ASB MAGAZINE: The Australian surfing community will gather next Tuesday, April 2nd on the Gold Coast to honour four-time Women’s World Champion Wendy Botha who will be inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame. Botha’s induction will be one of a number of presentations as part of the 2019 Australian Surfing Awards, hosted by QT Gold Coast, including our own award the ASBMAG Greater Good Award. Next Tuesday’s awards also marks a partnership forged over a decade ago between Australasian Surf Business Magazine (ASBMAG) and Surfing Australia.
The ASBMAG Greater Good Award is Australasian Surf Business Magazines major sponsorship with Surfing Australia and is given to the person or group who in the past year has given back to Australian surfing through extraordinary results in a charitable, humanitarian, environmental, or philanthropic cause.
Past winners include Billabong x SurfAid Schools Program (2008), Coastalwatch (2009),David Rastovich/Surfers for Cetaceans (2010), Surf Aid (2011), Barton Lynch (2012), Misfit Aid (2013), National Surfing Reserves (2014), Surfrider Foundation Australia (2015), Andrew McKinnon (2016), Walk for Waves (2017) and NevHouse (2018)
The three finalists for the 2019 ASBMAG Greater Good Awards are;
- Patagonia x Fight For the Bight Alliance (Jointly)
- Surfrider Foundation Australia
- Victorian Indigenous Surfing Program
About the three finalists;
Patagonia x Fight For the Bight Alliance (Jointly)
Patagonia have stepped up their ‘Fight For The Bight’ with their latest campaign ‘Big Oil Don’t Surf’. Earlier this year the company led a petition of surf brands opposing drilling in the Great Australian Bight. This led to widespread protests across the nation from Streaky Bay to Burleigh Heads with the campaign capturing the attention of global media. In the process, The Fight For The Bight campaign has united surfers, fishermen, coastal dwellers and all walks of life to stand arm in arm against Norwegian oil giant Equinor and its plans to drill for oil in one of the world’s most fragile and rugged coastlines, the Great Australian Bight.
Surfrider Foundation Australia
In April 2018, Surfrider Foundation Australia sent a team of surfers and researchers to King Island to investigate plans for commercial fishing operations offshore at Martha Lavinia Beach. The Surfrider team met with the local community to hear their views on the proposed Tassal fish farms threatening Martha Lavinia Beach surf break. Their views were unanimous – No to fish farms on King Island.
Not only do these farms threaten the world-famous surf break but the broader community is also extremely concerned about the threat of disease, fish escapes and increased predators in the water that threaten not only their livelihoods but the reasons they choose to live in one of the most beautiful and pristine parts of the world. They fish, dive or surf daily and this would be threatened by an outside company coming in to capitalise on the natural, pristine conditions.
A key outcome from the trip was the creation of this short film designed to educate and raise awareness about the impact of commercial fishing on Martha Lavinia Beach. To date the video has been viewed by almost 22,000 people and supported the campaign by King Island locals to oppose the fish farms. A significant outcome for a low budget video that is having a huge impact in this community campaign to save one of King Island’s favourite surf breaks.
This year’s event will be bittersweet as it will be the last CT event the three-time WSL Champion, Mick Fanning (AUS), will compete in as a full time CT competitor. The four-time event winner will look to end his competitive career the way that it started in 2001, with a win at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach ringing the coveted Bell. Fanning will match-up with Sebastian Zietz (HAW) and 2018 CT Rookie Jesse Mendes (BRA) in Round 1 Heat 12 when the competition gets underway.
Photo: joliphotos.com
Victorian Indigenous Surfing Program
Surfing Victoria established the Victorian Indigenous Surfing Program 21 years ago, utilising the sport of surfing as a vehicle to engage Indigenous communities from across Victoria. The program is built on:
- Strong Aboriginal community leadership and engagement in culturally safe and engaging environments that are inclusive, respectful and flexible
- Lasting partnerships with Aboriginal organisations across Victoria
- Clear pathways for progression in surfing and beyond
- Connections with the broader community.
The program is led by Surfing Victoria’s Indigenous Aquatics Manager Jordie Campbell. In 2018, THE program visited locations across the Victorian Coastline from Cape Bridgewater in the far west to Cape Conran in the east, as well as inland locations where Stand Up Paddleboarding programs are providing opportunities for participation.
Key outcomes for 2018 included;
- 675 Participants (January to December 2018)
- 14 Surfing Sessions
- 13 Stand Up Paddleboarding Sessions
- 16 Locations State-wide
- 55% Female Participation
Good luck to all finalists…
The Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame is proudly supported by Tourism and Events Queensland, QT Gold Coast, Nikon, nudie, Hyundai, Australasian Surf Business Magazine, 2XP, XXXX Summer Bright Lager and DrinkWise.
About Australasian Surf Business Magazine
Established in 2004, Australasian Surf Business (ASB) magazine objectively reports on all aspects of the surf industry and is committed to editorial excellence by providing its readers with the only one-stop forum for the entire industry. ASB was founded by Publisher Keith Curtain and in 2008 the company received the ‘Pioneer Award’ at the Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame. More information www.asbmag.com
