Welcome to our biggest and most adventurous festival in years. With more than 700 competitors and over 20 separate divisions, this is the biggest surfing event in the world, but it’s also the happiest. Noosa is all about the stoke, and we hope you feel it from the minute the event starts and carry that vibe with you throughout, then take it away and tell all your friends.

Let me take a minute of your time to walk you through the week, hopefully answering many of those FAQs as we go.

BACK BEACH VINTAGE SURFBOARD & MEMORABILLIA AUCTION
preview catalogue here

WORLD CHAMPIONS TURN OUT FOR CHARITY

PARTNER YOUR CHAMP OF CHOICE TO BENEFIT SURF AID

Noosa Springs Resort Champs for Charity Surf & Turf
Noosa Springs, Saturday, 13 March
First Point Noosa, Sunday, 14 March

Tennis legend Pat Rafter and surfboard design guru Simon Anderson will join four surfing world champions to help raise funds for Surf Aid International at the Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing, presented by Golden Breed.

Longboard world champions Harley Ingleby (2009) and Josh Constable (2006) and world pro champions Peter Townend (1976) and Rabbit Bartholomew (1978) have jumped at the chance to compete for the first time in a surf and turf format combining teams surfing and golf. Rabbit commented: “When PT and I were on tour 30 years ago we couldn’t afford a round of golf, but for today’s surfers it’s the relaxation of choice. Surf and turf gives you the best of both worlds.”

The six champions will team with winning bidders for a round of golf at beautiful Noosa Springs Resort on Saturday, 13 March, then back up for a no-holds-barred surf contest on Sunday.

On-line bidding at the festival website will start at $200, with all proceeds going to Surf Aid International to assist its war against malaria and poverty in South East Asia.

Make your bid to surf and turf with your champ of choice at our
SURF ‘N TURF online AUCTION.

THE PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Presented by SOLID Racks

The surfboards that changed surfing
Exhibition open 10am-6pm at Surf City, Sunday 14 to Friday 19

Back in the late 1940s, James Arness became one of Hollywood’s biggest stars when “Gunsmoke” went to the top of the ratings as America’s favorite TV western. Arness, a keen surfer, put his newfound wealth to good use, purchasing one of the first foam surfboards produced. Designed and built by surfboard revolutionary Bob Simmons, the foam sandwich, featuring a Styrofoam core between layers of teak plywood, was ridden by Arness for two years before he switched to balsa boards, then hung his sandwich in pride of place on the wall of his office on the Gunsmoke set.

This classic piece of surfing history, last traded for more than $40,000, is one of the centrepieces of Private Collections, presented by SOLID Racks. Some of the boards in this collection have never been seen by the public; others have been glimpsed briefly, as they appeared at auction on behalf of a private estate, and were snapped up by another private estate.

The Noosa Festival of Surfing approached many of the world’s leading surfboard collectors and asked them to unlock history, for just one week. Most agreed to do so. Serious surfboard collectors form a diverse group of people who would pursue treasures and unique artefacts no matter what their passion was. Some are extremely private individuals, some are famous personalities, and some are pioneers of the surf industry. Together they hold the keys to this extraordinarily rich treasure trove of sport, design and cultural history.

Among the historic boards included in Private Collections:

• Tom Blake hollow paddleboard, 1930.
• Hawaiian hot curl, 1940s.
• Bob Simmons foam sandwich, 1940s.
• Dale Velzy prototype pig, 1950.
• Gidget films prop board, 1959.
• Gordon Woods balsa pig, 1959.
• Bob McTavish Keyo Plastic Machine, 1967
• George Greenough Hayden spoon, 1969
• Tinkler tail Wayne Lynch flexi-tail, 1976

The exhibition, housed in a large all-weather marquee, will be the focal point of the Festival’s Surf City at Lions Park, Noosa. Some 35 historic and important surfboards will be displayed on purpose-built vertical SOLID Racks, and centre-stands crafted by local artisans Surf Furniture Designs. Admission will be free, with a gold coin donation for Surf Aid requested. School groups will be encouraged to visit, and throughout the week of the festival, informal talks and discussion groups with many of the world’s leading surfboard shapers will take place within the exhibition marquee.

