Wooden Boards at Coolum Sunday 18th November

Want a chance to surf and skate alongside amazing athletes? Golden Days Surfrider Eco Challenge offers this opportunity. With the support of local industry giants, Surfing Queensland, Tommy Wegener, Codfish, Surfing Green from the surf side of things to Boardstore and Drawing Boards for skate, this day is an opportunity for the local community to get out and enjoy the coast with a slight twist.

Deviating from the traditional surf competition style, Surfrider Foundation is bringing a surf event to Coolum Beach, as part of Golden Days Surfrider Eco Challenge on Sunday November 18, from 8am-5.30pm. The surf event will be held from 8am-midday. Surfers will be awarded points on the heart that they put into their surf, not on technical expertise.  It’ll open up a whole new ball game.

President of the local Surfrider Foundation branch, Sally Atkinson, feels that this event is both an opportunity to celebrate coastal communities, as well as bringing wooden surfboards out for everyone to enjoy, irrelevant of age or experience.

“It’s not only good for the environment, by promoting a more eco-friendly material, but it’s about people from all walks of life coming together,” Ms Atkinson said.

There are several surf event categories people can enter into. The ‘Beat Fred’ wooden surfboard event is a different way to get your finless fix. The finless Alaia surf event is where the community gets the chance to challenge current Noosa Festival of Surfing champion, Fred Branger for the best wave of the day. Those not versed in the delights of the Alaia can try their hand at the short (including mini-mals) or long board event, aptly named the “Short and The Long Of It.” This is an opportunity for men, women and kids to surf together, as handicap points, depending on experience, will be allotted to each surfer.

For those not brave enough to jump in on the surf action, they can bring down their wooden surfboard and have a yarn or two about the wave that got away. Otherwise, local surfing legend, Tommy Wegener, will have his boards for hire, for a mere gold coin donation.  This “stoke fest” will bring the sheer joy of wooden surfboarding to everyone www.tomwegenersurfboards.com.

The highlight of the surf will be the Guinness World Record attempt for the 'Most Surfers Riding the Same Wave'. Currently the world record goes to Earthwave, in 2009, South Africa, for 110 surfers. Come down and throw yourself and your board into this. All styles welcome. The first attempt will be made at 11:30am, at Coolum Beach, on Sunday November 18.

Codfish http://woodensurfboards.com.au will raffle one of their boards on the day, with all proceeds going to the local Surfrider Foundation. Surfing Green, who has contributed to event organisation, will have a retail stall at the event showing their latest wooden craftsmanship www.surfinggreen.com.au.

Appreciating that the Sunshine Coast has a thriving skate scene, local skate retailers and performers, Boardstore www.boardstore.com.au and Drawing Boards www.drawingboards.com.au will run the skate event associated with the Golden Days Surfrider Eco Challenge. ‘Trix on Stix’ will cater to the under 10’s, that are up-and-coming to the sport (8am-9am). ‘Smash the Wall’ will feature older skaters with aerial displays and feats from 10am-midday. It’ll be stylised skating at its best. Tricks, jams and demos will feature. Boardstore is offering $500 of gifts to local skaters on the day. This will be held at Tickle Park, Coolum Beach, November 18.


The Golden Days Surfrider Eco Challenge is an event of the Golden Days Music Festival www.goldendaysfestival.com.

Pre-entries for all surf and skate events and overall festival
information can be found at www.surfriderecochallenge.com.

For more information on the Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast and/or event inquiries visit: www.surfrider.org.au or contact us on 0405 567 930 or surfridersunshine@live.com. Surfrider Foundation Australia is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection of waves and beaches. We do this through Conservation, Activism, Research and Education (CARE). The foundation has 29 Branches and Beach Representatives nationwide.