Noosa Springs Resort joins the fast-growing family of sponsors of the festival, taking naming rights to the Champions for Charity teams event, to be hosted by tennis legend Pat Rafter.

Beautiful Noosa Springs will host a charity golf day on Saturday, March 13, preceding the world champs surf-off on Sunday, March 14. The champions event, utilising a surf and turf format for the first time, will partner world surfing champions with successful on-line bidders for a round of golf and a session in the surf.

Bidding for champions will begin at the end of February. Champions competing in the event, which has raised over $100,000 for charity over the past two years, will include Rabbit Bartholomew, Mark Richards, Layne Beachley, Peter Townend and Josh Constable.

The Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing, presented by Golden Breed, today announced details of its “OURS” Surf Expo in Lions Park Noosa, adjacent to Hastings Street and a short walk from the main event site at First Point.

Festival Director Phil Jarratt said that OURS would be a legitimate exposition of what is happening in surfing today, from cutting edge surfboard design to swell forecasting, from green surfboard technology to the latest in wood, from new websites to old paper, from surf art to new music. “This is a show for surfers, and we make no apology for that,” said Jarratt. “It’s not a lame attempt at a trade show, although I’m sure plenty of business will get done in the relaxed environment of the Noosa Festival. Our goal is to create a space within the Festival Village where surfers will want to cruise around and check what’s going on at their own speed. No hard sell, no punks on scooters, and probably, sigh, no Reef girls. Surf stuff for surfers is what we’re about.”

Jarratt said the expo would be limited to surf and associated industries, and the event management would reserve the right to reject inappropriate exhibitors. “The word has been out on the jungle telegraph for a few weeks now, and we’ve got a sizeable list of exhibitors prior to opening applications. I guess that’s a good sign. I think people realize that there’s a special surf vibe about the Noosa festival and want to be a part of it. This expo will be true to that spirit.”

The Ours Expo will be situated strategically next to an exhibition pavilion featuring some of the world’s most famous surfboards, on loan from private collectors for the first time, and sure to be a magnet for visiting surfers. An entertainment pavilion adjacent will feature live entertainment every evening of the week-long festival, while a licensed bar/café will offer great food and refreshments. The Expo will be free admission and operate outside of ticketed events throughout the Festival. Exhibitors will be free to choose their hours within this.

Expo space only is available at $1000 for 8 days, 3×3m pop-up, trestle and two chairs package available for an additional $150. Expressions of interest can now be made by emailing info@noosafestivalofsurfing.com

PRESENTED BY GOLDEN BREED

Amateur and specialty division entries are now open for the 2010 Noosa Festival, event director Phil Jarratt announced at the weekend. Jarratt said that entries were available foron-line purchase or as a download in 11 age divisions and in 5 specialty events, including money events in Stand Up Paddle, Tandem and Noserider Trials.

The Noosa Festival, now in its 19^th year, will run from Sunday, 14 March to Sunday, March 21, with some specialty events to commence on 14 March and amateur age divisions from 15 March. The official opening ceremony and paddle-out will take place from 5pm on 14 March, following the running of a 5K stand up paddle race on Laguna Bay. Competitor registration will be available at the Golden Breed concept store from midday to 4pm on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14.

Jarratt said that the 2010 festival would take approximately 600 competitors spread across all divisions, and that entries in amateur divisions would be on a first come, first served basis. “We’ve also opened up the family challenge event to the public for next year. It proved hugely popular this year, so we’ve expanded it to 24 teams. Teams must consist of two generations, eg mother/son, father/daughter.”

Jarratt said he was delighted to welcome back lead sponsors Global and Golden Breed, and that further sponsorships would be announced at the end of August.

More information info@noosafestivalofsurfing.com

www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com

A cross continent challenge aimed at increasing international visitor numbers at the Noosa Festival of Surfing this week received an unexpected boost. Festival director Phil Jarratt was determined to send a team to next month’s Malibu Surf Challenge but, with just weeks to go, it looked like the Noosa Malibu Club would have to foot the bill. And that’s when Sir Richard Branson stepped in, offering to fly the surfers to the US on V Australia – for free.

“The 2010 Noosa Festival of Surfing is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever,” Mr Jarratt said.

“I’m absolutely thrilled with two recent developments that go towards ensuring its success. The first is the sponsorship of V Australia to enable a Noosa team to travel to California for the Malibu Teams Classic next month. And the other is the news that The Noosa Journal and weekender magazine (Quest Newspapers) have taken over as the festival’s new print media partner. Australia’s newest Pacific carrier already promises rock star treatment on board, and now they’re offering us surf star treatment to LA to establish a surfing exchange program between Noosa and Malibu, the world’s two leading centres of longboard surfing.”

