The Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay reported that, surfing was a key attraction for almost a million visitors to NSW in 2007 with more than $11 million spent on surfing lessons alone.
“Surfing is a healthy experience which is appealing to both domestic and international visitors and is also delivering an economic boost to communities right along the NSW coast,” Ms McKay said.
“Events such as the Beachley Classic in Manly this week contribute to NSW’s reputation as one of the world’s best places to surf,” she said.
Ms McKay continued that NSW was the number one destination for surf tourism in Australia.
“Around 848,000 holidaying Australians went surfing in NSW last year, which was more than any other State,” she said.
“Surfing lessons are popular with the international backpacker market and NSW received 445,000 international backpackers last year,” she said.
“More than half of all international backpackers to Australia are likely to take surfing lessons.”
Tourism NSW estimates that the states 33 accredited surf schools contribute $11.7 million to the NSW economy each year.
Ms McKay said that the state was expecting thousands of visitors to attend the Beachley Classic in Manley which began on Thursday.
The event which has been supported for the past two years by the state government, will be supported by Events NSW this year.
Events NSW CEO Geoff Parmenter said that surfing forms a natural part of an events strategy for New South Wales.
“By securing significant high profile professional and participatory surfing events and by working with Surfing NSW and Tourism NSW we can support their efforts to position NSW as the surfing capital of Australia.
“Surfing provides a unique and targeted foundation from which to build economic and brand marketing benefits for New South Wales.
“Events NSW current investment in surfing encompasses a regional and a Sydney based platform, extending from the Country Energy Australian Surf Festival in Port
Macquarie to Surfest in Newcastle and the Beachley Classic.
“Surfing is not only an Australian pastime; it’s also one of our most successful exports, seriously big business for the surf wear brands.
Ms McKay said seven-time women's world surfing champion, Layne Beachley, has worked in conjunction with Tourism NSW to promote surfing.
This has included headlining an event in Los Angeles for media and travel agents as part of G’DAY USA: Australia Week in January this year.
“NSW has spectacular beaches all along its coastline including 77 of the top 100 surf beaches in Australia,” she said.
“Visitors to NSW want to experience our unique urban beach culture that is a major part of the lifestyle in Sydney and coastal NSW.
“Surfing is part of the Australian way of life and is a great way for visitors to connect with local people and experience our culture.”
There are accredited surf schools all along the NSW coastline from Tathra to Kingscliff including iconic locations such as Bondi Beach, Manly and Byron Bay.
According to NSW surf tourism operators, Sydney is the most popular destination for international surf tourists in NSW followed by Byron Bay.
Other favourites include the North Coast surf touring route including Newcastle, Port Macquarie, the Coffs Coast and Byron Bay.
Tourism NSW promotes surfing in a wide range of marketing activities here and overseas including on our website www.visitnsw.com.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Sydney
Australia
Travel and Tourism
Monday, October 13, 2008
Saturday, August 02, 2008
They surf at Dangerous Banks, 35km off Tassie, by Damien Murphy - The Sydney Morning Herald - 2nd August 2008
DANGEROUS BANKS is a large shifting sandbar with a mythical and fearsome history, about 35 kilometres off the tip of north-west Tasmania where Bass Strait floods into the Southern Ocean.
Once windjammers coming up from the Roaring Forties were wrecked regularly there and if the weather didn't get them, wreckers lit deceptive beacons on nearby islands in hope of plundering aground ships.
Raging currents, unpredictable winds and giant swells that suddenly jacked up from the depths kept humans at bay for nearly 200 years. But on June 27 three surfers conquered Dangerous Banks. The Australian veterans Ross Clarke-Jones and Tom Carroll and the young Hawaiian Ian Walsh were towed onto 30-foot waves as part of their odyssey to surf giant winter swells around Australia for a pay-TV special Storm Riders, expected to be released next summer.
Clarke-Jones, regarded as Australia's most renowned big wave rider, said the Tasmanian wave was barely rideable but being first compensated for that.
"It was more than wild , it was complete chaos. I've never seen an ocean so angry and confused in all my surfing days," he told the Herald. "We managed to catch a few each but must admit that the ocean beat us to a pulp that day. We were lucky to have all made it to shore to tell you the truth."
Days before, Ben Matson, a surfing website meteorologist who had been tracking ocean storms for the project, made the call that a low pressure system forming in Antarctica would send giant waves onto Dangerous Banks within 48 hours. The surfers and support crew scrambled.
In a Los Angeles taxi, Walsh got the text message, told the driver to head for the airport and booked a flight in transit. He walked off the plane at Sydney in boardshorts, T-shirt and hoodie, carrying only his wallet and passport.
The team gathered in Smithton on Tasmania's north-west coast, and, guided by abalone diver Paul Critchlow, put to sea equipped with two powerboats, six powerskis and a helicopter.
It was Critchlow who broke the news about the break eight years ago when a number of surfers, including Clarke-Jones, were competing in the world's first tow-in surf contest on King Island to the north.
Critchlow learnt about the wave the hard way. In the late 1980s he was ferrying a biologist to a nearby island with his wife, Audrey, in the boat when Dangerous Banks took him on.
"A swell reared up out of nowhere so I just swung the QuickCat into the wave and gunned it but the wave went perpendicular. I looked around to see Audrey flying horizontal out the back so grabbed her by the scruff and held on until we punched through the peak," he said. "The bride broke her ankle when we came down the back of the wave and she hit the deck."
Since February, Clarke-Jones, who lives in the Victorian surfing town of Torquay, had prepared for the expedition with three reconnaissance flights but filming proved problematic. There was no set take-off, rogue waves chased off cameramen on powerskis and the most effective platform, the helicopter, was so overworked keeping track of the surfers that low on fuel, it had to head home.
"It was like climbing Everest meets the running of the bulls meets an iron man contest," Clarke-Jones recalled.
There are financial incentives for the men who ride mountains, including a $US1000-a-foot ($1060) purse for the surfer who takes the biggest drop each year. Clarke-Jones and Carroll, a two-time world champion, are watching Australian surf spots hoping they'll turn on before winter goes.
Seven days after Dangerous Banks they rode Cow Bombie, a reef off the southern tip of Western Australia, despite a shark cruising nearby and Carroll suffering concussion from a heavy hit and long hold down. It was only 25 foot. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald).
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Once windjammers coming up from the Roaring Forties were wrecked regularly there and if the weather didn't get them, wreckers lit deceptive beacons on nearby islands in hope of plundering aground ships.
Raging currents, unpredictable winds and giant swells that suddenly jacked up from the depths kept humans at bay for nearly 200 years. But on June 27 three surfers conquered Dangerous Banks. The Australian veterans Ross Clarke-Jones and Tom Carroll and the young Hawaiian Ian Walsh were towed onto 30-foot waves as part of their odyssey to surf giant winter swells around Australia for a pay-TV special Storm Riders, expected to be released next summer.
Clarke-Jones, regarded as Australia's most renowned big wave rider, said the Tasmanian wave was barely rideable but being first compensated for that.
"It was more than wild , it was complete chaos. I've never seen an ocean so angry and confused in all my surfing days," he told the Herald. "We managed to catch a few each but must admit that the ocean beat us to a pulp that day. We were lucky to have all made it to shore to tell you the truth."
Days before, Ben Matson, a surfing website meteorologist who had been tracking ocean storms for the project, made the call that a low pressure system forming in Antarctica would send giant waves onto Dangerous Banks within 48 hours. The surfers and support crew scrambled.
In a Los Angeles taxi, Walsh got the text message, told the driver to head for the airport and booked a flight in transit. He walked off the plane at Sydney in boardshorts, T-shirt and hoodie, carrying only his wallet and passport.
The team gathered in Smithton on Tasmania's north-west coast, and, guided by abalone diver Paul Critchlow, put to sea equipped with two powerboats, six powerskis and a helicopter.
It was Critchlow who broke the news about the break eight years ago when a number of surfers, including Clarke-Jones, were competing in the world's first tow-in surf contest on King Island to the north.
Critchlow learnt about the wave the hard way. In the late 1980s he was ferrying a biologist to a nearby island with his wife, Audrey, in the boat when Dangerous Banks took him on.
"A swell reared up out of nowhere so I just swung the QuickCat into the wave and gunned it but the wave went perpendicular. I looked around to see Audrey flying horizontal out the back so grabbed her by the scruff and held on until we punched through the peak," he said. "The bride broke her ankle when we came down the back of the wave and she hit the deck."
Since February, Clarke-Jones, who lives in the Victorian surfing town of Torquay, had prepared for the expedition with three reconnaissance flights but filming proved problematic. There was no set take-off, rogue waves chased off cameramen on powerskis and the most effective platform, the helicopter, was so overworked keeping track of the surfers that low on fuel, it had to head home.
"It was like climbing Everest meets the running of the bulls meets an iron man contest," Clarke-Jones recalled.
There are financial incentives for the men who ride mountains, including a $US1000-a-foot ($1060) purse for the surfer who takes the biggest drop each year. Clarke-Jones and Carroll, a two-time world champion, are watching Australian surf spots hoping they'll turn on before winter goes.
Seven days after Dangerous Banks they rode Cow Bombie, a reef off the southern tip of Western Australia, despite a shark cruising nearby and Carroll suffering concussion from a heavy hit and long hold down. It was only 25 foot. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald).
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Monday, June 30, 2008
Whalers get hot reception in Chile - Gold Coast Bully - 30th June 2008
Bryon Bay locals were among the many who pitched up at the International Whaling Committee meeting held in Chile.
Dave Rastovich, from the lobby group Surfers for Cetaceans, Skye Bortoli from Teens Against Whaling, Paul Watson from Sea Shepherd and Hannah Fraser and Jeff Pantakhoff all made the trip to South America to air their views.
They have all played active roles in highlighting the plight of marine mammals. They also work tirelessly to stop the slaughter of the gentle giants.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Dave Rastovich
Hannah Fraser
Skye Bortoli
Sea Shepherd
Surfing
Dave Rastovich, from the lobby group Surfers for Cetaceans, Skye Bortoli from Teens Against Whaling, Paul Watson from Sea Shepherd and Hannah Fraser and Jeff Pantakhoff all made the trip to South America to air their views.
They have all played active roles in highlighting the plight of marine mammals. They also work tirelessly to stop the slaughter of the gentle giants.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Dave Rastovich
Hannah Fraser
Skye Bortoli
Sea Shepherd
Surfing
Saturday, March 22, 2008
With Bells on, by Martin Boulton - The Age - 22nd March 2008
WORLD champion Mick Fanning bounced back from an opening-round loss to keep alive his hopes of winning the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach yesterday.
In tricky 1.8- to 2.4-metre surf and a stiff onshore breeze, the 26-year-old outclassed wildcard Stuart Kennedy after going down to fellow Australian Adrian Buchan in the first round.
It was Fanning's first opening-round loss in a tour event for 18 months, but the world No. 2 attacked from the moment the siren sounded in the sudden-death second round to reach the next stage.
The Tweed Heads surfer unleashed his trademark power and speed against Kennedy to quickly record a 7.5 wave and finished with a combined score of 14.17 points from his best two waves.
Kennedy, from Lennox Head, managed a combined score of 5.50 from his best two waves after 30 minutes in tough conditions, which tested the stamina of surfers throughout the day.
He refused to comment after his earlier loss, but Fanning was all smiles after a solid second heat and said he's looking forward to the chance of winning his first tour event of the year.
"It's good to get through and live to fight another day," he said.
Eight-time world champion Kelly Slater progressed straight through to the third round after scoring a 9.5 — the highest score of the day — and finishing with a combined score of 17.50.
The 36-year-old, who calls Florida and Hawaii home when he's not travelling the globe, thrilled the strong crowd with an awesome display against Brazilian Adriano de Souza.
Slater opted for a shorter board than most in the lumpy seas and produced the wave of the day after organisers feared he might not even show up.
"I wasn't actually planning on coming down here," Slater said.
"I did officially pull out of the event, but then I saw the swell forecast and things lined up the right way … it was a good week to come down."
Slater, who opened this year's tour with a win in the Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast, will mount a serious challenge for his ninth world crown if he wins his third Bells Beach title.
"Obviously, I'm in a good position," he said.
