Dave Kalama : photo Erik Aeder

Noosa Festival of Surfing 2007 
presented by Global surf Industries

ASP Australasia
Sunshine Coast Queensland
5 - 11 March 2007

This year’s Noosa Festival of Surfing guarantees to deliver a true ‘oceanic experience’

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 28 February, 2007 : - - The Festival, beginning March 5 2007, is now a week long celebration of Longboarding, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Tandem Surfing, Retro Surfing, Music, Film, and Surf Culture.  

Norm Innis, the President of the Noosa Malibu Club, said “The whole club is overwhelmed with the support we have received for the Noosa Festival of Surfing.  The event is a truly international one with competitors coming from all over the Globe”.

Since its inception in 1992, the festival has grown into one of the most popular surfing events on the calendar boasting an international appeal that draws surfers from Hawaii, French Polynesia, Europe, Asia and the USA. “It’s just fantastic to be able to showcase such a broad range of activities all under the one umbrella; this year diversity is certainly the key”, said Norm.

World Champion surfers such as Josh Constable, Bonga Perkins, Dave Kalama, Joel Tudor, Beau Young, CJ Nelson, Grant Thomas, Gary Elkerton and the incredible Hawaiian C4 watermen which includes Brian Keaulana (son of Hawaiian Legend ‘Buffalo’ Keaulana), Todd Bradley and Legendary 60’s surf star Steve Walden will surf alongside a field of both national and international pros and amateurs across 18 divisions.

Mark Kelly, the Managing Director of Global Surf Industries an event partner, said “We hold the Noosa Festival of Surfing in high regard; it fits really well with our company mantra - Life is better when you surf”. 

“Everyone at Global Surf Industries sees it as a wonderful opportunity for us to be involved and our aim is to elevate the Noosa Festival of Surfing to a new level of enjoyment for the competitors, the spectators, and for everyone that loves to surf."   

Global Surf Industries intends operating their entire company out of Noosa Heads for the week, bringing in their surfboard designers and team riders, plus unveiling some of their great new designs for the 2008 season.

Darryl Olson,  Regional General Manager - ‘Sunshine Coast Daily/Noosa News, has also firmly backed the Noosa Festival of Surfing through the very generous support of the "Sunshine Coast Daily", and regional papers such as the "Noosa News".

Darryl, and the Assistant Editor of the Sunshine Coast Daily, Bill Hoffman, are both keen surfers themselves, and are confident the Noosa Festival of Surfing will reach new heights in 2007 and beyond.

Vicki Ketchell the 2007 Festival Organiser said “We are very excited about the Festival this year, as we have clearly seen its potential, identified the possibilities and implemented a steadfast action plan to ensure the growth and stability of the event for a very successful and fun future”.

Coastalwatch comes on board!  The Noosa Festival of Surfing is linking into the national Coastalwatch network for 2007. As the official surf forecaster and web media partner, the surf cam company Coastalwatch, will be adding its support at a number of levels, said Chief Surf Reporter John Charlton.

“Firstly, Coastalwatch will be providing our expertise in the forecasting area allowing for constant monitoring of conditions to be available to contest organizers.

Secondly, they are supporting the provision of a “live results and audio” service which will upgrade access of the public to the event. The beach announcing will be available on the internet together with the live scoring updates, usually associated with higher level events.

Thirdly, all event media will be running simultaneously through surfingaustralia.com and coastalwatch.com and RSS feeds for accredited media will be available”. “The major step up for organizers will be the webcasting of the finals day. With the involvement of overseas surfers, national stars who are leading the world of longboarding currently and the variety of divisions, the Noosa Festival is an exhibition of “watermanship”, said JC.

Contest Director Alan Atkins says “the support of coastalwatch in 2007 will allow us to set a solid foundation to upgrade many parts of this event’s presentation for the future”. The Festival has two main components: The ‘Surf Contests’ and The ‘Entertainment/Social Program’! Surf Contests: 18 divisions featuring over 400 contestants battling it out over six jam packed days of non stop surfing with something for everyone!

Odyssey 20/20 6A rated WLT, 1A rated ALC Men’s Pro AUD$7,500 carries the elite field of pro Longboarders eager to accrue vital ratings points towards the all important end of year world champion crowning. Banana Boat 6A rated ALC Women’s Pro AUD$2,500 will showcase the best professional women Longboarders in the country and is an integral part of the Australian Longboard Circuit.

Golden Breed Noserider and Retro Pro’s AUD$5,000, and AUD$1000 respectively. Sunshine Coast Daily Champion of Champions Invitational features six world champion surfers, both past/present surfing retro and longboard disciplines in a straight out 30min final with a 15min time frame for either discipline.

