day.
Sea Shepherd's mission is to end the
destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in
order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. Sea Shepherd uses
innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action
when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas.
By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean
ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future
generations. With a huge national and global following, Sea Shepherd will
play an integral role in the Tropicsurf Summit, with presentations on ocean
activism from patron Dave Rastovich and the Sea Shepherd team.
Frangipani Dreams is a non-profit
organisation that has no Government funding but relies completely on the
generosity of sponsors, events and the local community to source funds for
her three major projects; Christmas Hampers Project, The Wishes Project and
the Aboriginal Community and Overseas Projects. Funds raised from the 2008
Festival have been chosen to support the next Frangipani Dream Wish, to be
held in September this year. The wish to be granted will send 8 local
disabled teenage children from our community to the Fisko Ski Lodge in
Jindabyne, NSW for an all inclusive ski holiday for the children and parent.
The Disabled Surfers Association was
started in 1986 by Gary Blacshke (OAM) after a motorbike accident saw him
unable to surf un-aided. As a result Gary saw a void in the community for
those like himself, and indeed all those with disabilities, to have a safe
surfing experience. DSA was borne and now have twelve branches Australia
wide. DSA will have a strong presence at the festival both in participation
and information through SURFEXPO. The Sunshine Coast branch will be on hand
raising much needed funds for, boards, marquees, transport, storage,
wheelchairs, eskies and assorted surf gear that go with the territor. DSA
events are held in conditions of small to medium surf in waste deep, broken
whitewater, with beach activities to occupy those waiting their turn to
surf. The Disabled Surfing Association is about ''SURFERS HELPING SURFERS ''
and putting ''SMILES ON DIALS''
Make a donation online when you enter an event/buy a ticket or visit their
SURFEXPO booth. There are plenty of raffle prizes to be won, merchandise and
a Global Surf Industries surfboard giveaway each evening at Festival
Village.
For further information, ticket sales and entry forms/online entry visit
www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com