"Everyone talks it up and thinks I'm playing cat and mouse with them, but I just say how I feel.
"Sometimes, I don't want to go to the next contest."
Defending champion Taj Burrow, ranked ninth in the world heading into this event, also moved into the third round and said "the plan is to ring the bell" again after edging out Brazilian Leonardo Neves and fellow Australian Nathan Hedge yesterday.
Bede Durbidge, who came third on the Gold Coast, ended Hedge's campaign in Torquay yesterday with a convincing win in the second round.
Joel Parkinson, from Coolangatta, booked a third-round spot after beating fellow Australians Nic Muscroft and Ben Dunn.
"It (was) really tough conditions," Parkinson said.
"You've just got to have a little bit of luck and a little bit of faith, (and) I jagged one early, not much through the middle and fortunately got one at the end just in time."
The second round continues today, with Luke Stedman scheduled to be the first Australian in the water against Chris Ward from California.
Hawaiian and triple world champion Andy Irons moved through to the third round with a combined score of 12.84 on the first day of competition.
"Sixes (were) basically nines out there today," he said. "I just tried to go out there, surf a good heat and get a couple of scores."
http://www.theage.com.au/photography
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
In tricky 1.8- to 2.4-metre surf and a stiff onshore breeze, the 26-year-old outclassed wildcard Stuart Kennedy after going down to fellow Australian Adrian Buchan in the first round.
It was Fanning's first opening-round loss in a tour event for 18 months, but the world No. 2 attacked from the moment the siren sounded in the sudden-death second round to reach the next stage.
The Tweed Heads surfer unleashed his trademark power and speed against Kennedy to quickly record a 7.5 wave and finished with a combined score of 14.17 points from his best two waves.
Kennedy, from Lennox Head, managed a combined score of 5.50 from his best two waves after 30 minutes in tough conditions, which tested the stamina of surfers throughout the day.
He refused to comment after his earlier loss, but Fanning was all smiles after a solid second heat and said he's looking forward to the chance of winning his first tour event of the year.
"It's good to get through and live to fight another day," he said.
Eight-time world champion Kelly Slater progressed straight through to the third round after scoring a 9.5 — the highest score of the day — and finishing with a combined score of 17.50.
The 36-year-old, who calls Florida and Hawaii home when he's not travelling the globe, thrilled the strong crowd with an awesome display against Brazilian Adriano de Souza.
Slater opted for a shorter board than most in the lumpy seas and produced the wave of the day after organisers feared he might not even show up.
"I wasn't actually planning on coming down here," Slater said.
"I did officially pull out of the event, but then I saw the swell forecast and things lined up the right way … it was a good week to come down."
Slater, who opened this year's tour with a win in the Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast, will mount a serious challenge for his ninth world crown if he wins his third Bells Beach title.
"Obviously, I'm in a good position," he said.
"Everyone talks it up and thinks I'm playing cat and mouse with them, but I just say how I feel.
"Sometimes, I don't want to go to the next contest."
Defending champion Taj Burrow, ranked ninth in the world heading into this event, also moved into the third round and said "the plan is to ring the bell" again after edging out Brazilian Leonardo Neves and fellow Australian Nathan Hedge yesterday.
Bede Durbidge, who came third on the Gold Coast, ended Hedge's campaign in Torquay yesterday with a convincing win in the second round.
Joel Parkinson, from Coolangatta, booked a third-round spot after beating fellow Australians Nic Muscroft and Ben Dunn.
"It (was) really tough conditions," Parkinson said.
"You've just got to have a little bit of luck and a little bit of faith, (and) I jagged one early, not much through the middle and fortunately got one at the end just in time."
The second round continues today, with Luke Stedman scheduled to be the first Australian in the water against Chris Ward from California.
Hawaiian and triple world champion Andy Irons moved through to the third round with a combined score of 12.84 on the first day of competition.
"Sixes (were) basically nines out there today," he said. "I just tried to go out there, surf a good heat and get a couple of scores."
http://www.theage.com.au/photography
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Monday, March 17, 2008
Will Jack drop in?, By Peter Gardiner - Sunshine Coast Daily - 8th March 2008
For fans of laidback surfing singer Jack Johnson, it could be a case of “Sitting, Waiting, Wishing” in Noosa for an impromptu performance from the latest face to grace the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
There’s an underground buzz that Johnson will appear on stage today with the coolest surfer on the planet –newly crowned Quiksilver Pro champ Kelly Slater.
Music inspired by the surf and played by surfers is a cultural phenomenon of recent times, and one that the Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing is now in tune with.
Its musical concert at the Noosa Heads Lions Park will have free surfing activist Dave Rastovich performing with Band of Frequencies, and all-time great Tom Curren performing alongside Pico.
“To be honest, I can’t wait to play and it would be a real buzz to have a jam with Curren and Pico – who knows, maybe Kelly (Slater) will join in too if he is around,” Dave said.
Last year festival organiser Garth Prowd, of USM events, sowed the first seeds of speculation when he said how good it would be to have someone like Jack surfing alongside Kelly in Noosa and then the two jamming together.
And eight-times world champion Kelly is supposed to be coming to town for the festival, while Jack, who kicks off his Australian tour next week, is supposed to be in Australia at the moment. Some reports have him staying on the Coast.
Mr Prowd yesterday refused to comment on what he sees as idle speculation.
The word around the festival is that even if Kelly and Jack were both in Noosa this weekend, any decision to play would be an entirely spontaneous thing on their behalf.
So as Jack almost said in his hit tune: “Must we always be waiting, waiting on you guys.”
Your complete guide to the Noosa Festival of Surfing, including links to stories and photo galleries.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Rolling Stone magazine
Global Surf Industries
Noosa
Surfing
There’s an underground buzz that Johnson will appear on stage today with the coolest surfer on the planet –newly crowned Quiksilver Pro champ Kelly Slater.
Music inspired by the surf and played by surfers is a cultural phenomenon of recent times, and one that the Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing is now in tune with.
Its musical concert at the Noosa Heads Lions Park will have free surfing activist Dave Rastovich performing with Band of Frequencies, and all-time great Tom Curren performing alongside Pico.
“To be honest, I can’t wait to play and it would be a real buzz to have a jam with Curren and Pico – who knows, maybe Kelly (Slater) will join in too if he is around,” Dave said.
Last year festival organiser Garth Prowd, of USM events, sowed the first seeds of speculation when he said how good it would be to have someone like Jack surfing alongside Kelly in Noosa and then the two jamming together.
And eight-times world champion Kelly is supposed to be coming to town for the festival, while Jack, who kicks off his Australian tour next week, is supposed to be in Australia at the moment. Some reports have him staying on the Coast.
Mr Prowd yesterday refused to comment on what he sees as idle speculation.
The word around the festival is that even if Kelly and Jack were both in Noosa this weekend, any decision to play would be an entirely spontaneous thing on their behalf.
So as Jack almost said in his hit tune: “Must we always be waiting, waiting on you guys.”
Your complete guide to the Noosa Festival of Surfing, including links to stories and photo galleries.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Rolling Stone magazine
Global Surf Industries
Noosa
Surfing
Friday, March 14, 2008
Top sorts - The Sydney Morning Herald - 13th March 2008
The Award for Best Sort was taken out by a pregnant woman (Katherine Heigl for Knocked Up), Best Nude Scene went to a children's flick (The Simpson's Movie) and Best Documentary was won by a surf gang from Maroubra. The Oscars it wasn't but what the Filmink awards lacked in Hollywood glamour it made up for in unusual award choices. Local stars, host Brendan Cowell, and film brethren Joel and Nash Edgerton stepped out for the awards, held last night at Sydney's State Theatre, while Sunny Abberton arrived without his famous brother, surfer Koby, to pick up the award for their 2007 documentary, Bra Boys. Other awards were more predictable with Academy Award-nominated film Atonement, winning the Best Film, and Australian Film Industry award winners taking out Best Australian Film - Romulus, My Father - and Best Newcomer - Emma Booth. John Travolta won Best Hair for his performance in Hairspray. See video from the awards show at www.smh.com.au/entertainment/stayintouch.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Bra Boys
Maroubra Beach
Media Man Australia Profiles
Bra Boys
Maroubra Beach
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Constable pulling double finals at the GSI Noosa Festival
Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing
ASP LQS 2 Star Men's Event
Banana Boat Women’s Pro
Noosa, Queensland
3 - 9 March 2008
Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos etc
Josh Constable into the final of both the Telstra Men’s Pro and the Stand Up Paddle
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 March, 2008 : - - An incredible day at the Noosa Festival of Surfing which included great surfing along with amazing history as no fewer than 13 past ASP World Champions participated in what truly is a celebration of the awesome surfing culture.
Competitively Queensland surfers dominated and in the Telstra Men’s Pro have managed to secure all four finals positions as Seb Wilson, Grant Thomas, Josh Constable (All Sunshine Coasters) and Jackson Close managed to advance through the semi finals and will take their place in what should be a tense final tomorrow.
Thomas and Constable will be shooting for their 3rd victories at this event and the ever confident Thomas said after his semi win today – “ I’m sure I can win it but it’s going depend on me getting the best waves over the others and they’ll be just as determined as I am so who knows! It’s great it’s an all Queensland final but when we hit the water tomorrow there’ll be no friends out there – we’ll be all chasing the win… at all costs!”
The Banana Boat Women’s Pro looks set to be dominated by internationals with just Gold Coast surfer Selby Riddle flying the flag for Australia. Current ASP World Champion Longboarder Jen Smith (USA/California) is the surfer to beat. She has consistently posted the highest scores throughout this event and looks unstoppable. Justine Dupont (France) and Jana Irons (Hawaii) will be in the final making it an international showdown not to be missed!
Some incredible names of the sport took to the Noosa waters today, both competitively and for charity and included current ASP World Champions Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore in a unique team surfing auction that raised a worthy $110 000 for charity!
Names like Mark Richards, Shaun Tomson, Tom Carroll, Layne Beachley, Brian Keaulana and many more champions of the sport enjoyed an awesome day that delighted the large crowds and participants alike in a memorable day of surfing that stamps the Noosa Festival of Surfing as something very special now and into the future.
Stand Up Paddle, Tandem surfing, Noserider Pro and Legends of the sport all enjoyed the perfect small waves at Noosa’s first point throughout the afternoon and organizers are super optimistic that all the finals can capitalize on more of the same perfection on the point all day tomorrow for the finals across all divisions.
It’s a superb final day coming up and will run for an unprecedented 10 hours with the premier finals of Telstra Men’s Pro and Banana Boat Women’s Pro to be put in the water on the prime tidal conditions to get the very best of the waves.
The event will start around 7:00am with the expected location at first point with the back up at Main Beach.
www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com
More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts
Darren Landers
Media Manager | Noosa Festival of Surfing
darren@freshlogicmedia.com.au
Garth Prowd OAM
Managing Director | USM Events
gp@usmevents.com.au
Georgie Hannon
Event Management | USM Events
georgie@usmevents.com.au
Media Man Australia Profiles
Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing
Surfing
ASP LQS 2 Star Men's Event
Banana Boat Women’s Pro
Noosa, Queensland
3 - 9 March 2008
Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos etc
Josh Constable into the final of both the Telstra Men’s Pro and the Stand Up Paddle
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 March, 2008 : - - An incredible day at the Noosa Festival of Surfing which included great surfing along with amazing history as no fewer than 13 past ASP World Champions participated in what truly is a celebration of the awesome surfing culture.
Competitively Queensland surfers dominated and in the Telstra Men’s Pro have managed to secure all four finals positions as Seb Wilson, Grant Thomas, Josh Constable (All Sunshine Coasters) and Jackson Close managed to advance through the semi finals and will take their place in what should be a tense final tomorrow.
Thomas and Constable will be shooting for their 3rd victories at this event and the ever confident Thomas said after his semi win today – “ I’m sure I can win it but it’s going depend on me getting the best waves over the others and they’ll be just as determined as I am so who knows! It’s great it’s an all Queensland final but when we hit the water tomorrow there’ll be no friends out there – we’ll be all chasing the win… at all costs!”
