| Surfing in Australia | |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Governing body | Surfing Australia |
| National team | Australia |
| National competitions | |
| Club competitions | |
| International competitions | |
Australia is renowned as one of the world's premiersurfing destinations. Surfing underpins an important part of the Australian coastal fabric, and forms part of a lifestyle in which millions participate and which millions more have an interest. For many years the sport was closely associated with thesurf life saving movement in Australia. Australian surfboard-makers have driven innovation insurfboard design and production since the mid-1960s, and corporate giantsBillabong,Rip Curl, andQuiksilver were established in Australia.
Surfing was brought to Australia in 1915 by HawaiianDuke Kahanamoku.[1] He demonstrated this ancient Hawaiian board riding technique atFreshwater (or Harbord) inSydney, New South Wales. Kahanamoku's board is now on display in the northeast end of the Freshwater Surf lifesaving club, Sydney, Australia.
In the 1950s, surfing was so popular that theAustralian Government put laws in place in an attempt to curb surfing during working hours. The laws were removed after they resulted in more people surfing than usual.[citation needed]
In 1956, a team oflifeguards from the US introducedMalibu boards to Australia.[2]
In the 1960s, Australian surfboard designerBob McTavish invented the V-bottom surfboard, which is considered instrumental to the development of shortboard surfing.[3]
Australia has produced manyAssociation of Surfing Professionals (ASP) world champions,[4] such asWayne Bartholomew,Tom Carroll,Barton Lynch,Damien Hardman,Mark Occhilupo,Mick Fanning,Joel Parkinson,Stephanie Gilmore,Layne Beachley,Wendy Botha,Pauline Menczer,Chelsea Georgeson,Sally Fitzgibbons, andMark Richards.[5]
The World Surf League incorporates three major championship titles held in Australia: theQuiksilver Pro Gold Coast,Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, and theDrug Aware Margaret River Pro.
One of the most successful Australian surfers, Mick Fanning, has won four titles atBells Beach, Victoria, earning him the number one spot in the surfing ranks.[6]
Australia is renowned as one of the world's premiersurfing destinations.[7] There are many popular surfing beaches around the continent, includingNoosa main beach andSnapper Rocks inQueensland, andCape Woolamai inVictoria.[8]
No surfing is possible in many parts ofnorthern Australia due tocoral reefs subduing waves. Modern surfboard design has been shaped by both Australian and Californian developments.[9]
Surfing Australia is the national sporting body which guides and promotes the development of surfing.
Surfing is a popular recreational sport around Australia, and a culture has grown alongside.[10] The culture of surfing has grown dramatically from just being a relaxed way of living to a mainstream sport. The progression has led to research on the health benefits of surfing. The sport promotescardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and balance. These physical benefits come from the constant paddling through the water, increasing arm and back strength whilst also increasing the heart rate. Surfing also gives one a chance to think and relax in an environment that decreases stress and relaxes the muscles.[11]
The country has launched corporate giants such asBillabong,Rip Curl, andQuiksilver.[12]
FilmmakersAlbe Falzon andJolyon Hoff are known for their surfing documentaries.[13] Hoff created the Surf Film Archive[14] to preserve old deteriorating footage shot oncelluloid film, by digitising it.[15]
Major Australian tournaments include the Men's Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour,[16]Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Gold Coast, Queensland),Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (Bells Beach, Victoria) and theDrug Aware Margaret River Pro (Margaret River, Western Australia). Other tournaments include theAustralian Boardriders Battle,Australian Open of Surfing,Beachley Classic,Breaka Burleigh Pro and theNoosa Festival of Surfing.
Australia is a leading country in surfing and surfboard design. Shaping is an important part of the innovation and progression of surfing. Australian shapers include:
Media related toSurfing in Australia at Wikimedia Commons