The Private Collections exhibition, showing the most innovative designs in the evolution of the surfboard over the past century, will encourage and inspire our shapers and designers of the future.

About SOLID Racks

SOLID Racks was born from a strong demand for structurally sound surf and sport storage systems. SOLID Racks’ iconic designs represent a radical approach to traditional surfcraft storage.

With over 25 years of building and design experience, the team at SOLID believes in producing storage solutions that are durable, ergonomic and of superior quality and performance. SOLID Racks are weight tested and built to last.

SOLID prides itself on attention to detail and has won numerous business and manufacturing awards including the SOLID Freestanding Vertical Surfboard Display System that is currently short listed in the 2010 Australian International Design Awards.

SOLID RACKS™ are endorsed and used by surfing legends Tom Carroll, Layne Beachley, Barton Lynch, Rob Bain, Kai Otton, Dayyan Neve, Josh Constable and Bruce Raymond.

FOUR CHARITIES TO BENEFIT FROM NOOSA SURF FESTIVAL

The Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing, presented by Golden Breed, continues its grand tradition of giving back by nominating four beneficiaries for the 2010 event, starting on March 14. The festival is mixing two old friends with two new friends in nominating SurfAid International, Frangipani Dreams, Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation and Mision Mexico.

Festival director Phil Jarratt announced this week that the event had decided to again nominate SurfAid because of its tireless work in Sumatra and across Indonesia, not just in the campaign to eradicate malaria but also in offering assistance in the natural disasters in the region. Said Jarratt: “Dr Dave Jenkins launched his big idea at the Noosa festival in 1999, and over the next decade he really proved that a small group of people can make a difference. SurfAid has also created an awareness amongst surfers all over the world that there are moral obligations when you use the Third World as your preferred playground for surfing.”

SurfAid will be the beneficiary of winning bids in the Noosa Springs Resort Champs for Charity teams event, and the Surfing World “Worthies” art auction.

The Festival announced ongoing support for the Frangipani Dreams Foundation and its founder, Moy Sweetman. “This is a classic case of acting locally, thinking globally,” said Jarratt. “Moy and her team recently rallied the fundraising effort for the family of a local surfer who passed away, but the same spirit is at work helping Aboriginal communities in northern Australia, and more recently, the survivors in Haiti. The festival, and for that matter, the entire surfing community, salute Moy and support her in everything she does.”

Frangipani Dreams will be the beneficiary of the Global Surf Industries Surfboard Art Silent Auction.

Joining the festival beneficiaries list for the first time is the Melbourne-based Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation, which seeks to build awareness of the need for young people to sign off on organ donation. When Allan Turner lost his seven-year old daughter Zaidee, his world caved in, but Zaidee’s spirit has lived on through the gift of her organs saving three young lives. Allan and his team travel to Noosa eager to promote their message to young people who engage in a sometimes-dangerous sport – sign up and save lives.

Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation will be the beneficiary of proceeds from the Bluewater Players 5K Stand Up Paddle Race. All competitors will be asked to wear a rainbow in remembrance of Zaidee.

Finally, the Noosa Festival will introduce beneficiary Mision Mexico, although its founders will need no introduction to many Noosa locals. Former Sunshine Coasters Alan and Pam Skuse established the orphanage in 2000, and over the past decade many locals have contributed to its costs. Currently gaining a global profile through the work of young Australian film-makers Stefan Hunt and Jonno Durrant, Mision Mexico uses surfing as the foundation of a program designed to raise self esteem in abused and poverty stricken Mexican children.

Mision Mexico will receive all proceeds from a charity showing of the documentary “Somewhere Near Tapachula” on Wednesday, March 17. No tickets but a paper money donation requested.

The festival’s entertainment headquarters, Surf City (Noosa Lions Park) will feature an entire expo space devoted to our beneficiary charities, plus other worthy causes related to surfing and the ocean. To understand more about these great causes, please come along to Surf City during the festival, enjoy the fun and support the fundraising efforts.

INFO HOTLINE 07 54735676

GIDGET GOES AUSTRALIAN

The real Gidget, the movie Gidget’s stunt double and the Australian Gidget share the stage in Noosa.