Sunshine Coast Daily Tandem Surfing Specialists has eight couples from around the globe vying for the coveted and prestigious winner’s crown. Noosa News Stand Up Paddleboards, this once traditional sport is now also one of the fastest growing new disciplines and appeals to a wide range of surfers from grommets to grand parents and is a real crowd pleaser.

The J Under 14 Boys 12 surfers, as above

Tropic Surf Amateur Women 18 surfers, as above

Noosa Longboards Old Mal 12 surfers, 2 heats x 6, one final

Finch Under 18 Girls 12 surfers, 2 x 6 women heats and a final

Beach Beat Men’s Amateur (Over 45’s) 24 surfers; 4 heats x 6, 2 semis x 6, one final

Classic Malibu Men’s Amateur Open 24 surfers 4 heats X 6 surfers, 2 semis and a final

Shimmie Surf Wax Men’s Amateur (Over 35’s) 18 surfers (3 heats X 6 surfers, one semi, one final)

Global Surf Industries Design Invitational, 36 invited guests riding a single design in an explosive format

The J Under 18 Boys 36 surfers,   6 heats x 6, 3 heats x 6 (winners advance directly to final), Semi x 6, Final

Warren Evans Real Estate Men’s Amateur (Over 50’s) 24 surfers (4 heats X 6 surfers, 2 semis X 6 surfers, final X 6 surfers)

 John Madill Motors Men’s Amateur (Over 55’s) 36 surfers, 6  heats X 6 surfer, 3 heats X 6 surfers, one semi and one final X 6 surfers)

Entertainment/Social Program:

Monday 5th March

Media Briefing, Noosa Heads SLSC @ 2.30pm.

Noosa Festival of Surfing 2007 Opening Ceremony Noosa Heads Main Beach/First point @ 4pm – Hawaiian Theme, mixing of the waters, welcoming.

Competitors briefing, Noosa Heads SLSC @ 6pm. Alan Atkins Surfing Australia Contest Director.

Caribbean Night, Noosa Heads SLSC @ 8pm – 10pm.  All welcome.

Tuesday 6th March

 Surf Film Night at the “J”. @7.30pm“Another State of Mind” featuring CJ Nelson; a movie by Steve Cleveland

                 “Beyond the Line-Up” a movie by Paul Francis

                  Ticket prices; Adults $11 (incl GST), Children Under 16 $8.25 (incl GST) 

Wednesday 7th March

5.30pm -    Mary Ryan Book Signing

6.30pm      Sheraton Noosa Resort

                 Phil Jarratt - "Mountain and the Wave"

                 Joel Tudor   - "Surf Book"
 
Surf Board and Memorabilia Auction  @ 7.30pm - The Sheraton Noosa Resort and Spa

Thursday 8 March

Surf Film Night 2 at the “J” @7.30pm“Another State of Mind” featuring CJ Nelson; a movie by Steve Cleveland

                 “Beyond the Line-Up” a movie by Paul Francis

                  Ticket prices; Adults $11 (incl GST), Children Under 16 $8.25 (incl GST)

Friday 9 March 7.30pm start.

Delightful Rain concert presented by The “J” Featuring ‘The Atlantics’, Beau Young and Tamam Shud

Tickets $35 incl GST Purchase online @ www.thej.com.au  Over 18’s ONLY.

Saturday 10th March

5pm – 7.30pm Grommets Party @ The “J”. Meet the Stars of the 2007 Noosa Festival of Surfing.

Prizes/giveaways.

8pm – 10pm.  Noosa Heads SLSC – Live Band (TBC)

Sunday 11th March

4pm @ First Point – Official Presentation

6pm @ Café Le Monde – Celebrity Bar (Charity Fundraiser for Janet White Trust - Press Release with her remarkable story will follow in following days).

Noosa Festival of Surfing supporting partners includes: Global Surf Industries, Sunshine Coast Daily, Queensland Events, Tourism Noosa, Noosa Council, ASP Australasia, Coastalwatch, Surfing Australia

Previous reports:
# 1 : Global Surf Industries announce Noosa Fest giveaway
# 2 : Global Surf Industries announces the Noosa VIP winner
# 3 : Keaulana, Kalama and Perkins to kick off Noosa Festival
# 4 : Coming soon  

www.surfindustries.com
www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com

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Vicki Ketchell
Event Organiser

Norm Innis
President Noosa Mal Club

Alan Atkins
Event Contest Director

Darren Landers
Event Media Director

Contests - Surfersvillage