The Banana Boat Women’s Pro looks set to be dominated by internationals with just Gold Coast surfer Selby Riddle flying the flag for Australia. Current ASP World Champion Longboarder Jen Smith (USA/California) is the surfer to beat. She has consistently posted the highest scores throughout this event and looks unstoppable. Justine Dupont (France) and Jana Irons (Hawaii) will be in the final making it an international showdown not to be missed!
Some incredible names of the sport took to the Noosa waters today, both competitively and for charity and included current ASP World Champions Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore in a unique team surfing auction that raised a worthy $110 000 for charity!
Names like Mark Richards, Shaun Tomson, Tom Carroll, Layne Beachley, Brian Keaulana and many more champions of the sport enjoyed an awesome day that delighted the large crowds and participants alike in a memorable day of surfing that stamps the Noosa Festival of Surfing as something very special now and into the future.
Stand Up Paddle, Tandem surfing, Noserider Pro and Legends of the sport all enjoyed the perfect small waves at Noosa’s first point throughout the afternoon and organizers are super optimistic that all the finals can capitalize on more of the same perfection on the point all day tomorrow for the finals across all divisions.
It’s a superb final day coming up and will run for an unprecedented 10 hours with the premier finals of Telstra Men’s Pro and Banana Boat Women’s Pro to be put in the water on the prime tidal conditions to get the very best of the waves.
The event will start around 7:00am with the expected location at first point with the back up at Main Beach.
www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com
More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts
Darren Landers
Media Manager | Noosa Festival of Surfing
darren@freshlogicmedia.com.au
Garth Prowd OAM
Managing Director | USM Events
gp@usmevents.com.au
Georgie Hannon
Event Management | USM Events
georgie@usmevents.com.au
Media Man Australia Profiles
Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing
Surfing
The APT/WG world tour awards party goes big in Haleiwa - Global Surf News - 8th March 2008
Big Wave News
APT/WG World Tour Awards Party Goes Big
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 March, 2008 : - -The Association of professional Towsurfers, Inc. (APT) World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit and Wave Giant (WG) a Brazilian based company, closed the 2007 tour season with an official awards party that was held at Banzai Sushi in Haleiwa, Oahu.
With only one event to account for in the 2007 APT tour season, there was still plenty of stoke to go around amongst the big name winners, contestants, friends and family during the evening of March 2, 2008. The top four winning teams of the tour, not only won some good money but were presented with amazing belts and plaques for their accomplishments.
The top four winning teams of the APT World Tour for 2007 were:
1st Place World Champions - Makua Rothman / Ikaika Kalama -HI
2nd Place - Carlos Burle / Eraldo Gueiros - BRA
3rd Place- Dustin Barca / Sion Milosky - HI
4th Place Jamie Sterling / Wendell Wall - HI
Koby Abberton, Maya Gabeira, Keali’i Mamala, Eddie Rothman, Troy Alotis, Tom Dosland and many others were also in the mix and shared their support for the 2007 winners and APT’s upcoming 2008 tour announcement.
“It was a great party and it gave APT a chance to let everyone know that we are here for the long hall and thank the contestants for their support. Our first season was not so good due to poor surf, but at least we had one event that got the ball rolling. This party also gave APT the opportunity to share some exciting news on our first scheduled event for the 2008 season.”- Said, Rodney Kilborn, APT Vice President and Event Sanctioning Director.
APT would like to thank Wave Giant (WG) for their support in making this awards party happen. The 2008 APT World Tour Season will kick-off on April 15, 2008 and the official press announcement will be sent out later this month. APT/WG clothing line and apparel for the extreme athlete will soon be available online at Protowsurfers.org. The official 2008 event website will not be launched until later this month.
About the Association of Professional Towsurfers, Inc. (APT)
The Association of Professional Towsurfers, was Founded on March 6, 2003 with the charter to support the responsible growth and development of Tow-In Surfing. The Association of Professional Towsurfers, is dedicated to sanctioning and promoting world class competitions, dissemination of safety and technical information to athletes, and technical direction to event organizers.
The Association of Professional Towsurfers embraces corporate sponsors and media entities that provide the support necessary to increase its events and goals. The Association of Professional Towsurfers has goals to expand its support throughout the world, lobby government agencies and municipalities to provide more certified tow-in access to ocean venues, and be ever attentive to the unique technical and safety needs of this evolving sport and its constituents.
www.protowsurfers.org
Check the latest Hawaii Surf Reports and Forecasts
More Hawaiian & USA Surfing News available here
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Big Wave Surfing
APT/WG World Tour Awards Party Goes Big
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 March, 2008 : - -The Association of professional Towsurfers, Inc. (APT) World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit and Wave Giant (WG) a Brazilian based company, closed the 2007 tour season with an official awards party that was held at Banzai Sushi in Haleiwa, Oahu.
With only one event to account for in the 2007 APT tour season, there was still plenty of stoke to go around amongst the big name winners, contestants, friends and family during the evening of March 2, 2008. The top four winning teams of the tour, not only won some good money but were presented with amazing belts and plaques for their accomplishments.
The top four winning teams of the APT World Tour for 2007 were:
1st Place World Champions - Makua Rothman / Ikaika Kalama -HI
2nd Place - Carlos Burle / Eraldo Gueiros - BRA
3rd Place- Dustin Barca / Sion Milosky - HI
4th Place Jamie Sterling / Wendell Wall - HI
Koby Abberton, Maya Gabeira, Keali’i Mamala, Eddie Rothman, Troy Alotis, Tom Dosland and many others were also in the mix and shared their support for the 2007 winners and APT’s upcoming 2008 tour announcement.
“It was a great party and it gave APT a chance to let everyone know that we are here for the long hall and thank the contestants for their support. Our first season was not so good due to poor surf, but at least we had one event that got the ball rolling. This party also gave APT the opportunity to share some exciting news on our first scheduled event for the 2008 season.”- Said, Rodney Kilborn, APT Vice President and Event Sanctioning Director.
APT would like to thank Wave Giant (WG) for their support in making this awards party happen. The 2008 APT World Tour Season will kick-off on April 15, 2008 and the official press announcement will be sent out later this month. APT/WG clothing line and apparel for the extreme athlete will soon be available online at Protowsurfers.org. The official 2008 event website will not be launched until later this month.
About the Association of Professional Towsurfers, Inc. (APT)
The Association of Professional Towsurfers, was Founded on March 6, 2003 with the charter to support the responsible growth and development of Tow-In Surfing. The Association of Professional Towsurfers, is dedicated to sanctioning and promoting world class competitions, dissemination of safety and technical information to athletes, and technical direction to event organizers.
The Association of Professional Towsurfers embraces corporate sponsors and media entities that provide the support necessary to increase its events and goals. The Association of Professional Towsurfers has goals to expand its support throughout the world, lobby government agencies and municipalities to provide more certified tow-in access to ocean venues, and be ever attentive to the unique technical and safety needs of this evolving sport and its constituents.
www.protowsurfers.org
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Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Big Wave Surfing
Monday, March 03, 2008
Fanning makes a statement in tour opener - The Age - 2nd March 2008
World surfing champion Mick Fanning showed his readiness for the 2008 season with a storming victory over dangerous wildcard Julian Wilson in the opening event on the Gold Coast.
Fanning demoralised teenaged rival and fellow local Wilson to win 17.57 to 7.33 and advance to the fourth round in his quest for a third Quiksilver Pro title on his home break of Snapper Rocks.
An early eight-plus wave score, backed up by a 9.07 immediately afterwards was enough to send Wilson home, but Fanning was quick to praise the youngster, who notched a win over Kelly Slater in the event last year.
"Julian's one of those up and comers and is really dangerous," said defending champion Fanning.
"There weren't many opportunities for Julian towards the end, and I knew with the tide coming in that was going to happen, so that's why I tried to get some early."
With 10 of 16 third round heats surfed on Sunday, Fanning completed a hat-trick of local successes, with Gold Coast boys Dean Morrison and Joel Parkinson also making it through.
Fellow Australians Bede Durbidge, Ben Dunn and Taj Burrow, who recorded the highest heat score of the day with 19.20 points against France's Mikael Picon, also progressed to the fourth round.
But South African teenager Jordy Smith will be looking to break the Aussie strangle-hold on the event, when he meets Morrison in the fourth round.
The 19-year-old wowed the 3,000-strong crowd with two nine-plus wave scores against world No.10 Bobby Martinez, to end with a near-perfect final heat score of 19.03 points out of a possible 20.
Smith has been labelled a world title contender in just his first year on the professional circuit and is a dark-horse to take out this world championship tour event if he can oust Morrison.
"I'm not really feeling any pressure, I'm just out there to have fun and pretty much just surfing with my heroes," Smith said.
"I'm just focusing on heat by heat."
Kelly Slater and fellow former multiple world champion Andy Irons are among surfers still waiting to contest their third round heats.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Fanning demoralised teenaged rival and fellow local Wilson to win 17.57 to 7.33 and advance to the fourth round in his quest for a third Quiksilver Pro title on his home break of Snapper Rocks.
An early eight-plus wave score, backed up by a 9.07 immediately afterwards was enough to send Wilson home, but Fanning was quick to praise the youngster, who notched a win over Kelly Slater in the event last year.
"Julian's one of those up and comers and is really dangerous," said defending champion Fanning.
"There weren't many opportunities for Julian towards the end, and I knew with the tide coming in that was going to happen, so that's why I tried to get some early."
With 10 of 16 third round heats surfed on Sunday, Fanning completed a hat-trick of local successes, with Gold Coast boys Dean Morrison and Joel Parkinson also making it through.
Fellow Australians Bede Durbidge, Ben Dunn and Taj Burrow, who recorded the highest heat score of the day with 19.20 points against France's Mikael Picon, also progressed to the fourth round.
But South African teenager Jordy Smith will be looking to break the Aussie strangle-hold on the event, when he meets Morrison in the fourth round.
The 19-year-old wowed the 3,000-strong crowd with two nine-plus wave scores against world No.10 Bobby Martinez, to end with a near-perfect final heat score of 19.03 points out of a possible 20.
Smith has been labelled a world title contender in just his first year on the professional circuit and is a dark-horse to take out this world championship tour event if he can oust Morrison.
"I'm not really feeling any pressure, I'm just out there to have fun and pretty much just surfing with my heroes," Smith said.
"I'm just focusing on heat by heat."
Kelly Slater and fellow former multiple world champion Andy Irons are among surfers still waiting to contest their third round heats.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Peru's Mulanovich takes out Roxy Pro - The Age - 1st March 2008
Peru's Sofia Mulanovich has claimed the first victory of the 2008 surfing season, winning the Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast to get Stephanie Gilmore's world title defence off to a rocky start.
Mulanovich, who finished last at Snapper Rocks just one year ago, surfed a near-faultless final against Australia's Samantha Cornish, including 8.17 and 9.17 rides, to dominate the decider.
Mulanovich ended up almost 10 points ahead of Cornish - an unsatisfying end to a day replete with nail-biting finishes and big name defeats, including pre-competition favourite Gilmore, Layne Beachley and Brazil's Silvana Lima.
Gilmore's slayer came in the unlikely form of the diminutive 15-year-old wildcard Carissa Moore, who proved the talk of the competition after taking down the reigning world champion in a narrow round three victory.
She went on to record the best heat score of the day in the quarter-finals before losing her semi to Cornish, solidifying her spot as one of surfing's biggest rising stars.
But it was Mulanovich who took home the $12,700 winner's cheque at the season-opening event, where her previous best was third place amid a sea of poor results.
Given her previous track record, the 24-year-old was decidedly upbeat about her victory.
"Guys, I never believed I would win here!" a euphoric Mulanovich told reporters shortly after her win.
With the Peruvian flag draped across her shoulders, she chuckled off suggestions she had declared a full-on assault on Gilmore's world crown.
"It's crazy you know," she said.
"I always used to get bad results here, I guess I proved to myself that I can surf this wave and I'm just so happy this year - everything just came perfect for me."
Cornish, a former world No.1, said she was pleased with her result.
"It's definitely a great start to the year," the Crescent Heads surfer said.
"I thoroughly enjoyed myself today, it was just a super magical day - there were dolphins and stingrays and fishermen, you never really get to see that."
Cornish, who was Australia's last chance to retain the event after Chelsea Hedges' victory last year, will now try to go one better at the Rip Curl Pro event at Bell's Beach later this month.
