Surfers: The new clubbies

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Surfpolitik

Compared to other countries, surfing occupies a peculiar position in Australian public life. As much as we’d like to think of surfers as a band of fringe dwellers, our history tells another story.

In 1974 Nat Young sat next to Prime Minister Gough Whitlam at an Opera House election rally, in 1984 Prime Minister Bob Hawke attended the award ceremony of the OP Oz at Bondi, while later that year Tom Carroll sought counsel from Bob when he decided to boycott South Africa. We’ve since had a Prime Minister who surfs - albeit badly - a state Premier who surfs - only slightly better - plus we can also count numerous ministers, State and Federal, kook and competent, as surfers.

Surfing, at least the public perception of it, is conservative. It offends no-one. It’s used to sell everything from soft drinks to life insurance. It appears on billboards and internet ads.

All that considered, there’s a subtle shift happening right now that will alter the public perception yet again.

Six months ago the resignation of Malcolm Turnbull triggered the Wentworth by-election, the Sydney coastal electorate that takes in Bondi, Tamarama, and Bronte. In the hustings that preceded the election, Liberal candidate Dave Sharma promised $2 million to upgrade Bronte SLSC clubhouse while North Bondi SLSC received $500,000 to build a new gear shed.

Such promises aren’t new and nor are they a surprise. The beach occupies an important position in Australian life and lifesavers protect those who visit our beaches. Surf lifesaving clubs provide a community service and any politician supporting them is seen as doing the same. Surfing - meaning surfboard riding - has just never had the same cachet.

Fun? Yes.

Popular? No doubt.

Beneficial? That’s questionable.

Yet earlier this week came the news that, first the NSW Liberals were using Kelly Slater’s attendance at the Sydney Pro as political capital in this weekend’s state election, and also that the Labor party has promised $4 million to Surfing WA if it wins the upcoming Federal election. The money would be used to build an administration and training facility at Trigg Beach, Perth.

If at first the appearance of Kelly Slater shaking hands with a politician seems like no more than a photo opportunity, then it’s important to realise who is underwriting the Sydney Pro surf contest. Of the main supporters only one, Vissla, is a private company, while Destination NSW, the Northern Beaches Council, and Surfing NSW all rely on public funding. Similarly, all three Championship Tour events are supported by government agencies.

Kelly and James Griffin, MP for Manly, relax at the Sydney Pro

When Nat sat with Gough in the 70s and TC with Hawkey in the 80s, pro surfing paid its own way, bankrolled by surf companies or non-endemics that wanted a slice of the youth market. That’s no longer the case, and the appearance of politicians is more than mere photo op, a way of relating to the youth. Now they’re showing us what government can do for the community. They signed the cheques and now they’re cashing the political advantage.

Over in the west, the new Surfing WA HQ will, according to the press release, “feature an expanded operational area for surfing lessons, water safety programs, training of judges and officials...as well as more workspace for staff”.

Except for the point about surfing lessons, those functions are almost identical to the promises Dave Sharma made to surf clubs in the Wentworth electorate. And $4 million is a significant amount, twice what Bronte, one of the oldest surf clubs in Australia, received.

Of course, Surfing WA’s parent organisation, Surfing Australia, receives government funding each year. However, the recent events elevate surfing to a new standing in Australia, one that’s not just respectable, but presented as beneficial to the community. If you’ve been paying attention you may have noticed the creep.

Last September for instance, Surfing NSW and the Surf Life Saving NSW, reached an agreement to develop “pathways for athletes and share industry knowledge” and the agreement includes “lifesaving assets provided to increase safety at Surfing NSW competitions.”

September 2018, and Surfing NSW and Surf Life Saving NSW sign a deal to align their operations

Although Surfing WA has yet to sign an agreement with WA lifesavers, you’ll note that part of the proposed HQ includes space for “water safety programs”, which was once the sole domain of surf life savers. Similarly, NSW Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant last year awarded $134,000 to Surfing NSW to support the ‘Surfers Rescue 24/7’ course. A course that no surfer I know has heard of. The Victorian government awarded $800,000 for the same course. This is the role that surfers are now beginning to fill.

And by filling that role, surfing has elevated its standing and put itself in a bargaining position. Surfing can extract money from various levels of government under the guise of community service.

When the surf companies could no longer support pro surfing, surfing didn’t wither on the vine. It didn’t become less popular, because the vast majority of surfers don’t compete. However, the government is yet to realise that by bankrolling competition surfing or the state branches of Surfing Australia they’re only reaching a small number of surfers - around 17,000 out of the estimated 1,000,000 surfers in Australia. In other words, just 0.17% of the surfing population.

By comparison, when funds go to life saving clubs they benefit all members of the club and indirectly benefit all people who use that beach. There’s no equivalence between funds for the life saving movement and funds for organised surfing.

One of the only times recreational surfers have been supported by government funding was also in the west, when the McGowan government established a rebate scheme for electronic shark deterrents. It was limited to 1,000 devices.

Surfers may be the new clubbies, but unfortunately for the 983,000 surfers who don’t compete there’s no way to get a slice of the largesse. You may have genuine need, such as environmental concerns or artificial reef propositions but without formal organisation you’re invisible.

Meanwhile, you’re inadvertently part of a head count used to argue for a greater share of the public purse of which you’ll likely never see.

Comments

freeride76's picture
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freeride76 Friday, 22 Mar 2019 at 2:53pm

wonder when the cap for a taxpayer funded Slater wave pool as a training and competition centre will be passed around the halls of govt.

That day can't be far away, surely.

velocityjohnno's picture
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velocityjohnno Friday, 22 Mar 2019 at 3:12pm

I guess if you did the Surfers Rescue 24/7 course you'd see a bit of the funding (and be more useful in case of emergency).

In the breaks I see surfers who are lifesavers, lifesavers who surf, surfers who are paramedics - the lines have blurred.

A cynic might suggest there's a bit of TBTF (too big to fail, a term from the financial markets post 2008) in this. Industry in decline? Here's stimulus.

Other than that, Stab mag did this excellent trial where they floated a huge rubber pontoon out into a decent size swell and people did running step offs into the waves, maybe we could have this for recreational surfers. Just tie it down a bit better than they did.

philosurphizingkerching's picture
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philosurphizing... Friday, 22 Mar 2019 at 3:23pm

If Australian Recreational Surfers formed an ASSociation, what would you call it, something with a nice ring to it.

Ash's picture
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Ash Friday, 22 Mar 2019 at 3:49pm

It's a case of a minority being far, far more organized and focused than the majority. The majority are a bunch of people that bump into each other in beach car parks, in the water and online. There is no board of directors with a CEO to represent us, and then to drive /implement the boards plans to serve us.. The sport side of surfing is strictly business and as such is becoming far more sophisticated and adept at gaining funding and at surviving amongst the other big sports, but not autonomously so far. Ziff, governments and big brands are crucial to keep it looking sharp.
On top of that governments are notoriously good at blowing money on things they deem worthy, which mostly equates to garnering votes via trying to be popular.
The more surfing is viewed just as a sport for online viewing punters, and the slicker the presentation of it, as it's beamed to us via all forms of media, the more I'm glad just to head off to my local and have fun. Having said that I have no objection to watching a good comp and am looking forward to the start of the WSL season, which is hypocritical, but …….

