Despite the best attempts of a two-year pandemic and the Hastings Street fun police, today the best surf party in the world begins!
For more than three decades, the Noosa Festival of Surfing has been a meeting place for surfers from all over the world, of all persuasions, colour and choice of surfcraft, from crusty old longboarders on the pension (yep, I know that lot) to the mega-rich pioneers of the multi-billion dollar surf industry. It’s nothing if not an egalitarian party, but wear your best thongs.
And, of course, there’s some serious surfing to be done on everything from longboards and SUPs to retro twinnies. Your columnist has reached the pinnacle of codgerdom and will be competing in the most senior men’s age division for the first time, but don’t write him off if the point is pumping, and after a two-year hiatus, well it might.
THE SOCIAL
So here’s the rundown on what’s going on, on the sand and at sponsor venues.
FRIDAY 4 MARCH
The curtain-raising social event of the week is a beauty. (Officially, the festival doesn’t start until Saturday, but the Noosa Solbar beach bar has to be tested out.) It’s a SurfAid fundraiser from 4-8pm with two of the most interesting women in surfing in conversation with someone called Nick Carroll. Layne Beachley has been an unofficial festival ambassador for decades, and her friend and former manager Brooke Farris is now the history-making female chief executive officer of Rip Curl. You can read about the Brooke that doesn’t babble elsewhere in this issue. Tickets $50, check festival site for availability.
SATURDAY 5 MARCH
Opening day and it’s the surfing dogs, innit! I remember years when the dogs upstaged the world champ legends who preceded them in the water, but the VetShop event, always a crowd-pleaser for all the family, starts at 2.30pm. Kabi Kabi entertainer Lyndon Davis and friends will perform the Welcome to Country in the beach bar from 4pm and Noosa World Surfing Reserve president Kirra Molnar will lead the opening ceremony paddle-out at 4.30pm. If you’re a night owl, Thomas Surfboards has a welcome party at their Noosaville factory from 8pm.
SUNDAY 6 MARCH
Active Escapes are running beach training sessions on Main Beach from 6-7am for $20, sign up on the beach. The beach bar opens at noon but maybe you’d like to keep yourself nice for the Melanoma March from 4-6pm and the Cleanup Australia Day beach clean 4-5pm.
MONDAY 7 MARCH
Have a breather unless you’re an old fart, in which case be at the beach bar for the GemLife senior competitor drinks from 5pm and say hi to your columnist.
TUESDAY 8 MARCH
Celebrate International Women’s Day at the beach bar with special guests and Tracey Naughton’s She To Sea art exhibition, free entry 2-8pm.
WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH
Creators and Innovators Night at the Noosa Surf Museum. Waxhead Matt Chonovski and yours truly will introduce a star-studded lineup of surfboard designers and shapers, including locals the legendary Hayden Kenny, Stu and Ryan Campbell, Josh Constable, Thomas Bexon and Tom Wegener, and special guests Maurice and Damien Cole.
THURSDAY 10 MARCH
A second great night at the Surf Museum when Noosa World Surfing Reserve presents Everything Old Is New Again, a two-part journey through the past and present of surf film. First, we officially launch the ABC TV hit drama series Barons, which tells the story of the birth of the Australian surf industry, with special guests from the cast and crew in attendance and sneak peeks at the first season, then we introduce the Surf Film Archive with founder Jolyon Hoff and special guests. Free entry, pizza truck out front and cash bar inside, 6-9pm.
Sunshine Beach Surf Club hosts The Board Meeting Charity Dinner with guests Julian Wilson and Luke Egan, tickets $145.
FRIDAY 11 MARCH
Chiggy’s Junior Skate Rampage in The Woods, free entry, 6-7.30pm.
Morning of the Earth Remastered Miracle screens at The J, 6-8pm, tickets $25.
Mark Mathews Life Beyond Fear 8-10pm at The J, tickets $55. Big wave survivor Mathews will change your life with this astounding keynote presentation.
SATURDAY 12 MARCH
Chiggy’s Skate Jam Pro in The Woods, 6-7.30pm, free entry.
Rip Curl locals day in the beach bar 2-8pm.
Deus Swap Meet at The J from 5pm with screening to follow.
SUNDAY 13 MARCH
Presentation party in the beach bar from 4pm.
THE SURF
Surfing competition will run daily from 7am to 4.30pm at First Point main site or Access 11 Noosa West.
SATURDAY 5 MARCH
Juniors, Teams Cup and Family Challenge heats.
SUNDAY 6 MARCH
Juniors, Teams Cup and Family Challenge finals
MONDAY 7 TO WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH
Senior age divisions up to finals.
THURSDAY 10 MARCH
Logger Pro and Longboard Open heats.
FRIDAY 11 MARCH
Twin Fin Pro and Old Mal heats.
SATURDAY 12 MARCH
SUP Flat Water Race, semis of Logger Pro, Longboard Open, Twin Fin Pro, Old Mal.
SUNDAY 13 MARCH
Finals day.