There, Gilmore said she would also be seeking redemption.
"A bit of redemption, yeah, and to get back in the groove of things," she said.
"It's always pretty hard first event - I mean, I thought everybody was a little bit wobbly but obviously not, maybe it's just me."
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Mulanovich, who finished last at Snapper Rocks just one year ago, surfed a near-faultless final against Australia's Samantha Cornish, including 8.17 and 9.17 rides, to dominate the decider.
Mulanovich ended up almost 10 points ahead of Cornish - an unsatisfying end to a day replete with nail-biting finishes and big name defeats, including pre-competition favourite Gilmore, Layne Beachley and Brazil's Silvana Lima.
Gilmore's slayer came in the unlikely form of the diminutive 15-year-old wildcard Carissa Moore, who proved the talk of the competition after taking down the reigning world champion in a narrow round three victory.
She went on to record the best heat score of the day in the quarter-finals before losing her semi to Cornish, solidifying her spot as one of surfing's biggest rising stars.
But it was Mulanovich who took home the $12,700 winner's cheque at the season-opening event, where her previous best was third place amid a sea of poor results.
Given her previous track record, the 24-year-old was decidedly upbeat about her victory.
"Guys, I never believed I would win here!" a euphoric Mulanovich told reporters shortly after her win.
With the Peruvian flag draped across her shoulders, she chuckled off suggestions she had declared a full-on assault on Gilmore's world crown.
"It's crazy you know," she said.
"I always used to get bad results here, I guess I proved to myself that I can surf this wave and I'm just so happy this year - everything just came perfect for me."
Cornish, a former world No.1, said she was pleased with her result.
"It's definitely a great start to the year," the Crescent Heads surfer said.
"I thoroughly enjoyed myself today, it was just a super magical day - there were dolphins and stingrays and fishermen, you never really get to see that."
Cornish, who was Australia's last chance to retain the event after Chelsea Hedges' victory last year, will now try to go one better at the Rip Curl Pro event at Bell's Beach later this month.
There, Gilmore said she would also be seeking redemption.
"A bit of redemption, yeah, and to get back in the groove of things," she said.
"It's always pretty hard first event - I mean, I thought everybody was a little bit wobbly but obviously not, maybe it's just me."
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Surfing Pioneer Mark Warren Inducted into Hall of Fame - Press Release - 26th February 2008 - Surfline
Surfing pioneer Mark Warren (Avalon, NSW) was honoured as the 2008 Hall of Fame Inductee at the 23rd annual Australian Surfing Awards at Twin Town Services Club in Coolangatta last night.
Warren's varied and successful careers within surfing span three decades. A 70s pro surfer - a media sports personality in the '80's - National Coach and ASP Tour Representative in the '90's.
Warren the 1970 NSW Junior Champion from Narrabeen went onto become one of the worlds first pro surfers winning numerous contests including the 1976 Smirnoff World Pro-Am at Sunset Beach, Hawaii and The Duke Kahanamoku Classic at Waimea Bay, Hawaii in 1980.
To this day Warren remains at the forefront of the sport, responsible for the live web streaming of the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro tournaments around the globe.
"If surfing is Hawaii's gift to the world then I'm amazed how, for me, surfing is the gift that keeps on giving," said Warren.
"I get just as big a thrill now out of a half decent wave as I did when I first started surfing over 40 years ago.
"And equally it's a thrill for me to be acknowledged by Surfing Australia in this way, in fact it's a privilege," added Warren.
Warren adds his name to a list of surfing luminaries that includes four time world champion Mark "MR" Richards OAM, seven time world champion Layne Beachley, 1976 world champion Peter Townend, 1998 world champion Mark Occhilupo 1990 world champion Pam Burridge, legends Nat Young, Wayne Lynch, Michael Peterson, Wayne Deane and surfing historian Peter Troy OAM .
Reigning ASP world champions Mick Fanning (Tweed Head, NSW) and Stephanie Gilmore (Kingscliff, NSW) claimed the coveted 2008 'Male and Female Surfer of the Year Awards'.
Gilmore's sensational 2007 performance saw her become the only male or female surfer to win an ASP World Title in their rookie year. A bumper 2007 for Fanning saw him bring the world crown back to Australian shores for the first time in a decade.
"It's another great honour for me. An Australian award has that extra special meaning too," said Gilmore.
In all, 11 awards were presented on the night before 2007 Hall of Fame Inductee Cheyne Horan (Gold Coast) honoured Mark Warren as this year's Inductee in the nights crowning moment.
ASP world junior champion Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa, NSW) broke the gender barrier by taking out the inaugural 'Rising Star Award' for her enormous promise and potential. The 17 year-old 'Super-Grom' has again proved unstoppable this year currently leading both the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the Australasian junior rankings.
Joining the elite on stage was Jon Frank for the 'The Best Photo of the Year Award' and Sunny Abberton accepted the 'The Surf Movie of the Year Award' on behalf of the Bra Boys.
"The movie has won a few international awards but this is the first one in Australia and to receive in front of the surfing community is fantastic, " said Abberton.
Former USA surfing champion Rusty Miller - who has recently been in the media spotlight as Elle MacPherson's surfing coach - took back home to Byron Bay 'The Surfing Australia Lifestyle Award'.
"I am very excited to be recognized by the Australian Surfing Awards and that there is a category for me after all. At the Lennox Head surfing reserve dedication I got to really feel again what an amazing tribe we are a part of and that, at my vintage, savour the diversity in style, generation and walks of life represented," said Miller.
Highly respected surfing journalist and author Tim Baker (Currumbin, Qld) was the 'Surf Culture Award' recipient for his latest book High Surf, which profiles inspirational surfers.
Australasian Surf Business (ASB) magazine claimed the 'Pioneer Award' and in doing so acknowledged publisher Keith Curtain's dedication to surfing and hard work in founding the surf industry trade title. ASB magazine has established a strong and proudly independent niche within the surf publishing market in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.
Billabong Australasian Brand Manager Andrew Flitton accepted the inaugural 'Surf Industry Award' on behalf of surf label Billabong.
LE BA Boardriders claimed the Simon Anderson Premiere Club Award as the club that excelled across a variety of levels in 2007.
Leon Norris (Geraldton, WA) was honoured with the Duke Kahanamoku Award for his enormous services to Surfing Australia and the sport of surfing.
The introduction of Team Australia who will contest the 2008 ISA World Junior Championship in France, May 24 till June 1st, 2008 added to the night's festivities.
Both Owen Wright (Culburra, NSW) and Laura Enever (Narrabeen, NSW) feature in arguably one of the strongest U/19 national sides ever assembled.
The night also set a new benchmark for Award presentations by emitting 'Zero C', - no carbons - thanks to the work of Balance Carbon.
The Australian Surfing Hall of Fame would like to acknowledge Surfing Australia, the Australian Sports Commission, Domain Casuarina Beach Resort, ASB , Balance Carbon and Urchins Artwork for their support in staging the Australian Surfing Awards.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Sunny Abberton
Surfing
Coolangatta
Warren's varied and successful careers within surfing span three decades. A 70s pro surfer - a media sports personality in the '80's - National Coach and ASP Tour Representative in the '90's.
Warren the 1970 NSW Junior Champion from Narrabeen went onto become one of the worlds first pro surfers winning numerous contests including the 1976 Smirnoff World Pro-Am at Sunset Beach, Hawaii and The Duke Kahanamoku Classic at Waimea Bay, Hawaii in 1980.
To this day Warren remains at the forefront of the sport, responsible for the live web streaming of the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro tournaments around the globe.
"If surfing is Hawaii's gift to the world then I'm amazed how, for me, surfing is the gift that keeps on giving," said Warren.
"I get just as big a thrill now out of a half decent wave as I did when I first started surfing over 40 years ago.
"And equally it's a thrill for me to be acknowledged by Surfing Australia in this way, in fact it's a privilege," added Warren.
Warren adds his name to a list of surfing luminaries that includes four time world champion Mark "MR" Richards OAM, seven time world champion Layne Beachley, 1976 world champion Peter Townend, 1998 world champion Mark Occhilupo 1990 world champion Pam Burridge, legends Nat Young, Wayne Lynch, Michael Peterson, Wayne Deane and surfing historian Peter Troy OAM .
Reigning ASP world champions Mick Fanning (Tweed Head, NSW) and Stephanie Gilmore (Kingscliff, NSW) claimed the coveted 2008 'Male and Female Surfer of the Year Awards'.
Gilmore's sensational 2007 performance saw her become the only male or female surfer to win an ASP World Title in their rookie year. A bumper 2007 for Fanning saw him bring the world crown back to Australian shores for the first time in a decade.
"It's another great honour for me. An Australian award has that extra special meaning too," said Gilmore.
In all, 11 awards were presented on the night before 2007 Hall of Fame Inductee Cheyne Horan (Gold Coast) honoured Mark Warren as this year's Inductee in the nights crowning moment.
ASP world junior champion Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa, NSW) broke the gender barrier by taking out the inaugural 'Rising Star Award' for her enormous promise and potential. The 17 year-old 'Super-Grom' has again proved unstoppable this year currently leading both the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the Australasian junior rankings.
Joining the elite on stage was Jon Frank for the 'The Best Photo of the Year Award' and Sunny Abberton accepted the 'The Surf Movie of the Year Award' on behalf of the Bra Boys.
"The movie has won a few international awards but this is the first one in Australia and to receive in front of the surfing community is fantastic, " said Abberton.
Former USA surfing champion Rusty Miller - who has recently been in the media spotlight as Elle MacPherson's surfing coach - took back home to Byron Bay 'The Surfing Australia Lifestyle Award'.
"I am very excited to be recognized by the Australian Surfing Awards and that there is a category for me after all. At the Lennox Head surfing reserve dedication I got to really feel again what an amazing tribe we are a part of and that, at my vintage, savour the diversity in style, generation and walks of life represented," said Miller.
Highly respected surfing journalist and author Tim Baker (Currumbin, Qld) was the 'Surf Culture Award' recipient for his latest book High Surf, which profiles inspirational surfers.
Australasian Surf Business (ASB) magazine claimed the 'Pioneer Award' and in doing so acknowledged publisher Keith Curtain's dedication to surfing and hard work in founding the surf industry trade title. ASB magazine has established a strong and proudly independent niche within the surf publishing market in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.
Billabong Australasian Brand Manager Andrew Flitton accepted the inaugural 'Surf Industry Award' on behalf of surf label Billabong.
LE BA Boardriders claimed the Simon Anderson Premiere Club Award as the club that excelled across a variety of levels in 2007.
Leon Norris (Geraldton, WA) was honoured with the Duke Kahanamoku Award for his enormous services to Surfing Australia and the sport of surfing.
The introduction of Team Australia who will contest the 2008 ISA World Junior Championship in France, May 24 till June 1st, 2008 added to the night's festivities.
Both Owen Wright (Culburra, NSW) and Laura Enever (Narrabeen, NSW) feature in arguably one of the strongest U/19 national sides ever assembled.
The night also set a new benchmark for Award presentations by emitting 'Zero C', - no carbons - thanks to the work of Balance Carbon.
The Australian Surfing Hall of Fame would like to acknowledge Surfing Australia, the Australian Sports Commission, Domain Casuarina Beach Resort, ASB , Balance Carbon and Urchins Artwork for their support in staging the Australian Surfing Awards.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Sunny Abberton
Surfing
Coolangatta
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Lay day for Quiksilver Pro & Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast - Global Surf News - 25th Feb 2008
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast
Roxy Pro Gold Coast
ASP Men's WCT Event #1
ASP Women's WCT Event #1
Coolangatta, Qld Australia
23 February - 5 March 2008
Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos etc
Lay Day for Quiksilver and Roxy Pro presented by LG
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 February, 2008 : - - Event organizers for the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro presented by LG have called for a lay day today due to small surf on offer at the main site at Snapper Rocks and nearby Duranbah Beach.
"While there are a few small waves on offer at Snapper and D'Bah this morning, we've decided to call a lay day for both the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro today," Brooke Farris, ASP Women's World Tour Manager, said. "We've just completed two full days of action for the men and the women, and with the swell looking like it will stay consistent throughout the week before filling in on the weekend, we'll wait until better conditions present themselves before we restart competition."