Blowin's picture
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Blowin Friday, 22 Mar 2019 at 3:59pm

Nothing wrong with professional surfing.

It’s just got to remember it’s place.

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lost Friday, 22 Mar 2019 at 3:54pm

Surf Life Saving clubs as best I can tell are publicly funded sports clubs that have a side business of saving lives although the big ones around here have paid council life savers to do most of that. Ever seen a big fat row boat used in a rescue, what about the fleets of skis or the sports paddle boards ? How nice to have them all funded by government and community donations and prime real estate to store all that right on the beach for free.

Blowin's picture
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Blowin Friday, 22 Mar 2019 at 4:50pm

Hands up who would join an Australian Recreational Surfers Association ?

Would be a very useful bipartisan political vehicle to achieve ends important to the rec surfer , as Stu has pointed out.

Fishers have been doing this for a while as their interests don’t always run parallel with those of professional fishers . In fact sometimes they’re in direct conflict.

Same as with surfing.

The united voice of rec fishers has become a powerful voice indeed. Purely from the standpoint of economic activity generated whilst pursuing their pastime , the recfishers have shown that they are larger in scale than the professionals and their political clout reflects this.

https://recfishwest.org.au

Great article, Stu.

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quokka Friday, 22 Mar 2019 at 4:43pm

The most intelligent comment I've seen on any of these forums...ever. I'd join up.

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wingnut2443 Sunday, 24 Mar 2019 at 7:48am

Fuck you Blowin, ya made me log in n battle the fuckin spam bot bullshit on here again...

See my comment further below.

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wbrocheleau Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 4:47pm

This.

Yesterday at the men's final the commentator, when talking about Andre's corporate petroleum sponsor said "Its great to see a petroleum company supporting surfing like that." I'm not sure those commenting were entirely serious, but I still couldn't help feel just how different these two camps have become given the Fight for the Bight paddle was just a week or so earlier in the exact same spot.

An analog to the snow sports industry is Protect Our Winters (POW) in the U.S.. Its mission is environmental based but the political outreach covers economics of the recreation industry and other interests as well.

lost's picture
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lost Friday, 22 Mar 2019 at 4:00pm

$4 million for Trigg Beach LOL - wouldnt they be better buying a fleet of buses and taking those development surfers to where there are actual waves in WA ?

blindboy's picture
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blindboy Friday, 22 Mar 2019 at 5:08pm

"Last September for instance, Surfing NSW and the Surf Life Saving NSW, reached an agreement to develop “pathways for athletes and share industry knowledge” and the agreement includes “lifesaving assets provided to increase safety at Surfing NSW competitions.” "

Hooray, more hoons on jet skis! And if we want safe events then, on their track records, Surfing Australia should be providing the advice and SLSA should be listening.

truebluebasher's picture
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truebluebasher Friday, 22 Mar 2019 at 11:22pm

Stu is bang on the money with surfers cashing in on the sandbanks.
Hats of to Stu for costings as well...$5m per regional base camp is the new norm.
tbb has also noticed the barefooted dole bludgers coming ashore for Chiko Rolls.

Here's the current Govt handout pricing for Aquatic Sports.
$20m buys Olympic Aquatics Gold Medal just so you know!

$100m Olympics Aquatic Venue (Basic indoor) Syd-17,000 seat /Melb 10,000 seat
$43m Comm Games Aquatic Venue (Basic outdoor) GC -10,000 seat
$34m AIS Aquatic Swim Training HQ
$5m Olympic training facility (Olympic Pool complex) Regional -500 seat
Note: Municipal Pools are National Party Tickets come Election Time

Surfing (re: Feature Article)
$5.6m Olympic facility (HP Surf centre)
Fed Govt -$2.54m + NSW Govt-$3m + SA-$100K

Wavepools (URBNSURF obtained $6.5m UK handout)
$5m (Future-Basic Govt funding) WavePark SLSC (This is very much a thing)
Wet'n'Wild Sydney score $500 / nipper (No Bullshit)...Bye Bye Surfers
$5m (Future-Basic Govt funding) Regional Olympic training facility
Depending on Olympic Gold Medals & Surfing becoming an Olympic Regular.
Note; URBNSURF x 10 Oz Parks (high level investors recoup Govt $10m/Park)

SLSA (re: Feature Article)
$5m~ SLSC 'Blue Ribbon' Liberal Sea Change (New or Re-do)
$5.00 + change ~SLSC (Labor thunderbox seat for new toilet roll)

note: All Seachange Libs are SLSC affiliated...many are Honorary & never even know.
SLSC politics ensure their local Fed/State/Council Members are part of the Club...
Larger Fed seats have Blue Ribbon members of multiple Millionaire Beach Clubs.
tbb can verify...Every level GC Lib pollies are fixtures at every GC SLSC.(Standard)

Ironically WSL views Surfers as Left of the Dial.
Oz 'Surf funding' is 90% right of the dial to secure Seachange Power Base.

Surfing Australia will soon politicize local clubs for Max Traditional funding base.
Greens/Labor may be members first choice but hardly SA-HQ funding choice.
Local Boardriders will soon be fetching Tony's Chiko Rolls or else what?

Ok! So how is little brother fairing...

We all know that Aussies already have World #1 Skatepark investment
$100m's Oz wide easy...
Monster Skatepark Sydney is 20 years of constant re design ...Cost?
$3m Olympic standard Skatepark (Fully funded by Logan City Council is current bid)

Olympic Grom Skaters are also on University Skateboard Scholarships.
ASC + state based AIS is training Oz Skaterz

wallpaper's picture
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wallpaper Saturday, 23 Mar 2019 at 9:03am

anything to do with those clowns holding their surfboards and you can stick it up your arse

truebluebasher's picture
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truebluebasher Saturday, 23 Mar 2019 at 9:10am

Credit to Stu for also sussing out the Govt Promo angle.
Every State Govt "Tourism Dept"sponsors each Major WSL Event+ Surf Festivals
Oz/NSW Libs Scomo style economic Surfing promotions are not shy at all...

NSW Govt: Top 10 Surf Destinations
https://www.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/news/top-10-surf-spots-in-nsw-aus...

NSW Govt Top 10 Surf Festivals
https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/news-and-media/media-releases/top-surf...

Oz Govt Grom Apprenticeships:
http://www.apprenticeshipsupport.com.au/News-and-Events/News/ASA-Surf-En...

Surfboard Start Ups:
https://www.jobsfornsw.com.au/whats-happening/news/tweed-heads-surfboard...

Surfers long paid for cashed up City slickers SLSC timeshare.
[Rattle the Tin ...VOTE blue ribbon for the Meat Tray Win]
Local Lib Clubbie will save you, even if you're not on a Roll. {Salute Pollie Clubbies!}

NEWS:
NSW Govt Drone World 1st #99...Little Ripper now 1st Drone to vote in an Election.