Jarratt, and Mark Kelly, CEO of Global Surf Industries, the Noosa Festival’s major sponsor, said the trip was a key part of their long-term plan.

“The Americans reckon Malibu is the best longboard wave in the world and we reckon Noosa is, so it seemed like a no-brainer to put it to the test in a team challenge between surfers from the two breaks,” Mr Kelly said.

“The first round will be held at Malibu in September, with the decider at the Noosa Festival next March. There’s already a buzz about the challenge and we expect it to draw a huge Californian contingent to Noosa.”

Jarratt said he would lead the four-man Noosa Malibu Club team, which includes former world champion Josh Constable, noseriding specialist Matt Cuddihy and leading junior Jackson Winter.

“This will be a real grudge match,” he said. “We want to show them that First Point Noosa produces better waves and better surfers than First Point Malibu.”

“Josh, Matt and Jackson are among the finest longboard surfers on the planet and I have every confidence in their ability to represent Noosa. The fourth member of the team will be relying on old age and treachery to overcome youth and talent.”

The Malibu Surfing Association is planning to send a big contingent of their leading surfers to Noosa next March for the return bout at the surf festival.

“Both clubs are eager for this to become an annual event, and it’s a great way to promote our festival in the lucrative American market,” Mr Jarratt said.

“The Noosa Malibu Club has generously voted to financially support our team visit too. Everyone wants to see Noosa kick some butt over there. The signing of our media partnership with The Noosa Journal and Weekender guarantees us total coverage of our event over a very long lead time, benefiting participants and sponsors alike,” he said.

“The Journal’s coverage of surfing has been outstanding in recent years, and its community involvement comes from the heart, so we’re delighted to welcome them on board.”

Quest Newspapers Sunshine Coast general manager David Swan said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Noosa Festival of Surfing. We consider it a great privilege to be involved with such a tremendous event that not only celebrates all that is great about the surfing culture, but showcases some of the sport’s elite athletes”

“I have personally attended the Festival for some years now and believe it just gets better and better,” Mr Swan said.

Jarratt said there was great potential to entice more Americans to Noosa in 2010. “We’re riding on the back of three great years for the festival under Global’s sponsorship, but this year our American visitation numbers were down a little so we aim to address that with a media and promotions bombardment,” he said.

The 2009 event welcomed 538 competitors up more than 15 per cent on 2008 making it the biggest surf festival in the world.

Jarratt said he would not be extending the competitor base too far in 2010 but instead would create more “off-beach” entertainment to attract more spectators.

Event Director Phil Jarratt

The Noosa Festival of Surfing this week unveiled an ambitious plan to attract more international visitors to the world’s largest surfing event.

Event director Phil Jarratt and Mark Kelly, CEO of Global Surf Industries, the festival’s major sponsor, outlined a major promotion in the United States, centred on September’s Malibu Surf Challenge, also sponsored by Global.

Kelly said, “The Americans reckon Malibu is the best longboard wave in the world and we reckon Noosa is, so it seemed like a no-brainer to put it to the test in a team challenge between surfers from the two breaks.”

“The first round will be held at Malibu in September, with the decider at the Noosa Festival next March. There’s already a buzz about the challenge and we expect it to draw a huge Californian contingent to Noosa.’’

Want to compete? Click here to register.

Jarratt agreed there was great potential to entice more Americans to Noosa in 2010.

“We’re riding on the back of three great years for the festival under Global’s sponsorship, but this year our American visitation numbers were down a little so we aim to address that with a media and promotions bombardment.’’

Jarratt flies to Hawaii later this week on a festival promotion visit, and will be in California for the Malibu event in September.

Jarratt said he was delighted to welcome back Global Surf Industries as naming rights sponsor and Golden Breed as presenting sponsor for the eight-day festival, to be held from March 14 to 21.

“These two prestigious Australian surf companies have anchored this event over quite a few years now, and my management team and our event hosts, the Noosa Malibu Club, look forward to working with Mark and his team and Nick Van de Meere and the Golden Breed crew, as well as with our numerous other sponsors, Tourism Noosa and Sunshine Coast Regional Council,’’ he said.

Jarratt announced that Alan Atkins, vice-president of the International Surfing Association and one of the most respected surf administrators in the world, would be returning as contest director, and that Coolum musician Pico would be taking on the new role of entertainment director.

The 2009 festival had 538 competitors in its surfing events, up more than 15 per cent on 2008. Interstate and international competitors accounted for 58 per cent of entries.

Jarratt said that the festival would not be extending the competitor base too far in 2010, but instead would create more ‘off-beach’ entertainment to attract more spectators.

Want to compete? Click here to register.

Overall, the 2009 event attracted more than 8,000 visitors and raised almost $20,000 for charity.

Jarratt said entries in all amateur divisions would be available online from early August at http://www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com, and that sponsorship packages would also be available from August.