Saturday's action saw the ASP Top 45 take on Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro presented by LG in punchy waves at nearby DuranbahBeach. Highlights included the domination of Coolangatta kids Mick Fanning (AUS), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Bede Durbidge (AUS) and Luke Munro (AUS). Munro in particular surfed brilliantly to hold off highly-touted rookie Dane Reynolds (USA) in their Round 1 clash.
Yesterday saw the girls take on clean three-foot (1 metre) waves at Duranbah for the opening two rounds of the Roxy Pro presented by LG, and reigning ASP Women's World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) took top honors for the day with Hawaiians Melanie Bartels and Megan Abubo also impressing the hundreds on the beach.
When Quiksilver Pro competition resumes, former three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW) will be up against lethal Komunity Project Trials Winner Tamaroa McComb (PYF) in the opening heat of the elimination Round 2 competition.
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Tamaroa McComb (PYF)
Heat 2: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 5: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 7: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 9: Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) vs. Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 10: Neco Padaratz (BRA) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 11: Leonardo Neves (BRA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 13: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 14: Daniel Wills (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 15: Royden Bryson (ZAF) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 16: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
When Roxy Pro competition resumes, Australians Samantha Cornish and Nicola Atherton will compete in the opening heat of Round 3.
Roxy Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Round 3 Match-Ups
Heat 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS) vs. Nicola Atherton (AUS)
Heat 2: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. Serena Brooke (AUS)
Heat 3: Melanie Bartels (HAW) vs. Megan Abubo (HAW)
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)
Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 6: Rebecca Woods (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF
Heat 7: Amee Donohoe (AUS) vs. Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
Heat 8: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs. Julia De La Rosa Toro (PER)
Websites
Global Surf News
Quiksilver Pro
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Roxy Pro Gold Coast
ASP Men's WCT Event #1
ASP Women's WCT Event #1
Coolangatta, Qld Australia
23 February - 5 March 2008
Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos etc
Lay Day for Quiksilver and Roxy Pro presented by LG
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 February, 2008 : - - Event organizers for the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro presented by LG have called for a lay day today due to small surf on offer at the main site at Snapper Rocks and nearby Duranbah Beach.
"While there are a few small waves on offer at Snapper and D'Bah this morning, we've decided to call a lay day for both the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro today," Brooke Farris, ASP Women's World Tour Manager, said. "We've just completed two full days of action for the men and the women, and with the swell looking like it will stay consistent throughout the week before filling in on the weekend, we'll wait until better conditions present themselves before we restart competition."
Saturday's action saw the ASP Top 45 take on Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro presented by LG in punchy waves at nearby DuranbahBeach. Highlights included the domination of Coolangatta kids Mick Fanning (AUS), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Bede Durbidge (AUS) and Luke Munro (AUS). Munro in particular surfed brilliantly to hold off highly-touted rookie Dane Reynolds (USA) in their Round 1 clash.
Yesterday saw the girls take on clean three-foot (1 metre) waves at Duranbah for the opening two rounds of the Roxy Pro presented by LG, and reigning ASP Women's World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) took top honors for the day with Hawaiians Melanie Bartels and Megan Abubo also impressing the hundreds on the beach.
When Quiksilver Pro competition resumes, former three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW) will be up against lethal Komunity Project Trials Winner Tamaroa McComb (PYF) in the opening heat of the elimination Round 2 competition.
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Tamaroa McComb (PYF)
Heat 2: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 5: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 7: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 9: Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) vs. Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 10: Neco Padaratz (BRA) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 11: Leonardo Neves (BRA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 13: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 14: Daniel Wills (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 15: Royden Bryson (ZAF) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 16: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
When Roxy Pro competition resumes, Australians Samantha Cornish and Nicola Atherton will compete in the opening heat of Round 3.
Roxy Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Round 3 Match-Ups
Heat 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS) vs. Nicola Atherton (AUS)
Heat 2: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. Serena Brooke (AUS)
Heat 3: Melanie Bartels (HAW) vs. Megan Abubo (HAW)
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)
Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 6: Rebecca Woods (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF
Heat 7: Amee Donohoe (AUS) vs. Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
Heat 8: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs. Julia De La Rosa Toro (PER)
Websites
Global Surf News
Quiksilver Pro
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Surfing websites coming off the Gold Coast campaign
Media Man Australia Coolangatta Diary
We have just returned from a succesful campaign in the Gold Coast, Tweed and Coolangatta region.
The Quiksilver Pro is currently on. Sunny Abberton pointed out the Rip Curl shop out and we bought some cool gear.
There was a great cafe which is also a surf photography gallery - Slide Cafe - Coolangatta Gallery - Ocean Art Photography
Picked up a copy of radical surfing / surfling lifestyle magazine, Gold Coast Surf
Checked out the view at the Coolangatta Surf Club and Greenmount Beach Club
Breakfast at Outback Jacks Bar & Grill
Taxi back to Gold Coast Airport and flights with Virgin Blue
Home to North Bondi, Sydney
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
We have just returned from a succesful campaign in the Gold Coast, Tweed and Coolangatta region.
The Quiksilver Pro is currently on. Sunny Abberton pointed out the Rip Curl shop out and we bought some cool gear.
There was a great cafe which is also a surf photography gallery - Slide Cafe - Coolangatta Gallery - Ocean Art Photography
Picked up a copy of radical surfing / surfling lifestyle magazine, Gold Coast Surf
Checked out the view at the Coolangatta Surf Club and Greenmount Beach Club
Breakfast at Outback Jacks Bar & Grill
Taxi back to Gold Coast Airport and flights with Virgin Blue
Home to North Bondi, Sydney
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Public thank you to Sunny Abberton and Neal Cameron
Public thank you to Sunny Abberton and Neal Cameron for their assistance in helping make the grand opening of the Universal Peace Centre Retreat so successful and enjoyable.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Monster ride to surfing stardom - The West Australian - 17th February 2008
WA big wave surfer Alex “Alfy” Carter has ridden away with the top prize in the Oakley Surfing Life biggest wave award after an electrifying trip on a 14m-plus wave during an extreme surfing session in the South-West.
The $20,000 prize was presented to Carter at the Bondi Pavilion in Sydney on Thursday night after judges deemed his monster wave was bigger than those ridden by Queenslander Mark Visser and Hawaiians Ian Walsh and Jamie Sterling. It was a sweet victory for Carter who was runner-up last year.
His monster moment was in September at Cow Bombie, a break 6km offshore at Margaret River.
Carter said the win was a major relief.
“Now I can pay the taxman all the money I’ve owed him for the past few years,” he said.
The award opens doors for Carter to compete in other big wave events around the globe that don’t often attract the major money and sponsorship of the regular world surfing tour.
Carter said the award might change some things for him but it would not change the way he surfed.
He also received a new jetski which should come in handy after the same break that won him the award also claimed his old one.
“The ski conked out about 3m from the worst possible spot,” Carter said.
“We got three waves on the head and that was it for the ski.”
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
The $20,000 prize was presented to Carter at the Bondi Pavilion in Sydney on Thursday night after judges deemed his monster wave was bigger than those ridden by Queenslander Mark Visser and Hawaiians Ian Walsh and Jamie Sterling. It was a sweet victory for Carter who was runner-up last year.
His monster moment was in September at Cow Bombie, a break 6km offshore at Margaret River.
Carter said the win was a major relief.
“Now I can pay the taxman all the money I’ve owed him for the past few years,” he said.
The award opens doors for Carter to compete in other big wave events around the globe that don’t often attract the major money and sponsorship of the regular world surfing tour.
Carter said the award might change some things for him but it would not change the way he surfed.
He also received a new jetski which should come in handy after the same break that won him the award also claimed his old one.
“The ski conked out about 3m from the worst possible spot,” Carter said.
“We got three waves on the head and that was it for the ski.”
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
WA's Cater wins big wave award - The Age - 13th Feb 2008
The argument is finally settled, West Australian Alex Cater rode the biggest wave during the remarkable surfing session off the WA coast late last year.
But not only can Cater brag to his peers that he caught the wave of the day, his 14m plus ride won the $20,000 Oakley Surfing Life biggest wave award at a presentation in Sydney.
Cater's monster wave was one of several nominations from the extreme surfing session held by some of the world's best big wave junkies at `Cow Bombie', a break 6km off the south coast of WA, in September last year.
Judges, however, decided Cater's bomb was bigger than entries from Queenslander Mark Visser and world-renowned Hawaiian chargers Ian Walsh and Jamie Sterling.
For his effort Cater received a hefty cheque, international recognition and a new jet ski - a timely gift considering the dangerous offshore break recently killed his previous tow-in machine.
"The ski conked out about three metres from the worst possible spot," Cater recalled.
"We got three waves on the head and that was it for the ski."
Cater, who'd been runner-up to Damon Eastaugh last year, said he would shout the other finalists drinks then put the leftover prizemoney to good use.
"Now I can pay the taxman all the money I've owed him for the past few years," he said.
"In a way this award might change some things for me but it won't change why I go surfing."
Tasmanian Marti Paradisis may not have claimed the biggest wave, but he at least took consolation in receiving the best overall performance for his insane surfing session at the Apple Isle's remote Shipstern Bluff.
But not only can Cater brag to his peers that he caught the wave of the day, his 14m plus ride won the $20,000 Oakley Surfing Life biggest wave award at a presentation in Sydney.
Cater's monster wave was one of several nominations from the extreme surfing session held by some of the world's best big wave junkies at `Cow Bombie', a break 6km off the south coast of WA, in September last year.
Judges, however, decided Cater's bomb was bigger than entries from Queenslander Mark Visser and world-renowned Hawaiian chargers Ian Walsh and Jamie Sterling.
For his effort Cater received a hefty cheque, international recognition and a new jet ski - a timely gift considering the dangerous offshore break recently killed his previous tow-in machine.
"The ski conked out about three metres from the worst possible spot," Cater recalled.
"We got three waves on the head and that was it for the ski."
Cater, who'd been runner-up to Damon Eastaugh last year, said he would shout the other finalists drinks then put the leftover prizemoney to good use.
"Now I can pay the taxman all the money I've owed him for the past few years," he said.
"In a way this award might change some things for me but it won't change why I go surfing."
Tasmanian Marti Paradisis may not have claimed the biggest wave, but he at least took consolation in receiving the best overall performance for his insane surfing session at the Apple Isle's remote Shipstern Bluff.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Monster ride to surfing stardom, by Michael Bennett - The West Australian - 17th February 2008
WA big wave surfer Alex “Alfy” Carter has ridden away with the top prize in the Oakley Surfing Life biggest wave award after an electrifying trip on a 14m-plus wave during an extreme surfing session in the South-West.
The $20,000 prize was presented to Carter at the Bondi Pavilion in Sydney on Thursday night after judges deemed his monster wave was bigger than those ridden by Queenslander Mark Visser and Hawaiians Ian Walsh and Jamie Sterling. It was a sweet victory for Carter who was runner-up last year.
His monster moment was in September at Cow Bombie, a break 6km offshore at Margaret River.
Carter said the win was a major relief.
“Now I can pay the taxman all the money I’ve owed him for the past few years,” he said.
The award opens doors for Carter to compete in other big wave events around the globe that don’t often attract the major money and sponsorship of the regular world surfing tour.
Carter said the award might change some things for him but it would not change the way he surfed.
He also received a new jetski which should come in handy after the same break that won him the award also claimed his old one.
“The ski conked out about 3m from the worst possible spot,” Carter said.
“We got three waves on the head and that was it for the ski.”
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Bondi Beach
The $20,000 prize was presented to Carter at the Bondi Pavilion in Sydney on Thursday night after judges deemed his monster wave was bigger than those ridden by Queenslander Mark Visser and Hawaiians Ian Walsh and Jamie Sterling. It was a sweet victory for Carter who was runner-up last year.
His monster moment was in September at Cow Bombie, a break 6km offshore at Margaret River.
Carter said the win was a major relief.
“Now I can pay the taxman all the money I’ve owed him for the past few years,” he said.
The award opens doors for Carter to compete in other big wave events around the globe that don’t often attract the major money and sponsorship of the regular world surfing tour.
Carter said the award might change some things for him but it would not change the way he surfed.
