Manly is regarded by many as the birthplace of competitive surfing contests in Australia and now a festival has been established to celebrate its history.
Presented by Global Surf Industries, the Manly Festival of Surfing will run from November 5 until November 8 celebrating the area’s rich surfing culture with events both on and off the beach.
Some of the biggest names in surfing will attend the festival to reminisce about the event that started it all – the 1964 World Surfing Championship at Manly.
Bob McTavish, surfboard innovator and author, says every competitive surfer has a tale to tell about Manly.
“Manly IS the birthplace, the spiritual home of surfing in Australia, and at last that powerful fact is being recognised and celebrated,” McTavish says. “The history, the great surf and surfers, the culture, the events all make this Festival the one that will become the biggest.”
Festival events include a Legends Dinner, Fancy Dress Surfing, tandem surf displays, night surfing, disabled surf events and competitions.
Pic: Manly madness.
The Manly Festival of Surfing will host some of the biggest names in Australian surfing including Mark Occhilupo, Mick Fanning, Nick Carroll and Midget Farrelly who won the inaugural World Surfing Championship at Manly.
“Nobody expected the crowd of 60,000 plus people who attended the 1964 surfing world titles at Manly Beach,” Farrelly says. “As a 19 year old, I could not imagine that this small sport could be so well received in Australia.
“The event itself kicked off competitive surfing contests world-wide and allowed the creation of the international surf federation, which still operates today.”
Billabong Team Rider and 1999 World Champion Mark Occhilupo will surf off against Damien Hardman and Tom Carroll in an all time, man-on-man three way contest in the Celebrity Surf Off.
Get up close with two time world champ and Contrasts star Tom Carroll.
Pic: Smithy
“The thought of Manly instantly brings me memories of fun!” Occy says. “Competing in Manly junior events against the likes of Damien Hardman and Barton Lynch, at a beach that is world renowned as the birth place for competitive surfing is unforgettable!”
Celebrate the history of the sport that is synonymous with Aussie beach culture at the inaugural Manly Festival of surfing from November 5 to November 8.
