BARRY ‘Magoo’ McGuigan, attended the Cricks Noosa Festival of Surfing more times than many can remember.
Always with a happy smile and a kind word, Magoo embodied the festival’s ethos of camaraderie, kindness and unfaltering stoke, surfing well into his eighties despite ailing health.
The world’s oldest competitive surfer for the last dozen years of his life, Magoo often gave away 10, 15, even 20 years to his fellow competitors, always a worthy adversary and a pleasure to share the line-up with.
But, despite his jovial and spritely exterior, Magoo was quietly fighting a battle for his life.
Diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2010, he continued to surf whenever his treatment allowed, his dedication to yoga (he stood on his head for 10 minutes each day) helping him through the toughest of times.
Magoo finished third in the over-70s division at last year’s Cricks Noosa Festival of Surfing, but by spring his strength was waning, and he passed away at his NSW Central Coast home in November, wife Debbie by his side.
In memory of this inspirational surfer, the 2015 Cricks Noosa Festival of Surfing will host the inaugural Magoo Memorial Men’s 70 and Over division, with Debbie McGuigan donating a week’s stay at the Magoo Surf Lodge on Arrawarra Headland to the lucky winner. The festival’s opening ceremony paddle-out at dusk on Saturday 7 March will also be a Magoo memorial this year, with Magoo’s surfing buddies from around the world invited to participate.
Sponsors line up
Iconic Sunshine Coast surf brand Beachbeat will sponsor the Logger Pro at this year’s festival, with sunglasses brand Maui Jim taking over naming rights to the Women’s Pro event. The two professional divisions will join the Golden Breed Noserider at the pointy end of proceedings, with more than 120 entrants from around the world already filling the festival’s headline events.
Festival director Phil Jarratt said he was thrilled to welcome new sponsor Maui Jim and to welcome back Beachbeat, one of the pioneer brands that helped get the festival up and running back in the ’90s.
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