He also received a new jetski which should come in handy after the same break that won him the award also claimed his old one.
“The ski conked out about 3m from the worst possible spot,” Carter said.
“We got three waves on the head and that was it for the ski.”
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Bondi Beach
Friday, February 15, 2008
WA surfer wins Biggest Wave Award - The Sunday Times - February 14, 2008
WEST Australian surfer Alex "Alfy" Cater not only survived riding a terrifying 14m wave but beat some of the nation's best surfers while he was doing it.
Carter rode into first place at the Oakley Surfing Life Biggest Wave Awards, held in Sydney this year, by surfing a 14m high wave at 'Cow Bombie’ near Margaret River.
He edged out three other rides, recorded on the same day by Queenslander Mark Visser and Hawaiians Jamie Sterling and Ian Walsh, who travelled halfway round the globe to meet the swell at Cow Bombie last September.
“It was a pretty big day,” says Alfy. “Right after a storm. The wind backed off and we thought, let’s do it.”
Cater just missed out on the big prize last year after placing runner-up to Damon Eastaugh.
This year there was no second best for Carter who took home $20,000 and a new jet ski with his first prize win.
Alfy’s reaction? “A sigh of relief really mate,” he says. “Now I can pay the taxman all the money I’ve owed him for the past few years.”
The award will open doors for him in the growing global big-wave competition field, he says.
Alongside this award, big surf competitions are now held in South Africa, Hawaii and California.
“It’s something I really want to pursue if I can … I’ve been to Hawaii and California and met a lot of the guys who ride their big spots and I’d love to challenge them.”
The jet ski will come in handy too . Not long ago, Alfy and his tow partner Ian “Wooly” McPherson had to abandon their ski under a massive set of 10m waves waves at Cow Bombie.
“The ski conked out about three metres from the worst possible spot . We got three waves on the head and that was it for the ski.”
The fact that they were six kilometres from land at the time barely raises Alfy’s eyebrow – which is a little clue as to the sort of person who takes on surf in this range.
Since being inaugurated five years ago, the Oakley Surfing Life Big Wave Awards have revealed a side of surfing long hidden behind the glittering world pro tour arena – a group of surfers who’ve used their home-grown skills and experience to push the sport’s natural limits, often without much publicity or attention outside their peers and slightly horrified onlookers.
“We’re all pretty rough and ready I suppose but we’re doing this because we love it,” he says. “In a way this award might change some things for me but it won’t change why I go surfing.”
As for Wooly, who towed him into the Award-winner: “He owns a surf shop and he’s one of my sponsors, so he won’t be seeing the colour of my money!” Alfy laughs.
Best Overall Performance Award for the season went to Tasmania’s Marti Paradisis, who said he was “over the moon” after his series of amazing tube rides at the Apple Isle’s remote Shipstern Bluff reef break swept the judging panel’s vote.
“It’s on behalf of all the guys I surf with at ‘Shippies’ and who I know could win this Award too …we’re stoked to have waves in our backyard that are as good as anywhere in the world ..” he says.
The Shooter Award for photography went to Jamie Scott for his image of Cater’s winning ride.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Carter rode into first place at the Oakley Surfing Life Biggest Wave Awards, held in Sydney this year, by surfing a 14m high wave at 'Cow Bombie’ near Margaret River.
He edged out three other rides, recorded on the same day by Queenslander Mark Visser and Hawaiians Jamie Sterling and Ian Walsh, who travelled halfway round the globe to meet the swell at Cow Bombie last September.
“It was a pretty big day,” says Alfy. “Right after a storm. The wind backed off and we thought, let’s do it.”
Cater just missed out on the big prize last year after placing runner-up to Damon Eastaugh.
This year there was no second best for Carter who took home $20,000 and a new jet ski with his first prize win.
Alfy’s reaction? “A sigh of relief really mate,” he says. “Now I can pay the taxman all the money I’ve owed him for the past few years.”
The award will open doors for him in the growing global big-wave competition field, he says.
Alongside this award, big surf competitions are now held in South Africa, Hawaii and California.
“It’s something I really want to pursue if I can … I’ve been to Hawaii and California and met a lot of the guys who ride their big spots and I’d love to challenge them.”
The jet ski will come in handy too . Not long ago, Alfy and his tow partner Ian “Wooly” McPherson had to abandon their ski under a massive set of 10m waves waves at Cow Bombie.
“The ski conked out about three metres from the worst possible spot . We got three waves on the head and that was it for the ski.”
The fact that they were six kilometres from land at the time barely raises Alfy’s eyebrow – which is a little clue as to the sort of person who takes on surf in this range.
Since being inaugurated five years ago, the Oakley Surfing Life Big Wave Awards have revealed a side of surfing long hidden behind the glittering world pro tour arena – a group of surfers who’ve used their home-grown skills and experience to push the sport’s natural limits, often without much publicity or attention outside their peers and slightly horrified onlookers.
“We’re all pretty rough and ready I suppose but we’re doing this because we love it,” he says. “In a way this award might change some things for me but it won’t change why I go surfing.”
As for Wooly, who towed him into the Award-winner: “He owns a surf shop and he’s one of my sponsors, so he won’t be seeing the colour of my money!” Alfy laughs.
Best Overall Performance Award for the season went to Tasmania’s Marti Paradisis, who said he was “over the moon” after his series of amazing tube rides at the Apple Isle’s remote Shipstern Bluff reef break swept the judging panel’s vote.
“It’s on behalf of all the guys I surf with at ‘Shippies’ and who I know could win this Award too …we’re stoked to have waves in our backyard that are as good as anywhere in the world ..” he says.
The Shooter Award for photography went to Jamie Scott for his image of Cater’s winning ride.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Thursday, January 31, 2008
PRIVATE SYDNEY Andrew Hornery - The Sydney Morning Herald - 31st January 2008
THE rehabilitation of Sydney's Bra Boys from would-be notorious gangstas to lightweight celebrities appears complete, with the media in the United States falling head over heels for the Abberton brothers.
However a few minor details appear to be missing from the coverage being generated by Koby Abberton , such as the nine-month suspended sentence for perverting the course of justice, relating to a shooting over which his brother Jai was acquitted of murder in 2005.
But with friends such as Russell Crowe about to direct your life story on the big screen, why bother with semantics?
On Tuesday the New York Daily News, which caught up with the Abbertons as they swanned around Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival promoting their documentary, Bra Boys, with the likes of good mate Paris Hilton, described Abberton simply as a "pro-surfer-turned-filmmaker".
The newspaper reported a mildly amusing tale about how the Abbertons and Crowe first got to know one another, describing the association as "a beautiful friendship".
On Monday Abberton's Bra Boys won best documentary at the 2008 X-Dance Film Festival in Salt Lake City, a spin-off from the Sundance festival. The director, Sunny Abberton, and his crew accepted the award, telling the crowd "this film is proof of what brotherhood really means".
Media Man Australia Profiles
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Surfers bustin' down the door of film festival, by David Knox - The Sun-Herald - 13th January 2008
Australian surfing greats will join Hollywood superstar Cate Blanchett as guests of the prestige Santa Barbara International Film Festival this month.
Former world champions Mark Richards and Wayne Bartholomew have been invited to a civic reception hosted by Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum on January 26, the day Blanchett will be presented with the festival's Modern Master award.
Richards, 50, and Bartholomew, 53, are among Australian, South African and American surfers featured in a documentary Bustin' Down The Door, which will have its world premiere at the festival in the Californian city on January 27.
The film's title is the same as a controversial article written by Bartholomew for US magazine Surfer in January 1977.
The article dealt with the emergence of Australian and South African surfers on the Hawaiian contest scene.
The story and the brashness of some of the visiting surfers triggered a violent reaction from local surfers.
Emerging from a brokered peace was the fledgling world professional circuit, won in its first seven years by Australian Peter Townend, Shaun Tomson, Bartholomew and Richards (four times).
Top-paid surfers on the circuit now earn tens of thousands of dollars in prizemoney and millions in sponsorship from surf industry giants such as Quiksilver, Billabong, Rip Curl, Rusty and Volcom.
Director Jeremy Gosch's film includes footage of the surfers in Hawaii in the 1970s and interviews with them 30 years later.
The film, narrated by twice Oscar-nominated actor Edward Norton, is the brainchild of Tomson.
"Shaun felt the exploits of the surfers from that era had been overlooked," Richards said yesterday.
"What we did then was create the blueprint for professional surfing. Surfers now are reaping the rewards."
Former surf magazine editor Bill Sharp wrote: "It should be made into law that every spoiled-brat pro surfer being paid a single dollar in sponsorship should be duct-taped to a chair and forced to watch this film until he fully understands the debt he owes these pioneers who busted down the door on behalf of a future generation."
Film festival director Roger Durling said: "I am super stoked to have Bustin' Down the Door."
Blanchett is also in a festival entry, the documentary In The Company Of Actors, whose cast includes her husband, Andrew Upton, and Hugo Weaving.
Other stars to be honoured at the festival include Julie Christie, Ryan Gosling, Angelina Jolie, Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem.
Richards will take Ms Blum a letter of greeting from Newcastle Mayor John Tate and Bartholomew will do the same with a message from Gold Coast Mayor and former champion long distance runner Ron Clarke.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Monday, January 07, 2008
Surfing Sally's on top of the world - The Sydney Morning Herald - 7th January 2008
New South Wales surfer Sally Fitzgibbons won the junior women's world championship at North Narrabeen beach today, thrashing Kiwi Paige Hareb in the final.
The 17-year-old from Gerroa, just south of Wollongong, had a two-wave score of 16.77 points to Hareb's 7.84.
The multiple Australian champion had the final in the bag with eight minutes to go when she completed a near perfect 9.27 ride to leave her opponent requiring a combination of scores to win.
Fitzgibbons had a nine-point ride in each of her four rounds and a perfect ten in her semi-final win over Narrabeen surfer Laura Enever in the one-metre swell.
"I had a tough semi against Laura, she put me in a pretty good situation and I needed a good score," Fitzgibbons said.
"I thought if the wave comes, it comes but if not, she deserves a good win and I was just stoked to get through that one and was on a high for the final."
It was the third straight junior women's title for Australia following the victories of current WCT competitor Jessi Miley-Dyer and Nicola Atherton of Bronte.
A budding WCT surfer, Fitzgibbons will be crowned alongside Australia's 2007 elite tour champions Stephanie Gilmore and Mick Fanning in an award ceremony on the Gold Coast in March.
Hareb, the 17-year-old event wildcard from Taranaki, ended as the best ever New Zealand performer - man or woman - at the professional level.
Yesterday, Brazilian Pablo Paulino captured his second junior men's championship.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Industry rides a wave of change, by Tim Elliot - Fairfax - 12th December 2007
Everyone, it seems, wants to be a surfer - or, at least, to look like one. This is good news for the surf industry, which racked up $11 billion in retail sales last year. Yet for an industry whose identity is so intimately linked to the oceans, surfing has remained curiously aloof from environmental issues.
Surfing's base components - fibreglass boards, rubber wetsuits and mass-produced clothes and accessories - are inherently unsustainable, and yet the industry has offered little beyond bamboo boards and organic cotton T-shirts.
"The surfing fraternity is great when it comes to grassroots campaigns to protect beaches and coastal communities, but the industry as a whole hasn't reflected that concern, because, like other industries, it's profit-driven," says Ian Cohen, a Greens MP and co-founder of the Cleans Seas Coalition. Cohen, a surfer, once rammed an eight-metre poo through the doors of Ballina Shire Council chambers to protest against a proposed sewage outfall at Lennox Head, on the state's North Coast.
The Surfrider Foundation Australia, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the protection and preservation of the world's oceans and beaches, has been similarly critical. "On the whole, the industry is still dragging its feet," says Stuart Ball, Surfrider's general manager.
Now, however, there are signs of change. In the US, an increasing number of surf brands have started offering environmentally sound products, including organically sourced T-shirts, hats, shoes and sandals. "And many companies, such as Reef, Sole Tech, Volcom and Sector 9, have altered their business operations to reduce their carbon footprint, from using wind credits for power, to new packaging methods and significant waste reduction," says Sean Smith, executive director of the US-based Surf Industry Manufacturers Association.