All know surfboard industry now decks out the wealthiest of Seachange offspring.
Govts are a perfect match for Surfing's not so clean & green money laundering trail...

Swellnet have also long covered the Oz Made Surfboard push for Govt assist.

memlasurf's picture
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memlasurf Saturday, 23 Mar 2019 at 9:15am

I reckon once you hear the word athlete and surfing it is time to tune out big time. Just an absolute sell out and dumbing it down. I liked Blowins idea as well and Stu that is two from two you have starred.

rooftop's picture
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rooftop Saturday, 23 Mar 2019 at 12:33pm

Insightful article once again. I would second Blowin's suggestion regarding a grassroots body representing the interests of everyday surfers to government. If it were democratically run I suspect it would advocate for the things the majority of surfers (i.e. non-professionals) value. Environmental protection, simple but practical facilities like signage and showers, shark mitigation etc.

Eventually it may help steer the savvier pollies away from sexy but meaningless photo ops and towards the interests of a large voting population.

Garden Gnome's picture
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Garden Gnome Saturday, 23 Mar 2019 at 1:43pm

Nice work Stu, I enjoyed this. I liked your point that recreational surfer numbers are being used to secure funding despite the recreational surfer being unaware. I can remember being at an association meeting many years ago and it became obvious that when it came to hunting grants it was hard for us to make a case when it was pointed out the local junior netball club had a bigger membership than our whole state association. This is why the recreational surfer numbers are brought in. It's also why the association gets into coaching and other enterprises as they seek relevance. It all comes down to the numbers. It would be great if recreational surfers could access subsidised surf rescue and CPR courses, this would benefit the community as a whole. Personally, I would rather see all the tax payer money currently directed towards surfing channelled in to such courses for the whole community. This would have a better public benefit from the public purse rather than funding yet another bureaucracy and/or supplementing the income of a pro surfer. From a selfish perspective my friends and I are at that age where heart health is an issue. It would help those many surfers, like me, who have rescued people at unpatrolled and/or remote beaches.
Once again, great piece of work. Food for thought.

colla2095's picture
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colla2095 Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 11:17am

How many recreational/ competitive netballers have saved a life? Surfers all up and down the NSW coast have been and are saving swimmers lives everyday in and out of the patrolled season. Surfers rescue 24 is an awesome FREE program thats trying to give surfers the confidence to attempt more advanced rescue techniques than we intrinsically already know as surfers. http://www.surfersrescue247.com
This is a start and garnering recognition for the work that gets done by surfers in saving lives. SLSA currently takes all the credit (and funding).
For a start i'd like to see SLSA clubs especially in Sydney be more open and receptive to local board riding clubs and incorporate them into their facilities. Imagine surfers joining SLSA clubs. 365 day involvement with the clubs and all the knowledge and experience instead of weekend worriers and blow ins over summer.
It's a win win in my eyes.

velocityjohnno's picture
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velocityjohnno Saturday, 23 Mar 2019 at 3:39pm

Great comments so far. Mr Gnome, have you considered taking 3 x 100mg asprin within the key holder part of your wettie? You never know when you, or someone else in the lineup, will need something like that. Knowing when to use it of course - see Bronze Medallion course outline.

I dig Blowin's idea of a Rec Surfing association. Let's form it and use millions of funding to target one fundamental aspect of recreational surfing - sandbank quality. I'm thinking big sheds behind the foredune, containing submersible groomers of pretty big size (like on the ski resorts) and any time the banks are straight and the swell small, send them out to scour out a few A frames. I reckon we could drop 100Mn on this and see where it leads
:)

(Or: we could use it to rip out every little bit of Marram grass for better effect...)

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batfink Sunday, 24 Mar 2019 at 9:17pm

Hi Vj. Don't get on here much these days but have been thinking about this long and hard for about 3 months now. Craig's article about the marrum got me thinking about how fucked the banks are at so many beaches on the east coast, all with nicely protected dunes that just sit there, not moving and changing with the seasons.

A beach I frequent often in the holidays a case in point. The only time the banks have any hope is after a thorough thrashing from storm surf, leaving a 6 to 8' drop from the protected dunes down to the beach. Within 2 months they're back in terrible shape, the standard storey then deep gutter the straight bank 50 or so metres out, invariably straight and only breaks at 3-4' and above.

I body surfed the only flagged area over summer, 2-3' waves breaking on virtually dry sand, and that was the swim zone, with a serious current just out from the storey. I had flippers and 40 years experience and while knowing how to make the most of it, it was effing dangerous for anyone.

A 9 or 10 km stretch of sand, get the graders out to pile up A frames all along the beach, and clear out the marrum that isn't protecting houses.

The dune care exercise, while seemingly sensible, is killing our beaches.

From reading here, I assume Stu has addressed this recently.

Ash's picture
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Ash Saturday, 23 Mar 2019 at 4:44pm

Is it time to elect a board and chief? So long as we don't use those American corporate BS titles ala the WSL, IE founder, chief founder, vice founder etc, etc.

Blowin's picture
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Blowin Saturday, 23 Mar 2019 at 6:04pm

What’s the collective noun for a group of individuals who use a photo op with surfers/ surfing to enhance their street cred and youth appeal do you think ?

A FUCKSTAIN of politicians maybe ?

A SKIDMARK of LNP ministers ?

Walk around G's picture
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Walk around G Saturday, 23 Mar 2019 at 7:46pm

Why doesn't the red budgie smuggler wear an Australian suit? Isn't his role, to lead by example??........oh yeh, now I remember, he also likes to drop in on chicks too.....so nah, just another Australian political douchebag.

wingnut2443's picture
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wingnut2443 Sunday, 24 Mar 2019 at 7:55am

As Blowin suggests, we NEED a recreational surfers association.

I would suggest however, to get taken seriously, the name not reduce to a body part acronym.

I'll put my hat into the ring to help get one started. Who'd like to join me?

Garryh's picture
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Garryh Sunday, 24 Mar 2019 at 2:18pm

I'd personally vote for anyone who promised to build surfing reefs or similar near all of the popular surfing areas in Australia. These could have low environmental impact, could be constructed at low cost and would have low or nil ongoing maintenance costs and would increase nearby property prices and increase the enjoyment of many surfers. How many spots have you looked at and thought something like …."imagine if that reef just had a few tweaks" or "imagine putting a sand groyne in the middle of this beach that has no surfable banks" Just sayin

indo-dreaming's picture
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indo-dreaming Sunday, 24 Mar 2019 at 4:26pm

@Stunet

I know blind boy did a piece on Tony year back.

But it would actually be really interesting to see a Swellnet interview with Tony that tried to focus on the surfing side of things.

To really dig into this surfing thing, when did it start?...how often does he go surfing, where has he surfed?...has he traveled to OS to surf?

Just cut out all the political stuff he would try to put in.

