USC “surfonomics” students shared the results last week of their recent research project into who surfs at Noosa and what keeps them coming back.
Research chief investigator Dr Javier Leon who runs USC’s “surfonomics” geography subject, said the Noosa World Surfing Reserve has long been known as an international surfing hotspot, but that until now little was known about the social and economic factors surrounding its surf culture.
That’s why he and a team of students surveyed surfers at Noosa over six weeks, observing what type of surf craft were used, level of surfing, the age and gender of surfers, duration of surf, local expenditure and even surf etiquette.
“One thing we learned is that water quality is very important to surfers but, as expected, crowding is the main factor that would deter surfers coming to Noosa,” Dr Leon said.
Dr Leon said the data would help planners preserve and enhance the surfing amenity of Noosa, while helping local businesses understand the economic benefits of surfing.
