NOOSA is set to play host to the biggest field of international surfers yet at this year’s Cricks Noosa Festival of Surfing.
With more than 25 per cent of competitors from overseas in 2014 creating a new record for the festival, organisers say that the number of early entries from California, Hawaii, New Zealand, Japan, France and the UK indicate that the record will be broken again, with the world’s best surfers vying for around $25,000 in prize money.
The return of the Vans Duct Tape Invitational (last seen in Noosa in 2013) will ensure that many of the leading traditional longboarders from around the world will be in town with former world champion Joel Tudor to take on local stars like Harrison Roach and Jai Lee. Big names like California’s Alex Knost and Justin Quintal, and UK’s James Parry are expected to be on the invitation list, while stars who have performed brilliantly in Noosa in past years, like Santa Cruz’s C.J. Nelson, are also coming back.
But Festival Director Phil Jarratt said that even more overseas entries were being received from unknowns coming to represent their clubs.
“The success of last year’s Deus Womp Comp has brought all the body surfers out of the woodwork, and we have entries in that from all over the world,” he said.
“One club in California has eight members entered and another dozen or so coming to support them.
“But the Classic Malibu Teams Challenge is also bringing in groups of boardriders to compete for their club or home beach.”
The eight-day festival will kick off on Saturday, 7 March, immediately following the dedication and celebration of the Noosa National Surfing Reserve, set for Friday, 6 March.
Said Phil Jarratt: “Because the Surfing Reserve has been a community initiative on behalf of all beach users, the first weekend is going to be a celebration of that, with surfboard riders, surf life savers, paddlers, body surfers and all kinds of watermen and waterwomen taking part in team and exhibition events.
“We’re inviting the absolute legends of all aspects of surfing to participate.”
There will also be plenty of fun and novelty events, including the VetshopAustralia Surfing Dogs Spectacular and the Little Humid Costume Surf.
The first weekend will also host the Jeep Waterman Challenge, with Noosa’s reigning champ Harrison Roach and former world champion Josh Constable taking on invitees such as longboard world champions Harley Ingleby and Taylor Jensen in longboard, shortboard, finless and body surf events.
All teams events plus stand up paddle racing and surfing will also begin over the first weekend, with amateur and professional longboarding divisions beginning Monday.
The entertainment hub for the festival will once again be the PJ Burns Festival Village, stretching from First Point to the surf club, with surf expo stalls and the XXXX Summer Beach Bar and Zinc Stage front and centre.
Free live entertainment will be provided every afternoon and evening, with top bands Cheap Fakes, Band of Frequencies and Sydney surf funksters Expand and Surrender already booked, and Sunday night’s “Surf Unearthed” show expected to unveil some spectacular new music acts from the region.
Entertainment sponsors Cafe Le Monde will provide much of the beach stage music during the sunset hours, then feature longer sets with the bands at the Hastings Street venue later in the evening.
Movies playing on the festival’s beach screen will include Behind The Tide, the director’s cut of Searching For Michael Peterson (presented by director Jolyon Hoff) and the official premiere of the Noosa Festival documentary, 8 Days Of Pure Stoke.
Entries are still available in many divisions. More information at noosafestivalofsurfing.com.