Just the comment section would be gold.

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Pops Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 3:16pm

I bumped into him and his minders at a well-known reef south of Mollymook a few years back (possibly before he became PM - he might have been opposition leader at the time). It was pretty funny/farcical - the minders were trying to paddle with the noses of their boards pointing 45 degrees up in the air (going nowhere of course), glaring at everyone else in the lineup. Meanwhile Tone, who could at least paddle a bit, tried to catch every wave that came through, whether there was someone already on it or not. Problem was, he'd be about 30m out on the shoulder. I don't think he actually got any waves, but he made a total pest of himself. Came across more clueless than malicious.

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mattlock Sunday, 24 Mar 2019 at 4:58pm

The less oxygen Abbott gets the better I think. Even if he is just talking about surfing.

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tango Sunday, 24 Mar 2019 at 5:39pm

While an element of herding cats always springs to mind when thinking of organising recreational surfers and the range of characters in that remit, I've always been a bit sad that Surfrider didn't fill this gap. Following its creation in the US, it was started in Australia in '91 by an impressive list of surfers including MR, Rabbit, Jim Banks et al and spear-headed by Brad Farmer. The trouble has been that in pursuing its mission of protecting means, waves and beaches its direction has been interpreted as being only about conservation, when in reality it deals with core business for recreational surfers.
Surfrider organised the paddle out at Torquay to protest Equinor's drilling of the Bight and 2-3,000 recreational surfers turned up.
The infrastructure is already there, it just needs more members to give it the clout it deserves.

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blindboy Sunday, 24 Mar 2019 at 5:47pm

Indo I am pretty sure I have never done anything on Abbott beyond the forums. Why would a surf site run anything on a kook?

indo-dreaming's picture
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indo-dreaming Sunday, 24 Mar 2019 at 6:26pm
blindboy's picture
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blindboy Sunday, 24 Mar 2019 at 6:34pm

Totally forgot about it!

blindboy's picture
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blindboy Sunday, 24 Mar 2019 at 6:02pm

tango part of the problem is that the recreational surfing community is extremely diverse. Trying to get them to agree on anything is extremely difficult. My favourite example of this goes back to the early nineties (or thereabouts) a group of surfers identified a great site for an artificial reef on the NB and began lobbying for its construction. This would have added a prime quality reef with the potential to be surfable on most swells to an intensely crowded area. The President of one of the local boardriders clubs got up at a public meeting and spoke against it on the basis that it would attract too many people. End of project. The divisions are deep and sadly, minds are often narrow. Shortboards, longboards, competitors, soul surfers SUPs, groms, hard core locals, weekend warriors, old farts (that's me!) etc etc. Herding cats? Nah, way harder than that!

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ojackojacko Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 2:40pm

I agree. look at issues of safety - leg ropes and sharks. polarised. let alone dunes, artificial reefs, facilities on beaches that do / do not have them, where money should and should not be directed ...

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andrew-pitt Sunday, 24 Mar 2019 at 10:13pm

Surfing Australia and Surfrider Foundation, we have our representative organisations. I think the issue is more a broadening of the focus and activities of those orgs, which will come about through more diversity at governing board level via organisational evolution. A new organisation would probably suffer the same growth pains and budget constraints.

Blindboy. The Harbord Recreational Reef. Yes, i was there that night - as the designer of the reef. You are right - the Pres of the local boardrider club spoke against the project and we got publicly toasted. But to be fair to him, we should have consulted him and the club. No community backing, project didn't get off the ground. OK fair enough. (Shortly after, a high profile and talented surf journalist wrote an article, reckoned we were "chasing rainbows". I wish he backed us at the time). A painful way to learn.

Years later, a bit wiser with developing property, in 2012 i was involved in the Sand Slug at Cronulla. We did consult with all the clubs and anything that moved - and the project got up (dredged sand to offshore sand bommie). Some good peaks for 3+ months. Surfers, may be diverse, but they can and do unite when they can see a benefit.

Also, the funding for the surf reef built in Cable Station WA in the 90's, was to my understanding, promised during the heat of an election campaign, in what was a swinging seat, a pollie wanting to win over the youth vote. He got in, the reef got funded and built.

blindboy's picture
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blindboy Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 8:57am

Fair enough Andrew, there have been successful projects and there is significant potential for more. From my perspective Surfing Australia would seem to be more part of the problem than part of the solution. They are completely focused on competition which involves only a tiny fraction of the surfing community and even then are really only focused on the elite. OK, that's their role, but they do not in anyway represent a significant percentage of the surfing population and, in some ways, act against their interests. Surfrider is an environmental group. Yes their interests often overlap with those of recreational surfers, but their membership is tiny so they cannot claim to be representative. In terms of the Harbord Reef, my point was that if local surfers cannot agree that a great new surfing spot is a good idea, they will ever agree about anything.

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blindboy Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 9:03am

Oh and some interesting background about Cable Station. It was designed by a bloke who did not surf. He read some papers and identified what one labelled as the ideal peel rate, so he designed it to that specification. My mate, who lives in Perth and surfs it from time to time reckons the result, for the vast majority of surfers, is just a down the line race with neither tube time nor the opportunity for manoeuvres.

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shraz Tuesday, 26 Mar 2019 at 1:34pm

Isn't it odd how readily people will criticise and dismiss an artificial reef when there are probably less than 10 in the world so far, yet we all bag out natural reefs and breaks all the time.
e.g. reef X is shit in south swells under 4ft, spot y needs at least 3ft of 16 sec swell with a WNW at exactly 3.5 knots at spring low tide on Feb 29th.
Yet we expect the most consistent wave in the world from an industry in it's infancy working in the surf zone!

Think about surfboard design, did we get that perfected in the first few goes? How come there have been so many changes since a Polynesian surfed a coconut palm trunk one day, then split it in half the next?

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stunet Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 9:36am

@Andrew,

Unfortunately I see Surfing Australia overreaching and Surfrider Foundation falling short. Here are a few points from Surfing Australia's constitution:

(e) recognise surfing values and the implications on surfing in recreational and natural resource planning and management;
(h) actively support the preservation and conservation of the environment, and join with or affiliate with bodies or organisations concerned with the conservation and preservation of the environment;

Over the last decade I've spoken to a lot of people involved in coastal policy (examples: dredging of Currumbin channel, GC Surf Mangement Plan) or environmental protection and none of them have ever heard from Surfing Australia. Whole campaigns have been planned, staged, and executed with nary a peep from them - despite their consitution.

Surfing Australia have drafted a noble charter but they follow a narrow path, and they either need to remove the above points (and amend a few others), or preferably, expand their purview beyond competition and the sausage factory of 'Surf Groms'. Nothing inherently wrong with encouraging kids to surf but when 10-year-old surfers-to-be get more resources than lifelong surfers then something is amiss.

But yeah, more 'Surf Groms' equals more surfers which equals more money from government to fund the small pool of comp surfers. You can see how it works...

