MALFUNCTION MOVES TO NEW TWEED COAST
Sally Paxton - Immediate Past President GCMC, Don O'Rorke - CEO Consolidated Properties, Dane Pioli 2007 Malfunction Champion & Harley Ingleby 2006 Malfunction Champion
Organisers of Australia’s premier longboard surfing event, the Malfunction, today announced its move to the New Tweed Coast for the 2008 event, to be held from 22 – 27 April 2008.
It is the first time the event, a feature on the ASP World Longboard Qualifying Series, will be staged at Kingscliff, with a series of events also to be held at Casuarina Domain Beach Resort during the six-day festival.
Event organiser, Sean McKeown, said the Malfunction was now in its 25th year and would attract an international bevy of surfers from as far as France, the UK, the US, Hawaii and New Zealand.
He said the move to the New Tweed Coast made sense as the area had cemented itself as a top holiday, lifestyle and surfing destination.
“It provides the perfect location in terms of ideal surfing conditions as well as offering the infrastructure such as accommodation and world-class restaurants to keep competitors and spectators entertained,” he said.
“It really is a surfer’s playground.
“We are looking forward to being able to take surfing back to its original roots – enjoying unspoilt beaches, pristine surf breaks and having a good time with family and friends.”
Event organisers also outlined a sponsorship agreement with Domain Casuarina Beach Resort worth more than $30,000.
“We are very fortunate to have the backing of key sponsors such as Domain Casuarina Beach Resort who are committed to the success of the event,” said Sean.
“Since we have decided to move the event to Kingscliff we have watched the local community and businesses rally around and offer their support.”
Don O’Rorke, developer of Domain Casuarina Beach Resort, said attracting the event to the New Tweed Coast was a major coup for the area.
“The event is expected to attract more than 300 competitors, a large contingent of spectators and inject in excess of $2 million into the local economy,” Mr O’Rorke, who is a board member of Surfing Australia, the sport’s national governing body, said.
“There is a large surfing community on the New Tweed Coast and many of the residents at Casuarina Beach are keen surfers so we may even see a few of them enter the competition.”
Tweed Tourism General Manager, Terry Watson, predicts that the event will have spin-off and long-term benefits for the entire Tweed region.
“Hosting an event of this calibre gives us an opportunity to showcase what the Tweed region is all about,” he said.
“In addition to the immediate economic benefit from competitors and spectators attending the actual event, the national and international media coverage generated during the six-day festival will help to promote the Tweed’s uncrowded beaches, legendary surfing pointbreaks and top class accommodation to a wide range of markets.
“As such, we hope it will encourage future travelers to put the Tweed region on their list of ‘must see’ Australian destinations, thereby encouraging future visitation.”
The 2008 Malfunction is tipped to be the biggest in the event’s history, incorporating a new ‘Surf Lifestyle Festival’.
The event will encompass a number of open amateur and aged divisions for traditional surfers, a leg of the ASP World Longboard Qualifying Series, for Men & Women, a Retro division for boards constructed prior to 1981, the new craze of Stand Up Paddle Surfing and a Bic Surf One Board Challenge.
In addition, there will also be several events staged out of the water including the Domain Casuarina Beach Resort Art & Photographic Exhibition, a Memorabilia Auction and Luau Dinner to be held at Casuarina Beach and the Surf Vehicle Rally.
For registration and further event details please visit www.malfunction.com.au
Attached Rights Free Photo: Harley Ingelby (Coff’s Harbour), the current Australian Longboard Champion and certain to be one of the high seeded surfers at the next Malfunction which will run at Kingscliff.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
BEK BOYLE AT PROMEDIA ON (07) 5593 2011 or 0403 178 800,
OR SEAN MC KEOWN AT ISLAND STYLE PROMOTIONS ON 0414 569208.