In August the Surfrider Foundation launched Project Blue, a campaign by some of Australia's biggest surf companies to donate part of their sales to environmental issues. One of the initiative's big sponsors is Billabong, whose products include boardshorts that are made from 100 per cent recycled PET bottles.
Like most big surf companies, the bulk of Billabong's $1.2 billion annual turnover comes from clothes (surfboards represent only a fraction of the industry). This is a problem, says a recent report in the magazine Australian Surf Business, because clothing and textile production "is only narrowly behind oil and mining as one of the most polluting industries on the planet".
Clothing production generates large volumes of waste and consumes huge amounts of energy and water, taking up to 200 litres of water and thousands of chemicals to produce, dye and finish one kilogram of fabric. Billabong's clothes are mostly manufactured in Asia, a practice that has drawn criticism for the surf industry, over its outsourcing of environmental responsibility to developing nations. A spokesman for Billabong, John Mossop, says he is "aware of that issue", and that each of the company's off-shore suppliers "must demonstrate they are working to local environmental laws".
An industry leader, Quiksilver, whose global turnover reached $2.73 billion last year, has developed a range of bags and backpacks using Q-Tec, an environmentally friendly alternative to PVC.
"Q-Tec contains no dioxins, no heavy metals and is more durable than traditional PVCs," says Chloe Messner, the manager of the Quiksilver Foundation. "We've also halved the amount of plastic packaging we use in the warehouse, and we are a certified Wastewise organisation, meaning we reduce and recycle as much as possible."
Rip Curl, meanwhile, has employed a purchasing manager to secure certified ecological products (like hemp, ramie and bamboo), and is developing ways to recycle its petroleum-based neoprene wetsuits (they are torn up and made into beanbag filler).
Overseas, alternatives to the notoriously toxic process of manufacturing surfboards are emerging, with the US-based company Homeblown developing the industry's first plant-based polyurethane blank.
Homeblown says that its Biofoam, made from plant oils, not only has a finer and more uniform cell structure than foams made with petroleum-based materials but results in a 23 per cent reduction in total energy demand.
"It is time for the surfing community to walk the walk of environmentalism it often talks about," the company says on its website.
But some industry figures are sceptical. "If you look closely, most of the initiatives are more marketing exercises than anything else," says Sean Doherty, the editor of the magazine Tracks. "Overall, the industry is still pretty poisonous."
The Surfrider Foundation's Stuart Ball says surf companies must take the opportunity to lead. "They have to see that going green is the way of the future, and that young consumers will increasingly demand that companies operate in an environmentally responsible manner."
Bridging the gap
Helping hand for the residents on shore
IN 1999 Dave Jenkins, a New Zealand doctor, went for a surfing holiday to the Mentawai Islands, an archipelago 150 kilometres off the coast of Sumatra. He found surf, but he also found villages ravaged by malaria, malnourishment, chronic diarrhoea and chest infections. "The incongruity between the tropical surf paradise and the suffering of the local people really affected me," Jenkins says. "So I decided to do so something about."
In 2000 Jenkins founded SurfAid International, a non-profit humanitarian organisation that has become one of the most innovative and effective in the world, recently winning the World Association of Non-Governmental Organisations 2007 Humanitarian Award in Toronto, Canada.
SurfAid has long relied on the surf industry for funding, with one of the biggest donors being Quiksilver. In 2003 it "adopted" Katiet, a tiny village that fronts on to the surf break Lance's Rights, on the island of Sipora. The company has since given $340,000 to SurfAid's Mentawai programs (with a further $100,000 committed over the next two years), culminating with the launch in Katiet last month of the Quiksilver-SurfAid Community Health Training Centre.
The centre operates with a staff of seven in a converted copra trading post and focuses on improving the health of the people through behavioural change. "There are no turn-key solutions," Jenkins says. "Disease prevention is about long-term cultural shifts."
A big part of the centre's work is in land and resource management. "Many of the health problems here stem from poor nutrition," says a SurfAid program director, Brendan Hoare, an agriculturalist and specialist in rural development. "The main diet is taro and banana, which doesn't provide enough micronutrients, meaning that many of the kids you see are physically and mentally stunted. So we're trying to get them to grow a wider variety of food."
The community centre features a model fruit and vegetable garden, where Hoare holds demonstrations and grows seedlings to give away. He is encouraging more composting - important in the predominantly sandy soil - and the greater use of natural fertilisers such as chicken and pig manure. "Many of these ideas were practised here in the past but have been lost to the culture, just as they have been largely lost from Western culture, too," Hoare says.
The water table is prone to pollution from leaking cesspits. "So we're putting a rainwater tank in every house, which should cut down on water-borne contamination."
Hoare, a surfer, is in two minds about the impact of surfing on the local people. "The introduction of a cash culture has in some instances resulted in the loss of more sustainable practices."
Others are more optimistic. "It's easy to be cynical about the effect that surfing has had on the islands," says Bruce Raymond, a former pro-surfer and Quiksilver brand ambassador. "But surfing brought attention to the area. It shone a spotlight on the place, on the good things and the bad things and their needs. It shows that with the right leadership surfers can make a difference."
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Surfing's base components - fibreglass boards, rubber wetsuits and mass-produced clothes and accessories - are inherently unsustainable, and yet the industry has offered little beyond bamboo boards and organic cotton T-shirts.
"The surfing fraternity is great when it comes to grassroots campaigns to protect beaches and coastal communities, but the industry as a whole hasn't reflected that concern, because, like other industries, it's profit-driven," says Ian Cohen, a Greens MP and co-founder of the Cleans Seas Coalition. Cohen, a surfer, once rammed an eight-metre poo through the doors of Ballina Shire Council chambers to protest against a proposed sewage outfall at Lennox Head, on the state's North Coast.
The Surfrider Foundation Australia, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the protection and preservation of the world's oceans and beaches, has been similarly critical. "On the whole, the industry is still dragging its feet," says Stuart Ball, Surfrider's general manager.
Now, however, there are signs of change. In the US, an increasing number of surf brands have started offering environmentally sound products, including organically sourced T-shirts, hats, shoes and sandals. "And many companies, such as Reef, Sole Tech, Volcom and Sector 9, have altered their business operations to reduce their carbon footprint, from using wind credits for power, to new packaging methods and significant waste reduction," says Sean Smith, executive director of the US-based Surf Industry Manufacturers Association.
In August the Surfrider Foundation launched Project Blue, a campaign by some of Australia's biggest surf companies to donate part of their sales to environmental issues. One of the initiative's big sponsors is Billabong, whose products include boardshorts that are made from 100 per cent recycled PET bottles.
Like most big surf companies, the bulk of Billabong's $1.2 billion annual turnover comes from clothes (surfboards represent only a fraction of the industry). This is a problem, says a recent report in the magazine Australian Surf Business, because clothing and textile production "is only narrowly behind oil and mining as one of the most polluting industries on the planet".
Clothing production generates large volumes of waste and consumes huge amounts of energy and water, taking up to 200 litres of water and thousands of chemicals to produce, dye and finish one kilogram of fabric. Billabong's clothes are mostly manufactured in Asia, a practice that has drawn criticism for the surf industry, over its outsourcing of environmental responsibility to developing nations. A spokesman for Billabong, John Mossop, says he is "aware of that issue", and that each of the company's off-shore suppliers "must demonstrate they are working to local environmental laws".
An industry leader, Quiksilver, whose global turnover reached $2.73 billion last year, has developed a range of bags and backpacks using Q-Tec, an environmentally friendly alternative to PVC.
"Q-Tec contains no dioxins, no heavy metals and is more durable than traditional PVCs," says Chloe Messner, the manager of the Quiksilver Foundation. "We've also halved the amount of plastic packaging we use in the warehouse, and we are a certified Wastewise organisation, meaning we reduce and recycle as much as possible."
Rip Curl, meanwhile, has employed a purchasing manager to secure certified ecological products (like hemp, ramie and bamboo), and is developing ways to recycle its petroleum-based neoprene wetsuits (they are torn up and made into beanbag filler).
Overseas, alternatives to the notoriously toxic process of manufacturing surfboards are emerging, with the US-based company Homeblown developing the industry's first plant-based polyurethane blank.
Homeblown says that its Biofoam, made from plant oils, not only has a finer and more uniform cell structure than foams made with petroleum-based materials but results in a 23 per cent reduction in total energy demand.
"It is time for the surfing community to walk the walk of environmentalism it often talks about," the company says on its website.
But some industry figures are sceptical. "If you look closely, most of the initiatives are more marketing exercises than anything else," says Sean Doherty, the editor of the magazine Tracks. "Overall, the industry is still pretty poisonous."
The Surfrider Foundation's Stuart Ball says surf companies must take the opportunity to lead. "They have to see that going green is the way of the future, and that young consumers will increasingly demand that companies operate in an environmentally responsible manner."
Bridging the gap
Helping hand for the residents on shore
IN 1999 Dave Jenkins, a New Zealand doctor, went for a surfing holiday to the Mentawai Islands, an archipelago 150 kilometres off the coast of Sumatra. He found surf, but he also found villages ravaged by malaria, malnourishment, chronic diarrhoea and chest infections. "The incongruity between the tropical surf paradise and the suffering of the local people really affected me," Jenkins says. "So I decided to do so something about."
In 2000 Jenkins founded SurfAid International, a non-profit humanitarian organisation that has become one of the most innovative and effective in the world, recently winning the World Association of Non-Governmental Organisations 2007 Humanitarian Award in Toronto, Canada.
SurfAid has long relied on the surf industry for funding, with one of the biggest donors being Quiksilver. In 2003 it "adopted" Katiet, a tiny village that fronts on to the surf break Lance's Rights, on the island of Sipora. The company has since given $340,000 to SurfAid's Mentawai programs (with a further $100,000 committed over the next two years), culminating with the launch in Katiet last month of the Quiksilver-SurfAid Community Health Training Centre.
The centre operates with a staff of seven in a converted copra trading post and focuses on improving the health of the people through behavioural change. "There are no turn-key solutions," Jenkins says. "Disease prevention is about long-term cultural shifts."
A big part of the centre's work is in land and resource management. "Many of the health problems here stem from poor nutrition," says a SurfAid program director, Brendan Hoare, an agriculturalist and specialist in rural development. "The main diet is taro and banana, which doesn't provide enough micronutrients, meaning that many of the kids you see are physically and mentally stunted. So we're trying to get them to grow a wider variety of food."
The community centre features a model fruit and vegetable garden, where Hoare holds demonstrations and grows seedlings to give away. He is encouraging more composting - important in the predominantly sandy soil - and the greater use of natural fertilisers such as chicken and pig manure. "Many of these ideas were practised here in the past but have been lost to the culture, just as they have been largely lost from Western culture, too," Hoare says.
The water table is prone to pollution from leaking cesspits. "So we're putting a rainwater tank in every house, which should cut down on water-borne contamination."
Hoare, a surfer, is in two minds about the impact of surfing on the local people. "The introduction of a cash culture has in some instances resulted in the loss of more sustainable practices."
Others are more optimistic. "It's easy to be cynical about the effect that surfing has had on the islands," says Bruce Raymond, a former pro-surfer and Quiksilver brand ambassador. "But surfing brought attention to the area. It shone a spotlight on the place, on the good things and the bad things and their needs. It shows that with the right leadership surfers can make a difference."
Media Man Australia Profiles
Surfing
Creating waves, by Larissa Dubecki - 6th October 2007 - The Age
Not one to follow the pack, this classical musician puts his $10m violin aside for an instrument of a different kind - a surfboard, but not just any surfboard.
IT WAS his first session in the water on the surfing trip of a lifetime, but it could have been his last. Richard Tognetti, Australian Chamber Orchestra artistic director, classical music poster boy and pioneer of new-wave surfing, stood on his board in the unforgiving swell of Bass Strait pounding onto the sparse, windswept King Island and planted himself face-first into the sand.
Friends on the beach felt sick when they saw the angle at which he fell, doubly so when he came up clutching his neck, but reports that the ACO would be needing a new lead violin turned out to be premature.
"I landed on my forehead," Tognetti says laughing. "It was nothing — only a graze, but it must have looked pretty bad."
