On April 11th, Ethan Ewing and Tyler Wright were crowned winners of the 2023 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, and for the 60th time, the iconic brass bell rung in celebration. Home to the world’s longest running surf contest and the birthplace of Rip Curl, this fickle but at times perfect point break has acted as a proving ground for the world’s best surfers. Something else that makes Bells Beach unique – but most surfers don’t know about – is that it is one of the very few Australian breaks to have any kind of formal protection under our heritage or environmental legislation. Unlike Peru and New Zealand, Australia does not have national-level laws that specifically safeguard surf breaks.
One of the reasons why care for our surf breaks is widely overlooked is because the true value of surfing is not well understood outside of our community.
A team of researchers at The Australian National University, who are also avid surfers, are on a mission to change the status quo. Dr Ana Manero and Asad Yusoff are running the first Australia-wide study to demonstrate the value of surfing for our wellbeing and the national economy.
This is the first study of its kind and aims to collect as many voices as possible. The survey is accessible to any adult who has lived and surfed (at least once) in Australia over the last year. It only takes 10 minutes and will be open until May 30th. Participants can enter a draw to win a Rip Curl wetsuit (valued at up to $900), a surfboard of their choice (up to $1,000) and one of two $250 Visa vouchers. Click here to participate.
Preliminary results are demonstrating what most surfers already knew: surfing is good for your physical and mental health. It also pumps millions of dollars into our regional and national economy through travel and gear purchases.
“Economics though is not just about cash” – say Ana and Asad – “it’s about understanding how people relate to things that are scarce and precious to ensure that governments respond in manner that reflects the values of local communities”.
For surfers, it is not just about the waves but also the culture and community history. This is what makes places such as ‘Margs’, ‘Bells’ and the Gold Coast so unique. These ‘non-market’ benefits are often overlooked in economic decision-making; a central aim of this research is helping demonstrate these ‘intangible’ benefits to help bring them to the policy discussion.
Ultimately, the recognition of surfing values could pave the way for formal protection – something that Australia has been a pioneer in, but is now falling behind.
In 1973, after concerns about environmental degradation along the coast, locals lobbied for Bells Beach to become the world’s first Surfing Recreation Reserve. Three decades on, it became recognized as a place of state significance in the Victorian Heritage Register, which in practice, means that the reserve is protected and managed in accordance with the Heritage Act 2017.
Unfortunately, most waves across Australia are not all that lucky, with state and federal protection ranging from patchy to non-existent. Beyond Bells, only a handful of high-quality waves in NSW are protected, whilst no surf-specific legal recognition exits in other states.
Without protection, surf breaks become vulnerable to development and other threats. In 2022, for example, three waves in Perth’s Northern suburbs were wiped out as a result of the construction of the new ‘Ocean Reef’ marina. Despite calls for an artificial reef to replace the lost breaks, planning authorities rejected the idea citing high costs.
As our coastlines come under the dual threat of a warming climate and increasing urbanization, it is vital we look after the waves that make our sport possible. For many Australians surfing is not just a fun past-time but a way of life. Whilst Australia led the way in creating the world’s first surfing reserve at Bells, we need to ensure we don’t rest on our laurels. By quantifying surfing’s contribution to society and making governments aware we can protect our waves for generations to come.
