NOOSA FESTIVAL OF SURFING UPDATE
The surprises just keep coming and it’s all good news for this year’s Festival of Surfing.
The Men’s Pro has been upgraded to officially become the first ASP LQS 2 Star Rated competition 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!
There is a total of $US10, 000.
“Of course we are very delighted with the upgrading from the association, it is a great result for the surfers, the events and the festival on a whole and one bound to attract the highest level of surfing”, said USM Events Director Garth Prowd.
Former ASP World Longboard Champion Josh Constable (Noosa Heads) who took out three divisions of the festival in 2007 including the elite Men’s Pro can’t wait for March to come around. “From a competitors perspective this is just what we needed, the more events carrying a bigger prize purse and potentially more ratings points the better all round”, said Constable.
Defending Champion Josh Constable
And how, so far there is a stellar line up that truly reflects the international appeal of the Festival. Hawaiian ‘Bonga’ Perkins who remains the only surfer to ever win three titles, leads the international charge along with the French army of Remi Arazo, Alexis Deniel, Adam Parry and Adam Griffiths. The USA has fielded Danny Ryder, Joe Aaron, Zack Howard and OC County’s favourite son Christian Wach who had a constant crowd of curious spectators checking out his carbon fibre model last year. Japanese surfers Claude Maki, Anri Nabeshima and Yoshinori Matsuyama are already dreaming of the surf they encountered here in 07 and like many, pray for a replay in march.
Bonga Perkins 3 x winner
ALC top ten surfer and number one seed Harley Ingleby (NSW Emerald Bch) has confirmed, as have all the finalists from 07 but certainly won’t find it easy going by any means with the likes of Jared Neal (NSW Coffs Harbour), Michael Bellamy (NSW Safety Bch), Kevin Holt (NSW Shell Harbour), Mitch Sheehy (NSW Lennox Heads), (QLD Currumbin) and locals Grant Thomas (QLD Maroochydore) who won the event back to back in 2005/6, , and the entire Wilson clan from Coolum including Kelly Slater Slayer Julian plus brother Bart and Seb.
A number of surfers capable of causing a major upset this year include Isaac Paddon (Gold Coast), Scott Channon (Lennox Head), Jye Byrnes (Merewether NSW), Jackson Close (Currumbin Qld), Dane Pioli (Eschol Park NSW) and Michael Bellamy (Safety Bch NSW).
Contest Director Alan Atkins will again run proceedings at Noosa for the week long ‘Celebration of the Surfing Lifestyle’ and believes the event is right on track, I am happy to say that our very experienced Head Judge Nick Pearson and our panel from 07 are back for 2008. Judges will be Paul Young, Gabe McGee, Phil Moller, Brian Jenkins, Col McKenzie, Keenan Roxburgh and Rob Jerrems. The “evergreen” John Charlton will again keep you informed of all the details you need as our beach announcer. We have a broad range of experience with this Team and they are committed to professionally administer your events over the week, said Atkins.
Maroochydore ace Grant Thomas who has two back to back wins under his belt is looking forward to the international level of competition and a shot at his third Noosa Pro Men’s title, “The upgrading is awesome, it really puts the contest up there, attracting not just seasoned campaigners but all the up and coming hotties. Sure, I would love to win a third, I could show it to Bonga, but just to make the final four this year will be a major result, so I will focus on things one a heat at a time and hope for the best”, said Thomas.
For further Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing information visit: www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com