A week is a long time in swell prediction terms, but as I write, five days out from the Noosa Festival of Surfing, what I’m looking at on the charts would have stirred the blood of the younger me, back when I was the event director.
There is always a chance that the activity we’re currently witnessing in the Coral Sea and directly below it will fade out or blow up, either way making a dramatic change to the outlook we’re currently seeing, but if you’re reading this on Festival Eve, or the day before, you’ll already know all of that, so let’s assume that the current forecast is pretty accurate and we’re looking at an entire week of contestable waves on First Point in the range of waist to head-high. Yippee! And even now, just two paragraphs in, I’m seeing the forecast being significantly downgraded. But we live in hope.
It’s been a tough time for organisers as well as competitors over the Covid era and beyond, with the overload of hard-packed sand next to the point forcing the event to spend many long, hard days on dribbly beach breaks at Noosa West, but that situation has been changing for quite a few months now. While it’s still not vintage First Point, it doesn’t take a lot of swell from the easterly quadrant to set up good runners through most of the tides, and that’s what we’ve been experiencing through the leadup weeks since the trades kicked in. Sometimes bumpy, sometimes wonky, but fun.
Of the 31 surfing divisions to be contested over nine days, an astounding 10 of them will offer cash prizes totalling $20,000. Admittedly, with the return of the WSL world tour qualifier, the men’s and women’s pros will account for half of that, with a further $5000 going to the logger pros. That much is great, and well deserved for all those guys and gals trying to be professional longboarders in a cruel world. What I don’t get is the necessity to split beer money in events which have never been about that. The Old Mal and the Teams Challenge are about the spirit of longboarding, not cash rewards. However I do note that on the official info sheet, the moolah could be “subject to change”.
Also on the info sheet, some good news for the old school amateurs who have always made up the vast majority of attendees. Trophies for the also rans are making a comeback! According to the sheet, the reintroduction of trophies for fifth and sixth placers “has been updated from previous years where the consensus was that finalists finishing 5th or 6th didn’t want a trophy”. Having frequently put everything on the line to make the final just so I could get a memento to add to the sad little collection above the bar fridge, I don’t recall that sentiment ever having been expressed. But I am old and prone to forgetfulness.
Most of the social activity of the festival will again revolve around the beach bar in front of the surf club where, among other things, a “world first” piano bar on the sand will tinkle into action on Thursday 19 March. Great idea, but credit where it’s due, guys. Portugal’s crazy Gliding Barnacles festival has had a baby grand of the sand for years. If you can make this as good as theirs, you’ll be on a winner.
I’m also looking forward to the surf photography exhibition at Noosa Longboards and, if I can rise in the dark, I’ll be heading down to old mate Tommy Carroll’s “Art of Longevity” workshop this weekend. I’ve got a headstart on TC in the age stakes, but I wouldn’t mind being as fit and focused as he is when I’m 80!
So who’s on the 26 WCT?
By the time you read this, if you follow the WSL you’ll probably be able to answer that better than I can right now, on the eve of the Newcastle Challenger which decides the full complement of the 2026 world championship tour, starting next month at Bells Beach.
A total of 10 men and five women will be promoted to the big tour after Newcastle, with one man, Hawaii’s Eli Hannemann, and four women, Yolanda Hopkins and Francisca Veselko (Portugal), Tya Zebrowski (France) and Sally Fitzgibbons (Australia) already inside the cut. Newcastle will decide the immediate future for nine men and three women. Some pundits are suggesting that Australia might end up with seven men making the cut. Ain’t gonna happen.
Here are my fearless predictions for our promoted squad. In the women’s, Basque Country’s Nadia Erostarbe has the easiest route and I believe the current form to make the cut, along with Alyssa Spencer (US) and, my rank outsider, Israel’s Anat Lelior, leaving our happy veteran Sal Fitz to make another comeback alone.
In the men’s George Pittar has promotion almost on lock, while Morgan Cibilic is showing signs of what made him a superstar in the first place and I doubt he’ll be stopped. After that it gets a bit tougher for Oscar Berry, Jacob Willcox, Liam O’Brien and Callum Robson. On recent form and sheer willpower, I’m backing Lobby and Cal to join George and Morgs.
And lastly, local rising star Ben Lorentson will be Noosa’s only representative in the draw, so go hard, young man!