Tango makes a case for Surfrider Foundation but I've been a bit disillusioned by them. At times they've gone missing, and then when they're visible I think they've made dubious choices. I'd like it if they took a more active, even aggressive, role in coastal issues rather than relying on passive events such as beach clean ups. I mean, they should be the ones jumping up and down about Surfing Australia taking the lion's share of government money.

truebluebasher's picture
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truebluebasher Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 10:21am

tbb applauds the diverse angle of funding formats raised by swellnetonians.
It reveals how far surfing has devolved...Sorry as some may prescribe evolve theory?

Gold Coast surfers wish for return to pre pump wide array intricate iconic surfbreaks.
They'd include Points/Creek banks/Reef Bombies/Furrowed Dune A Frames.
This may also include uncovering dozens of lost shipwreck surf breaks.

In order for this to happen Millionaire Row would be sold off along intertidal zone.
Councils would only tidy to allow beaches to shape by natural process.
This is clearly the cheaper & better option than the shapeless outer bank starving us.

Benefit being each east coast Point break would put out longer rides year by year.
Yeah! Ho Hum! Like epic Greenie/Kirra on roidz...who'd wanna surf that?
Every beachie gains more & more A frames towards undulating Gondwana foothills.
More epic surf breaks for increasingly hungry public, free of charge year after year.
Simply by letting the rich take a bath...Win! Win!

We went the otherway with Rich demanding we pay to rescue beach bum mansions.
Burying past surfbreaks & walling a 5m high sand bank closeout coastline
Now more & more surfers fight over the only coast wide closeout party wave.
Today if a Plastic Surf Reef the size of pea puts out a 5 sec ramp surfers want in.

I understand the SeaChange paranoia of Climate Change & why surfbreaks must die.
Swellnetonians fill volumes of WSR dying from overkill. We did this to ourselves.

A surfing body of worth would look to preserve surfbreaks #1 for seacreatures sake.
A Seacreatures natural reef is being smothered to please Palm Beach Millionaires.
Before you say anything! tbb's 1st abode was lost to the sea @ Palmy.
What's saddest of all is our own kind enquire only as to what new wave will be like.
Fuck the reef sharks & soft corals so long as plastic reef has a ramp...(VOMIT!)

Surfjustsurf saves the seacreatures...
Just step back & let the surf do what it does best & we all return to dreamtime.
Surfers simply oversee ever contouring foreshore reserve from selfish intervention.

or just keep building skateramps on top of bombies...an extra 10,000 will do the job.
No longer do any see the sea as free...marine debris litters every wave for eternity.

Halibut's picture
Halibut's picture
Halibut Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 12:15pm

Great stuff TBB, some of your best yet, funny ..........and haunting

Ash's picture
Ash's picture
Ash Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 12:29pm

Interesting thread, and thanks to Stu for shining a light on "where the money goes" and for pointing out that Surfrider could do more to secure more gov funding, good journo ground work.
When money's involved things get nasty real quick, those who receive will justify why they deserve it and the rest of us will want it all to be fair and squarely divided into places that will benefit all. I'm in the fair and square camp, but realize that anything to do with politicians and tax payers money is always going to be controversial and possibly badly spent.
Having said that I have personal reservations on becoming a card carrying association member of a recreational surfing body. The biggest reason being is that surfing to me has been about escape, escape from everything else involved in daily life, IE bills, work, politics, family and the rest of it that makes life difficult, and as such the thought of yearly dues, meetings and just being organized seems to be the opposite of just heading to the beach and getting wet for a couple of hours.
I know that sounds selfish and ignorant, especially nowadays when there's a lot on the line for coastal management, but just the thought of any involvement from government makes me nervous, the last thing I want is them or any non surfers starting to interfere. The thought of a board license, mandatory surf rider insurance and rules and regs posted at every surf spot, and more scrutiny on just heading out for a surf is the wrong direction for me. No one has said that will happen, just me, but it's clear surfing is heading in this direction, just look at Byron's lawyers that are eyeing off surf injury claims and the debate on over crowding and safety ( gold coast jet ski's as an example ), this alone is drawing the attention of councils.
I could be convinced to change my mind, and possibly if it was a real winner for all surfers and the coast I will change it. I just wish it all could reverse back in time to a less competitive era when surfing was a simpler form of indulgence, but that's just wishful thinking.

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jackhorgan's picture
jackhorgan Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 12:28pm

surfing and politics do not go together

truebluebasher's picture
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truebluebasher Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 12:35pm

Salute! Stu as surf president mainly because he's in his element here.
Ask yourselves surfers, who else is prepared to lay it on the line..Big call Stu...
Needs some local back up & you got it!

Firsty I joined swellnet because i felt it best represented surfers. All breed of Surfers!

I salute swellnet's Local Board Swap not because i ride boards but because I don't.
A rare display of surfers leading by example on eco homefront...Less is more please!

https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2019/02/12/swellnet-life...

https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2018/04/17/success-swell...

Sounds right up Surfriders Alley that whole sustainable surf front does it not?

But as Stu quite rightly points out ...Surfrider Foundation are falling short.
Sadly quite the opposite to swellnet Lifeline board swap is goin down over there.

Surfrider raffles off a selfish 5 board quiver or Jet to Bali. ('Plane wrong' message)

https://www.facebook.com/SurfriderAus/posts/final-days-to-enter-our-raff...

https://www.facebook.com/SurfriderAus/videos/surfrider-ultimate-quiver/1...

From Hero from Villain! Surfrider now pushin' plane loads of marine debris? (Choke!)

I'm sure none here see this as a Surfrider witch hunt...tbb has saluted past efforts.
Only that you have to actually represent grass roots not just milk the marketing title.

Swellnet have fronted up to back surfrider when needed over the years.
Readers can access Swellnet Stu's engagement with Surfbody on many occasion.

https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2010/11/16/surfrider-fou...

https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2011/01/26/tom-kirsop-mission

https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2012/11/26/surfrider-rise

https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2013/07/28/surfing-silence-and...

tbb came across this 2016 swellnet Surfing Pollies Forum.
https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2016/01/11/fergal-smith-and-sh...

Swellnetonians warmly invite Surfrider Foundation for a super stoked surf session...
Not just to earn respect as we all benefit from Surfrider Foundation's contribution.
Clearly surfers appreciate a surf body...Surfrider Foundation has the stage...

truebluebasher's picture
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truebluebasher Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 1:02pm

Huge thanx to Halibut...caught me by surprise!
All credit goes to Stu for getting down & dirty...easy to back up Swellnet Stu's lead.

tbb follows Halibut's example by saluting all commentators @ Swellnet ***** forum.
All here are steppin' up... I reckon we might just conjure up a set wave after all.

Huey sends Party Wave of the Day~~~~^~~~~//`~~~~/(`~~~~/(C...[stu's-crew)

andrew-pitt's picture
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andrew-pitt Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 2:20pm

The thread here is the disconnect between we recreational surfers (us) and our representative organisations (them).