The Glide

Surfer/violinist Richard Tognetti talks about surfing, music and “The Glide” with ABC Coast FM’s John Stokes, Tuesday, February 16.

See The Glide – Surf City, Lions Park Noosa, Monday 15th March
More information and ticket bookings.

SURFBOARD LOVERS’ HEAVEN AT NOOSA FESTIVAL

Surfers with a passion for the design, history and aesthetics of the surfboard will think they’ve died and gone to heaven at next month’s Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing, presented by Golden Breed. With the most impressive exhibition of historic surfboards ever seen in Australia, the biggest auction ever held at the event, an all-day collectors’ fair and a surfboard design forum featuring almost all of the leading designers of the past half century, the surfboard will rule at Surf City (on Noosa Lions Park).

Among the big names of surfboard design gathering at the festival are California pioneer shapers Bing Copeland, Mike Hynson and Mickey Munoz, Australian pioneers Bill Wallace, Gordon Woods and Joe Larkin, shortboard revolutionaries Bob McTavish and Dick Brewer, and ‘70s and ‘80s design icons Simon Anderson and Mark Richards. All will talk about their work at the design forum between 6-8pm on Wednesday, 17 March.

The Private Collections exhibition, at Surf City from Sunday, 14 March to Friday, 19 March, features some of the most remarkable surfboards never normally seen. Drawn from the collections of many of the world’s leading surfboard collectors, these important boards have been locked away in private homes until now. Ranging from early Hawaiian surfcraft to pioneer boards from California and Australia, through to the personal boards used by the champions over the past 50 years, Private Collections tells the story of surfboard evolution from very personal perspectives.

The annual Noosa surfboard and memorabilia auction kicks off the surfboard festival on Tuesday night, followed by the collectors’ fair all day Wednesday and the design forum Wednesday night. Admission is free to all these events. Space is still available at the Collectors Fair for genuine surf traders. Phone 07 54735676 or visit www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com for more information.

GOLDEN BREED NOSERIDER FULL, SEEDS ANNOUNCED

With former world champion Joel Tudor and his Californian cohort Alex Knost grabbing the last two slots, the Golden Breed Noserider is now full. Names will be taken for a waiting list only.

Eight surfers will be seeded into the main event, to be joined by the top eight triallists from a field of 32. Seeded surfers are the top eight performers from the 2009 event. Should any of them be unavailable, sponsor’s wildcards will be nominated.

SEEDS

1. Christian Wach (USA)
2. Trent Dickey (Noosa)
3. Ezra Norris (Noosa)
4. Harrison Roach (Noosa)
5. Matt Cuddihy (Noosa)
6. Alex Bulpitt (Caloundra)
7. Zye Norris (Noosa)
8. Troy Mothershead (USA)

COLLECTORS FAIR REGISTRATION OPEN NOW

Registration is now open for the Back Beach Collectors Fair & Swap Meet to be held in the performance marquee, Surf City on the Lions Park, Wednesday, March 17, from 8am.
This is a great opportunity to mix with many of the world’s leading surf collectors, trade your goodies, talk story, enjoy the entertainment while you buy and sell. Space is limited so don’t delay in booking your space. As the fair winds down in the late afternoon, we’ll be cranking up the entertainment on stage, leading into the Surfboard Design Forum at 6pm, featuring a dazzling collection of the greatest surfboard designers of our time.

Trestle table and two chairs provided, just $66.

Email: info@noosafestivalofsurfing.com
Phone: 07 54735676

TICKET SALES TAKE OFF FOR SURF CITY EVENTS

Since tickets went on sale for our Surf City events on December 2, response has been phenomenal, so please don’t leave it too late and be disappointed. Purchase individual tickets or a Platinum Pass that gets you into all the events, PLUS VIP undercover seating for the Saturday Night In The Park concert, featuring The Beautiful Girls, Ash Grunwald and many more top acts.

Please remember that all of our ticketed events EXCEPT Saturday Night In The Park, will be staged in an all-weather marquee at Surf City, and seating is limited. We have a very full program all week, so there will be no repeat performances.

Click the Surf City Events tab at the top of this page for more information.