There was no lasting damage done, save for the large red mark on his forehead that is immortalised in Musica Surfica, the documentary commemorating the event of the same name. The King Island trip, which took place during a week in May, had Tognetti, 42, and some big names in surfing such as two-time world champion Tom Carroll, wooden board specialist Tom Wegener and Australia's No. 2-ranked junior surfer, Heath Joske, take part in a radical experiment. The call to join them on the island, a well-regarded if not overly visited surfing spot, had gone out from Derek Hynd, one of Tognetti's closest friends and a former champion pro-surfer referred to by figures in the industry as a "genius" and a "surfing provocateur". The only stipulation was that the boards had to be finless.
A surfboard without fins, which aid balance and movement, is to most modern surfers like a car with no steering wheel. A finless board is in many ways a paradox, requiring fresh thinking or the use of ancient methods pioneered more than 1000 years ago in the Hawaiian islands and largely forgotten in the 20th century with the domination of the quick manoeuvring, foam and fibreglass three-finned board known as the Thruster.
"We had an interesting surf pack down there," says Tognetti. "It was absolutely radical watching the likes of Tom Carroll trying to surf these boards and master them. We had the ancient Hawaiian boards like the olo, koko'o and alaia, and then these radical new devices — these spinning boards, as we called them."
The footage is remarkable, especially to anyone familiar only with competition-driven surfing from the likes of the Bells Beach event. Wegener stands like a captain on a ship on a massive olo, ploughing majestically through the water. Carroll wipes out again and again, reduced to amateur status despite his mastery of the finned board. The nimble Hynd zips through, crouched low on a board that looks no bigger than an Eski lid, and pulls off six quick spins in a row. And Tognetti, in scenes that might have the ACO management committee reaching for the smelling salts, performs a series of perfect 360-degree turns on what looks like a conventional surfboard sawn in half.
It's unusual for a highly trained musician to put his metacarpals — not to mention his head — on the line in the pursuit of sport, but the saltwater running through Tognetti's veins is the legacy of his Wollongong childhood, which was spent following his older brother into the surf at Puckey's, to the north of the city. Things took an unconventional turn when he moved to Sydney at the age of 11 to study violin at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the start of a six-year surf hiatus broken when the lure of Bondi grew too insistent. As artistic director of the ACO since the age of 24, his rigorous touring schedule means he often hits the waves on borrowed boards.
Tognetti is rare among musicians of the classical ilk in attracting mainstream attention. His permanent bed-hair and pierced ear would be recognisable to many people less conversant with composers such as Sibelius and Paganini. The glamour that surrounds him is compounded by his $10 million Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu violin, built in 1743 and one of only 100 in the world, which made headlines when it was permanently loaned by an anonymous benefactor at the start of the year. He calls actor Russell Crowe a friend after tutoring him for his violin-playing role in Master and Commander. His marriage break-up last year, and repartnering with ACO assistant lead violinist Satu Vanska, was reported breathlessly in the gossip column of Sydney's Sunday Telegraph.
An exponent of Socrates' aphorism that the unexamined life is not worth living, Tognetti's philosophy of the surf is Catholic enough to encompass late-19th century composer Eric Satie and 1960s counter-culture icon Timothy Leary. He quotes Leary on surfers, while apologising for the loftiness: "They aren't the black sheep of humanity, but the futurists and they are leading the way to where man ultimately wants to be."
Friction-free surfing, as the finless experience has been dubbed, is rule-breaking, he says, in a similar way to paddling a pink surfboard out at Sydney's Maroubra beach while wearing a yellow wetsuit (he adds that he wouldn't encourage anyone to do that as they would get "the shit beaten out of them"). It's about abandoning the "slash and burn" mentality of modern surfing and opening the mind to the myriad possibilities of movement through the waves. It's about embracing the flow of creativity in any aspect of life.
"People following the pack is the worst thing you can do to the imagination," Tognetti says. "And to be creative is the greatest gift we have. It's what separates us from the animals. If you move around in a pack you just rot. Whereas if you use the creative part of your mind you come alive. I would rate our trip as a success from the first day simply by the number of whoops I heard in the water."
Musica Surfica was not simply a meeting of saltwater intellectuals. The three surfing members of the ACO — along with Tognetti there was Vanska and cellist Julian Thompson — were joined by esteemed folk musicians Mike Keran and Danny Spooner for a series of concerts performed for King Island locals. One of the delights of the documentary is seeing some of the surfers, after their first-ever classical music concert, grasping for words to describe their emotions at the playing of Irish traditionals, Paganini and Bach.
The film's director, Melbourne-based advertising art director and surf nut Mick Sowry, was invited along after he contacted Tognetti about scoring music for a separate surf film project. "I see surfing as a modern dance form, and I love classical music, and musically, I just wanted something different from the normal kind of music you get on surf films," says Sowry. "Our initial plan was to film Musica Surfica so they could have a visual background to their concerts later in the year, but it became obvious there was a bigger story. My job was to try and tease that story out of a bunch of guys who were falling off surfboards all day."
Last Monday's ACO concert at Melbourne's Hamer Hall was far removed from the derelict King Island dairy, but the bill shared the Tognetti risk-taking signature, with the lilting arrangement of Copland's Appalachian Spring: Suite followed by Anthony Pateras' exploratory Autophagy, a ragged and discordant contemporary work involving piano, strings and computer that received rousing cheers and giggling bemusement in equal measure.
The bill concluded with Sonic, a spoken-word collaboration with cartoonist and writer Michael Leunig (who, along with Tognetti, has been anointed a National Living Treasure by the National Trust) based on Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals but transposed to human personality types.
Tognetti's favourite lines, naturally, are about the eccentric ("Yet, of all the creatures, the true non-conformist/Is often the brightest, the boldest and warmest"). It sums up Musica Surfica's exploration of parallels between surfing, music and art; not to mention the sometimes hilarious images of the surfers falling off what must be the strangest collection of surfboards ever assembled.
"To stand still and imagine that you're correct and the assumption that you've found the way in art is for me an acknowledgment that you're stagnating. Art isn't about winning. You can't quantify it. It's hard to qualify. The judging criteria on art is very subjective and very different to something with sport," Tognetti says in the film. "You need to accept failure. Look at all the composers, most of them weren't successful, in a conventional sense, in their lifetimes."
His 17-year tenure at the helm of the ACO has been marked by a singular vision not always popular with purists. He has previously collaborated with artists as diverse as rock musicians Peter Garrett and Neil Finn, and photographer Bill Henson. The ACO program for 2008 features popular singer Katie Noonan appearing in a program of works by British composers and children's choir Gondwana Voices performing The Red Tree against images from Shaun Tan's book of the same name.
Musica Surfica is set to continue with the ACO's second orchestra — the emerging artists program — on its tour of the NSW and Queensland coasts this month. Footage from King Island will be the backdrop to a Tognetti arrangement of Pink Floyd's Shine On You Crazy Diamond and Paganini. Tim Freedman from the Whitlams and an Egyptian wood player are expected to join the tour, as is Hynd and possibly Carroll, the carefully chosen music and presentation of new-wave surfing opening children's minds, Tognetti hopes, to different ways of thinking.
"Think of the surfers back in the '70s," he says. "The surfing lifestyle wasn't mainstream; surfers had reputations as left-of-field thinkers, ratbags and outcasts, total eccentrics. What a weird thing to do, to travel by boat to remote Indonesian islands in search of the perfect wave. Now you've got these big multinational companies and everyone's riding exactly the same boards and wearing the same clothes and listening to the same music and talking the same language, from California to the west coast of Australia. We're just trying to reclaim a bit of the soul — as lofty as that may sound."
There are some unexpected problems combining surfing with music. Surfer's nose — an unexpected saline nasal drip that can gush from the nose hours after leaving the water — can be a problem when you're holding a $10 million violin, he told surfing journalist Tim Baker in his recent book High Surf. Playing standards can suffer after fingers have been immersed in cold water all day. But more often the intersection of surfing and music is, for Tognetti, a thrilling example of creative possibility.
"You've got to be a futurist in surfing because you're doing an astonishing thing on a wave. It's between performance and sport. Like playing the violin, if ever I feel insouciant, if ever I take it for granted I slap myself as hard as I can because it's an amazing gift to have."
Musica Surfica will screen on Foxtel in December.
Larissa Dubecki is a staff writer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmLOJ0aDJeo)
Profiles
MUSICA SURFICA Australia Day World Premiere
MUSICA SURFICA
Saturday, January 26 at
FOXTEL PRESENTS THIS INSPIRING DOCUMENTARY
FEATURING RICHARD TOGNETTI and DEREK HYND
World-renowned violinist Richard Tognetti teams up with surfing supremo Derek Hynd in the inspiring documentary MUSICA SURFICA which will make its Australia Day World Television Premiere on Saturday, January 26 at
MUSICA SURFICA is a documentary that follows one man’s creative journey. Richard Tognetti, leading violinist and artistic Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, as he searches for new inspiration and explores new boundaries in classical music and experimental surfing.
Richard Tognetti, an incredibly gifted and brilliant violinist is also a life-long surfer. Richard, who has a love for the ocean, teams up with Derek Hynd, one of the world’s most influential surfers … a thinker, a man with a twinkle in his cultural eye. Both are virtuosos, but with their major talents in different worlds.
In this stunning documentary Richard and Derek bring together a unique gathering of classical musicians and top surfers on remote
During their
At the same time,
Highlights of the documentary include:
- Richard Tognetti, performs with a Guarneri del Gesu “Carrodus” Violin, an extraordinary instrument crafted in 1743 and conservatively valued at $A 10 million.
- The violin was donated to him by an anonymous benefactor earlier this year.
- This is one of the first “finless” surfing events since the days of the ancient Hawaiians.
- Unique footage of surfers riding radically designed, unfinned surfboards AND surfboards based on 300 year old Hawaiian designs.
- A rare combination of surfing and outstanding performances and classical music soundtracks by the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
MUSICA SURFICA was produced by Us Phoques Pty Ltd, Writer & Director Mick Sowry, Producers Simon Whitney and Richard Keddie. MUSICA SURFICA was financed by the Australian Film Commission and FOXTEL.
MUSICA SURFICA
World Television Premiere
Saturday January 26,
at
Media Man Australia Profiles
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Swell could be seven feet on weekend, by Mark Furler - Sunshine Coast Daily - 1st January 2008
The intense low pressure system that has hovered off Fraser Island since last Friday may have wreaked havoc with plans of holiday suntans but for surfers chasing power and size it has broken a long drought.
Noosa’s points have been pumping since Saturday while Mooloolaba has come into its own.
Normally a safe family beach Mooloolaba has delivered enough grunt to attract the likes of professional big wave rider Mark Visser and pro surf Leigh Sedley.
Ti-Tree and Boiling Pot have produced the pick of the waves at Noosa National Park, but the crowds in the water and the packed carparks have seen many surfers decide to sit out the wild conditions.
But with big seas predicted to continue well into January the opportunity for less crowded conditions may develop as surfers become exhausted by the constant battle with dumping waves and powerful sweeps.
The low pressure system that has brought the weather and waves of the past week is starting to drift slowly north but forecasters predict that while the swell will ease to 5.9 feet by Thursday afternoon it will be back over seven feet by late Saturday.
Experts advise caution in surf, by Sam Benger - Sunshine Coast Daily - 31st December 2007
Surfing experts have been left dismayed by the number of inexperienced surfers who literally got in over their heads at beaches across the Sunshine Coast yesterday.
Despite some great sets, there were too many people in the water who should not have been there, said Sunshine Coast Daily surfing correspondent Robbie Sherwell.
“There are a lot of what I would call ‘weekend surfers’ in the water, and they can be a danger to themselves and other people,” he said.
Some people even swam in the rough conditions and a few even let their children get in the water.
He described their actions as “naive and arrogant”.
“They’ve seen the warnings on TV and they know only to swim between the flags, and they’ve also got the lifesavers warning them on the beach and over the PA system but they’re still going in.
“It’s a mixture of naivety and arrogance – they have no idea how powerful the ocean can be.
“There were a lot of broken boards today and no doubt some people were hurt.”
Big wave surfer Mark Visser agreed that surfers who didn’t know what they were doing should stay out of the water.
“It’s pretty sweepy out there and unless you’re really confident you should stick to the smaller conditions and work your way up,” he said after tackling the swell.
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