I got a lot of respect for local board rider clubs. To see the joy on surfers faces when they come together. The heats and the competition? there is a bit of that too, but it's not the main game, local competitions are that rare moment when surfers come together as community. In my experience local boardrider clubs are (us) and they got a heap of issues about (them) too.

Most successful organisations function with a; a main governing board, who take on specialist advice from advisory committees, with a CEO & staff acting out on the implementation. The clubbies already do this, so do socially responsible organisations.

A suggestion is for Surfing Australia to set up an Infrastructure Advisory Committee, that then supports local board rider groups that have local agenda's that include; renovating a surf reef, building a surf reef, amending sand nourishment deposit plans, amending any coastal works to get better waves, or even putting in a local shower at the beach, or viewing platforms, and more... The support would include: official letters of support, advisory tips, referrals, suggestions for natural in-situ materials, weeding out the wacky from the possible, and weeding out the inappropriate remote and natural locations. A bottom up approach. Cost for this committee; minimal to zero.

How does one lobby the 7 people on the board of Surfing Australia?
https://www.surfingaustralia.com/p/our-board

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 2:36pm

@Andrew,

Yet still, membership of boardriders club are a tiny fraction of the surf population. The Sweeney Report - which Surfing Australia use - says there are 2.5 million surfers in Australia.

If that's true, then just 0.068% are in boardriders clubs!

I happen to think that number is wrong and a more realistic criteria would have it around one million, so 0.17%. Even if you sharpen the criteria so the number drops to 100,000, it's only 1.7%

No matter how you dice it, boardriders clubs (and by extension Surfing Australia) just don't represent surfers.

andrew-pitt's picture
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andrew-pitt Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 2:48pm

No challenge on your perspective Stu, i agree with your sentiments, but...

But let's consider another perspective, on how Australia actually functions.
As far as the government is concerned, at all 3 levels, if we are talking public land (the beach) and public money (govt $$) - then as far as the government is concerned, Surfing Australia and local Boardrider clubs - "speak" for surfers, so they actually do, and can, represent surfers, in the absence of any alternative.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 2:58pm

And that's my point. I would've liked to see Surfrider (or something equivalent) force the issue, or Surfing Australia make good on their charter. Instead there's a void, as you note, and "they" take "our" money.

The alternative is to form a recreational organisation - and hey, I've heard you speak and I know you have great organisational skills! - or keep kicking the can till the respective politicans realise that Surfing Australia is pulling a swifty.

freeride76's picture
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freeride76 Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 3:02pm

No disrespect intended but after looking at the make-up of the Surfing Australia board it's hard to imagine a less representative group of people to speak on behalf of Australian surfers.

blindboy's picture
blindboy's picture
blindboy Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 3:10pm

Yeh I'll agree with that and, in a couple of cases, add a dash of disrespect.

Ash's picture
Ash's picture
Ash Tuesday, 26 Mar 2019 at 12:01pm

Just checked who's on the Surfing Australia board, 7 people, Lane Beachley and Ace, which is fair enough and then 5 others that have formidable business, legal and banking experience and possibly FA surfing experience, bar the banker. No wonder they get the lion's share of gov funding with that line up.

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truebluebasher Monday, 25 Mar 2019 at 11:25pm

tbb link : This Politician features in main article...
NSW Liberal Politician's letterhead dated 7/Oct /2009 to Surfrider Foundation.
Said Pollie/Leader was the Chairman of Manly National Surf Reserve
http://www.surfingreserves.org/pdf/outgoing.pdf

http://www.surfingreserves.org/manly.php

Pause! We'll just stay with that NSR link for a sec'
I'm just wanting to know why National Surf Reserve site has been locked on 2016?
Because it doesn't feature endorsed Cabarita NSR (Swellnet run the endorsement!)
Also did Cabarita ever get dedicated @ 2018 Australian Surfing Festival or later?
Reason I ask is that NSR committee seem dead for near 3 years now?

Here's where tbb salutes fellow local swellnetonian Big Kahunas..
tbb Salutes fellow Swellnetonian WSR GC Chairman Andrew McKinnon
GC WSR Endorsed: 15/Oct/2015...Dedicated 8/March/2016

tbb Salutes fellow Swellnetonian WSR Noosa President Phil Jarratt
Noosa WSR Endorsed: 16/Nov/2017...Dedication (Noosa Fest? )March 2020

Interesting to note WSL 1/2/3 Oz comps lock in 1/2/3 Oz WSR's.

Margaret River NSR + WSL.

Bells/WSL
Bells is regarded as 1st WSR but falls outside modern format.(More Protection?)
Huey forbids tbb to tell the tale of Bells Surfing Reserve that's for Vicco Tribal Elders.

Be a great learning curve to see how far from the tree we have fallen.
Bells is the Highest level Political marriage with surfers of the day and ever since.
Love it for Viccos to educate fellow swellnetonians on #1 Bells reserve...Pretty Please!

truebluebasher's picture
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truebluebasher Tuesday, 26 Mar 2019 at 9:54am

tbb supports fellow swellnetonian davetherave's basherz battery az if / if ever.

Ok! So basherz prop up the town by wearing out the seat of their boardies.
Rejected from the town's seafood chain but work hard as Bikini Bottom inspectors.

Not a major donor to the AEC but rank as solid Top 5 / Oz Beach Bums.
If only lowlife Basherz would contribute less they'd gain a swag of Surf Reserves.

All Hail The Nudist! The original #1 Beach Bums example how less = more
With no coin pouch? Our Locals Only Beach gets invaded by a Force of Nature.

Soon as White Pointers pack out the beach the bottomless crew ship 'em all out.
Topless Beach Babes/Surfers/Nippers desert the beach in droves never to return.
Within less than a minute another protected Nudist Colony is established...Bugger!

Nudists have more protection than NSR/Marine Parks/Beached Whales combined
Without Guns/Hooks/Fin Chops the freedom fighters claim a new beach (Yawn!)
"This hanging out is such hard work...Does my bum look bigger on this beach?".

tbb will spare the graphic detail for now as that would be too much to bare.
There is a tail to tell & tbb will get to the bottom of it...
tbb is no way elbowing swellnetonians to start hanging out at the local. Phone [000]

Qld censorship board have dog eared tbb from wading thru Part II...
Nice & Sleazy version please Gary!

spencie's picture
spencie's picture
spencie Tuesday, 26 Mar 2019 at 2:36pm

Great article Stu. Some very good points made by most contributors and I'm enjoying the thrown in humour as well.
When I started surfing in 1963 surfers were largely seen as social misfits, but almost without noticing it surfing has become mainstream, even though quite a few surfers would rather it didn't. We might as well take advantage of it politically if possible like recreational fishers and shooters have effectively done.

islandman's picture
islandman's picture
islandman Wednesday, 27 Mar 2019 at 2:23pm

Surfing is slowly becoming a major head @##$ i mean I get up go for a drive find a spot paddle out get stoked come in and get a coffee anything beyond that is way over complex for my liking

David Hunt's picture
David Hunt's picture
David Hunt Wednesday, 27 Mar 2019 at 3:39pm

Mike Baird poor surfing was better than the state that he left NSW in!

