Surfers and surfer dogs are poised to star at one of the world’s most iconic board riding events.
Competitors from around the globe will take part in the 32nd edition of the famous Noosa Festival of Surfing, from Friday, March 3, to Sunday, March 12.
This year’s schedule is packed with events, in and out of the water.
Festival commentator Thomas Alexander said there was plenty of attractions, but the novel dog surfing event was expected to again attract immense interest.
It’s continued to grow in popularity during its 11-year running, with about 2500 spectators watching the talented pets last year.
“The festival has become synonymous with dog surfing,” Mr Alexander said.
“It’s always the biggest crowd-pleaser.”
Such is the interest in dog surfing, it’s taken some of the spotlight off the main surfing competition, which will include local reigning world longboard champion Harrison Roach.
The festival will also include live music, a fundraiser for SurfAid, a film night, merchandise, memorabilia, trivia night, fashion parade, Board Meeting charity dinner and more.
“Fundamentally, it’s a surfing event but there is so much more going on and everybody is welcome,” Mr Alexander said.
“Even if you hate surfing there is still plenty of activations on dry land that will appeal, like the beach bar, where you can take the best seat in the house and enjoy the beautiful Laguna Bay sunset from the sand.”
It’s estimated the festival could attract between 12,000 to 15,000 people, injecting up to $6m into the local economy via expenditure at accommodation, cafes, restaurants, experiences, retail and transport.
“It creates a nice bump in the economy between Christmas and Easter holidays, before the winter drop-off,” Mr Alexander said.
He said Noosa Heads was a perfect surfing destination, largely because of its convenience.
“Many surf breaks require people to travel and the breaks are set back from the beach,” he said.
“And many breaks can be aggressive, powerful, fearful places.
“But the Noosa surf is so accessible, close to shore, where people have a great view.
“The shape of the headland makes the waves incredible for all ages and abilities.”
He said the region’s laid-back vibe also made it a perfect location for surfing.
“The area is also very welcoming. Everyone is very accepting,” he said.
“There are always stories about surf rage around the world but Noosa has avoided the majority of that and the surfers here are welcoming and encouraging of others.
“So, it’s a beautiful place to watch surfing and it’s also a great place to take your first steps on a board. “
Mr Alexander said the competition at this year’s festival should be intriguing, especially with the inclusion of Roach.
“It’s really exciting to have him at the event,” Mr Alexander said.
The 31-year-old won the world title at Malibu in California in October.
He will come up against a host of top competitors at the festival, which will include multiple divisions, including a key qualifying event for the world longboard tour.
The festival will also boast contests for juniors and for retro board riding, and prizemoney will be three times more than previous years.
About 400 competitors are expected at the festival.
Events will be held at First Point and potentially Noosa Woods, Sunshine and Sunrise beaches, depending on conditions.
“We had a big cyclone swell recently and a pulse over the weekend,” Mr Alexander said.
“So, the banks will have shifted around a bit at First Point. There is a bit of a lull there but hopefully it (the swell) will creep up by Monday and we’ll be able to compete there.”
There is also a strong focus on sustainability at this year’s festival, which is held in a world surfing reserve.
There will be a beach clean on Clean Up Australia Day (Sunday, March 5) and an event for Surfers for Climate – a movement dedicated to positive climate action.
“They work really hard to give surfers a voice on a political level,” Mr Alexander said.
“They rally surfers to show up to events and protests and sign petitions and spread awareness through the community about things like offshore drilling, seismic testing and waste management, to protect oceans.”
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