The 2021 Noosa Festival of Surfing Launch
The Noosa Malibu Club and World Surfaris are pleased to announce that the dates for the 30th anniversary of the Noosa Festival of Surfing (NFOS) are from May 15-23, 2021 (inclusive). Usually held in late Feb/early March each year, the covid-19 pandemic has forced the postponement of the 2021 Festival.
NFOS has grown from humble beginnings to become the largest longboard gathering in the world. Pre-covid, the Festival attracted significant participation from international and interstate surfers. Over the last 2 Festivals, the World Surf League (WSL) have held an international professional longboard event as part of the Festival. Unfortunately, the WSL are one of the many victims of the covid pandemic and have advised that they are unable to participate in 2021.
While it is disappointing that our international pro-longboarder friends & family are unable to join the Festival in 2021, it does allow the Festival to return to the core roots established 3 decades ago. The absence of the WSL has allowed the re-introduction of more age divisions for both male and female competitors. Festival Organiser John Finlay noted that “the Noosa Malibu Club has always wanted to see more age divisions, particularly in the older age categories, so while we will miss the WSL Pros, we are delighted to be able to devise a more expansive and inclusive competition program.”
Further, the 2021 Festival will see the Family Challenge event re-introduced, as well as the longboarding Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) surf event. Subject to covid-related event restrictions, it is anticipated that the ever-popular VetShopDog Surfing Championships will be held too. The Festival will showcase some historic and new initiatives, both in and out of the water, in what will be largely a local and regional event. The Board Meeting Surf Charity will hold a charity dinner on Friday 21 May 2021 at the Sunshine Beach SLSC to raise much needed funds for local kids with disabilities. And local artist Owen Cavanagh (Surf Art), will again stage a fabulous Surf Art show, as well as producing the trophies for the Festival.
The presenting sponsor for the 2021 Festival will be announced in the very near future.
Since taking over the management of the Festival in 2018, World Surfaris has collaborated extensively with the Noosa Malibu Club, Noosa Council, Tourism Noosa, Hastings Street Traders Association, Plastic Free Noosa and the Noosa business and residential community. We thank all of Noosa, all our sponsors and all our volunteers for their on-going support of this world-class and unique longboard Festival. It is testament to the resilience and tenacity of our community that we are able to stage the 30th NFOS despite the covid pandemic.
For more information on the NFOS, including entries, please see www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com
Media enquiries may be directed to John Finlay via [email protected] or 0418 771 400.
Sponsorship enquiries may be directed to Josh Allen via [email protected] or 0433446790 .
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