Look at the City and and Anzac Parade.

I hope his alleged job at a bank was not money in payback for his services to dodgy developers? Maybe Bob Carr's book reading duties for $500k pa at an Investment Bank was an earlier role model?2

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petermitchell Friday, 29 Mar 2019 at 12:53pm

I’d also like to point out that the Warringah electorate is increasingly filling up with cashed up ex-pats who:
Think that clubbies and surfers are one and the same.
Are horrified by the ocean and think that they need to enlist their kids and themselves in the club (hence the overblown memberships at city SLSCs)
Believe the bull$#%* that our clubs are inadequate and in disrepair.

South Steyne clubhouse is poised to undergo a 5 million dollar rebuild!
What a rort...it’s not even 30 years old!
The argument is that it’s falling apart (whose faults that?) and it’ doesn’t have enough space for the 700 members (maybe cull about 500)
I could fix all the worlds problems given the opportunity.

the-u-turn's picture
the-u-turn's picture
the-u-turn Friday, 29 Mar 2019 at 9:49pm

Well written Stu. Obviously, from the response, it's a worthwhile topic to explore further.

bigtreeman's picture
bigtreeman's picture
bigtreeman Sunday, 31 Mar 2019 at 10:18am

Is it difficult to surf with greased palms ???
The whole political, corporate, pre-election promises, graft and corruption.
Do we need the money bad enough to get ..it on us when it hits the fan.
Surfing works because it is clean and fun.
Don't get tarnished standing too close to the scuzzbags.

truebluebasher's picture
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truebluebasher Sunday, 31 Mar 2019 at 9:11pm

Stu opened a pandora's box more than a can of worms. (tbb reckons Stu hit pay dirt)

*Surfing Culture
Reserves represent the world to surfers hence NSR advance to WSR.
Well before NSR, townsfolk petitioned local/State/Federal Govts for the similar.

1885/86 Burleigh Head Cultural Heritage listed Qld reserve for recreation (Surfing).
1947 NP > 2015 WSR The town flank alone exceeds $3b worth of flow on.
Recently The Beach Pavillion blocked Beach trail to The Point.(Locals aren't happy!)
Qld Tourism funds Burleigh Pro 2017-$20,000 now 2019-$150,000

2018 -2021 Qld Tourism > $13m < return flow > (Roxy + Quicky) Equal M/F money?
https://teq.queensland.com/news-and-media/latest-news/gold-coast-secures...

1973 Bells Surfing recreational reserve (tbb sticks by his word...not my story to tell)
(re: Swellnet save' Bells Articles)
https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2012/04/05/bells-beach-alterna...
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2016/09/19/help-save-bel...

1995 Surf Coast 'Shire' (Victoria)
Surf City - Torquay awarded cultural grant $250,000 by 3 tier Govts
http://www.g21.com.au/news/new-era-australia%E2%80%99s-surfing-capital

Surf Coast (Tasmania Tourist Region)
Surf City- (Gold Coast adopts this name during 'International surf conventions')
Both mostly Seasonal Govt Tourism Publications

More so each day surfers fight harder to protect their Surf reserves.
Once etched in stone they are now up for grabs with Govts chipping away.

1825 GC Broadwater (Reserved from Sale) 1872 GC Spit (Reserve-Public Purpose)
Locals never stop battling Council & now Govt also stealing our park reserves.
Proposed SMP sees GC Spit lose 3 Riverfront Beaches/2 Surf Beaches/5 parks.

Govt / Council / GC Bulletin code for the theft of our reserves = {GC Central Park}
Trio of Bullies claim anti 'Central Park' protestors are selfish whingers...
That's right! They sell out our seafront parks, lock half of us out & we're the bad guys.

Northern GC Surfers salute swellnet & Southern GC Surfers [Mick vs Mayor's CST]

Spit Maritime Museum > (Extreme weather events / Fishing / Boating / *Surfing)
1829 OZ #1 Surfing site 1864 Bodysurfing 1911 Local Board + riding
Unique GC Surf Pioneers aren't celebrated Locally, Nationally or Internationally.
I could help with a detailed rendition in this rare surfing field if any are serious...

Look a bit stupid if SA / Surfrider / WSL aren't in on the act but that's the fact.
No show is probably better than tacky Pro sticker Trail.

Surf Museum funding is low key but scoops lion's share of Coastal Sport Museums.
eg: Sporting Hall of Fame $10,000 Surfing Museum $8,000 (Others $5,000 or less)
Surfing Museums are increasing in number almost as kindred NSR custodians?

Surfing Reserve > Festival > Museum >Woodies > Boardswap > Films >Bands >brew
This organic formula links up Nationwide mostly turning backs on WSL / SA / SF.
tbb salutes Skegz for organic cultural reclamation in a sea of plastic... It lends hope!
Readers may agree surf festivals wed laid back Reserves more so than WSL Carnival.

GC Bleach Festival mirrors WSL circus as an affront to Surfers. GC offers our apology.
Thanks to Oz for helping us when it matters most...please forgive the tacky stuff.

truebluebasher's picture
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truebluebasher Tuesday, 2 Apr 2019 at 12:45am

tbb presents (Oz Professional Surfing History) Exclusive to swellnet.

