GSI Noosa Festival of Surfing 2008.

Noosa, Queensland
3 - 9 March 2008

Goggles are gone, shoes are off, not a bike helmet in sight, now Emma and Craig are Surfing – Noosa Style!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 February, 2008 : - - International Triathlete stars Emma Snowsill and Craig Walton look set to show another side of their natural abilities when the super fit duo attend the GSI Noosa Festival of Surfing in March 2008.

Walton and Snowsill clinched the elite men and women’s divisions of the Noosa Tri for the sixth and fourth times back in November 2007. The golden couple announced their desire to be involved in the week long celebration of the surfing lifestyle whilst taking a break from their rigorous training schedule in Noosa.

“I grew up surfing the beaches for years and the chance to surf Noosa with just a few others in the line up was too much to resist, I hope the swell is pumping that week, we are really looking forward to it”, said Walton. The avid surfers recently received two brand new surfboards from Global Surf Industries who are the presenting sponsor of the 2008 festival.

 “After the Noosa Tri wrapped up Craig and I were looking forward to taking a week off and just going surfing and catching up with our families and friends. We had discussed looking for some better boards so this is a fantastic surprise and hopefully by march next year the boards will feel as comfortable under our feet as a pair of well worn sneakers”, said Snowsill.

USM Events Director Garth Prowd who has known the pair for years, was only too pleased to have them participate in the week long surfing celebration, “They are pretty much water babies, they both take to the surf on a very regular basis and truly enjoy it as much as the next surfer and like other surfers they wish they could spend a lot more time in the line up”, said Prowd.

GSI’s Mark Kelly another who welcomes the cross over, “Our company mantra is ‘Life is Better When you Surf’, we really believe this is the case and the more people who participate in surfing the better, hopefully the waves will turn on for the Festival and both Emma and Craig will absorb the ‘Aloha’ spirit the event brings to town each year, said Kelly.

In March last year it was tennis ace Pat Rafter who donned the board shorts, strapped on a legrope and hit the line up of First Point Noosa when he took his passion of surfing to another level, contesting the celebrity challenge at the GSI Noosa Festival of Surfing.

Champion Ironwoman Kirsty Holmes has also signed up for the Festival. The Sunshine Coast firefighter has entered three events – The C4 SUP Pro (Stand Up Paddle Surfing), Paddle Marathon and 9ft Longboard Womens division.

“It will be a busy week and one that offers so much diversity this year, I have been practicing on my new 9ft board for the surfing but am really keen to give the SUP a go too. My feeling is that many paddlers will use the marathon from Mooloolaba to Noosa on Saturday 8th march as a pre race build up to the Hawaiian Molokai Ho Challenge, so it should attract the elite of the sport”, said Holmes.

Like her brother Zane, Kirsty feels right at home amongst the larger more powerful seas which have battered Queensland beaches over recent weeks. Holmes was spotted surfing some very solid waves off Pt. Cartwright’s rock/reef shelf on a stand up paddle board recently and will firm as a favourite despite it being her first competitive experience in the discipline.  

About GSI – Global Surf Industries is the world’s premier surfboard company. Their company mantra – Life is better when you surf – comes from their love of surfing, the ocean and the sense of community that surfing gives. The benefits for surfers are numerous to say the least but the sheer joy that surfing can add to a person’s life are without doubt the driving force behind the company. Global Surf Industries boards and message about surfing can be found in over 42 countries.

Global Surf Industries is very proud to be able to present the Noosa Festival of Surfing as a fantastic showcase of what Surfing is all about. It is a one of the best celebrations of surfing anywhere in the world.

USM Events develop and manage mass participation sporting, music and entertainment events to an international standard all around Australia. With over 50 events and more than 120,000 competitors and participants each year, USM Events is one of Australia’s largest and most experienced event management specialists.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Coming soon
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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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

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