1820 1st Wavepool (Private) - 'Bogey Hole' constructed by paid NSW Convicts
Being first Private fee to secure first private slice of Pacific oceanfront for Surf swim.
http://www.urbaninsider.com.au/uimap/got-24-hours-to-kill-in-newcastle-1...
1829 1st Surfcraft (Private) Custom materials & Size constructed by Qld Convicts
1829 1st Professional Surfing of said SurfCraft performed by Qld Convicts
1829 1st Retail / Export of said Surfcraft by Qld Convicts (Bayfront Surf shop)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunwich_Convict_Causeway
1862 Bathing Boxes 'Private' Beach Entry / Quarters Brighton Vic. now $337,000
https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/melbourne-vic/surging-tide-o...
1864 Surf Bathing Qld 'Sport of Princes' (Naked locals surf with well heeled Folk)
1870's Tweed Pilot Crew (Paid) were said to go Bodysurfing when surf was right.
1885 Surf Product Law Qld Surf'Bathers required 'Swimwear' (Nude cont 1920's...)
1890 Cruises to Qld Eco Reef Resort (Green Island)
1894 Ticketed Transit to Island (Offshore) Eco/Surf Reserve Victor Harbour Tram
http://horsedrawntram.com.au/about/history/
1907 1st 'Subscriber' built paid entry to Ocean Wave Pool - Wylies Baths Coogee
Surf pool is ever timetabled by Swell & Tide. NSW public surfbaths were similar.
re: 1st Paid Entry to Ocean Surf/Swimming Event/s (Unchecked)
1907 1st Surf Clubs NSW 1909 Qld (Surf Club Equipment was funded by Towns)
1908 FINA World Body governs professional Oz Surf/swimmer Competitors.
1912 Women's first Olympic Gold Oz Swimmer trained in Wylie 'private' Surf Pool.
1912 T Walker is 1st to purchase/ import/ ride o/s SurfBoard (previously all Oz made)
1914/15 Dukes Tour Entry fee >Night Surf'swim events (Varying degree of Swell)
Note these events also featured Night surf'swim boards in Ocean environs
1915 Duke's (Shaped by Cunha-Surfboards) Auction (End of Qld Tour)
1919 Australian National 'Competitive' Surfboard riding Champion.
1933/35 Surfcraft Hire Surfoplanes NSW/Qld
1930's Hire Camps Qld Christian Youth Camp + State Education Surf Camp BH'NP.
1950's Surf Books & Surf Films hit the Market.
1963 Surfing Australia (Professional Surfboard Riders Association)
1963 Skimboards (Retail)
1963 Skateboards (Retail) Surfa- Sam
1964 Aussies win 1st World Surfboard riding Championship Manly (Sponsored)
65,000 crowd - Likely early beach/lease surf product stalls? (unchecked)
1965 SLSA introduces 'Stand up' Surfing
https://www.freshwaterslsc.com/surf-sports/board-riding/
1970 Wetsuits (retail) Torquay
1970's Legropes (retail) NZ/OZ
1977 Surfboard riders Comp charges entry fee to a Coastline (Stubbies) unchecked!
1983 Mechanical Surfboard Comps
https://www.tweeddailynews.com.au/news/apn-mechanical-surfboard-swell/14...
1986 Ticketed entry to Artificial Wavepool (Gold Coast Wet'n'Wild)
1986 Disabled Surfers Assoc' Aust. leaders >> (accessible SLSA / Govt assist)
1998 Online Surf Reporting/Web cams...Subscription (Swellnet...see the boss)+CW
2006 Ticketed entry to Flow Wave (Dreamworld)
2007 Softboard Surfing lessons for Artificial Wave Pool (Huey's Cave of Waves Qld)
2010 Wavepool (Darwin) allows Bodyboards @ $35/yr(1c / hr) or daily fee.
2011 (Pro) Flowboard World Champs (Asian leg) (Dreamworld GC)
2012 Ticketed Flex Flow wavestand Sth Port Headland WA
2014 Oz Cruise Ship -Flow Surfing
2015 SLSA Ripper Nippers ( Disabled Access) in Wavepool (Sydney Wet'n'Wild)
2016 Govt's fund SLSQ Disabled Surf access at... Burleigh Heads.
2018 Ticketed entry / Comps for Flow barrel fibreglass Surfboard Riders (WA)
2018 Govt's fund $millions for 'Surf Park' proposals but none exist to date.

Future sees Govt forging wave access via equal means be it natural or wavepool.
PT / Coaches / Public + Pets / SA / SLSA will be sharing waves more often.

tbb footnote.
Safe equal Wave access also means more policing of more controlled wave setting.
Beaches are being closed more to now ALL users by combined Govt levels.
Storms/Sharks/Stingers/Wave Height/Beach Access/Pollution all close beaches.

This income loss upon affected Coastal Surf Towns is a growing concern.
Repeated spate of events at Ballina/Whitsundays/Fraser Island is least welcoming.
Swellnetonians wish all & similar oceanside townsfolk better times ahead.

tbb thanks readers & swellnet.

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Tuesday, 2 Apr 2019 at 1:20pm

tbb never breaks a promise...Qld censorship board are reviewing a xxx ACT beta.
We've got spare 1hr to sneak a peep under the radar at Nude Surfin' Part II

(G) Version.

Wiki has the complete perv's list....can't top that!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_nudity_places_in_Oceania

tbb instead will go deep under cover investigating secret Qld /Border nude beaches
1890's Bne was still nude at small wave points (Sandgate/Redcliffe)
1903-15 Greenmount remained nude well after Bne train until guesthouses.
1920's Nudists split some to Burleigh & south to D'bah.
1930's Islander cane gangs bathed nude southward to Cudgen Creek until 1970's.
1970's Spit / Miami nook / Groynes / Fingal /Kingy Back Beach were nude beaches
Today: Signs don't deter Fingal Nudists

Byron / Sunny Coast nude beaches can be accessed via above Wiki

1975 1st official Oz Nude Beach Maslin Beach (Nude Olympics)

War on Waves (Nudists vs Surfers) Parody...Possibly real...Hard to tell.

2009 Brasil chased away those cheeky bikini girls distracting them from surfing.
https://360guide.info/crazy-stuff/world-record-wave-surfing.html

2010 South Africa Surfers reclaim their beach
https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/south-africa-wants-record-surfers-in...

2010 Qld Nude sorkelers push into the wavezone
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/78081...

2010 Qld Army of Surfers plan their nude beach invasion (Kirra)
https://www.surfer.com/features/kirra_protest_paddleout-demonstration/

2011 Old Nudists reclaim their beach for Olympic Glory
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/05/05/3208773.htm

2012 Oz Surfers reclaim the beach from Naked Hippies (Victoria)

2013 Nudists reclaim a beach in (Spain)
https://www.thelocal.es/20130722/spain-smashes-skinny-dip-world-record

2014 Another fearless wave of Oz surfers fights back
https://www.theinertia.com/surf/world-record-attempt-110-surfers-share-w...

2015 (March) WA Nudists reclaim beaches from sand kicking Bully Surfers
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/skinny-dip-world-record-smashed-by-7...

2015 WWIII Surfers Stormtroop French Rivers in the bravest of battles
https://unofficialnetworks.com/2015/05/11/tons-of-surfers-kayakers-and-s...

2015 WW III Surfers launch fully armed Amphibian Craft in US
https://www.ocregister.com/2015/06/22/video-watch-guinness-record-set-in...

2017 Surfers put up a good fight but to no avail they counted their losses (US)
https://www.ocregister.com/2017/06/20/more-than-500-surfers-form-circle-...

2018 Naked Fembots now rule the Seas...nothing mere mortal men can do about it!

2018 Nudists now own surfers even booking out Town's Wavepools (Canada)
https://calgarynuderecreation.ca/

2018 Female Nudists are now imbedded in WSL

Basherz Salute fellow fallen Skegz {R.I.P} It was a fight we had to lose!

[Breaking news]
Fully clothed Femlin Basherz vow to reclaim waves for menfolk...Go Chicko Chix!
https://www.theinertia.com/surf/13-women-just-set-a-bodysurfing-world-re...

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Wednesday, 3 Apr 2019 at 9:42am

[Breaking News]
Please do join in congratulating esteemed swellnetonian Andrew McKinnon.
'AndyM' has just secured 6th 'Global Wave Conference' 10-15 Feb 2020 GC WSR

Huey's Mothership peacepipe Pow Pow in the greenroom with The Big Kahuna...
Tent City here I come..."Parker! Is Sophie's Woody sandblasted?" Cowabunga!

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/4/3/gold-coast-2020-global-w...

https://www.google.com/search?ei=7t2jXP_AMNPGrQHM3LIg&q=1st+global+waves...