Events off as wave of uncertainty hits
IT was inevitable the World Surf League would pull the pin on the Corona Pro Gold Coast at Snapper Rocks for the tour opener scheduled for March 26-April 5.
And that the Kirra Surfriders’ annual teams event, the world’s biggest boardriding club competition, would follow suit this weekend.
It is such a shame because these events bring excitement and stoke the local economy.
This is unprecedented in the history of surfing events, that is apart from when 9/11 cancelled out the remainder of the world tour in 2001.
As the whole world goes into pandemic lockdown, one can only speculate that the next major cancellation will be the Olympics in July.
Or that Japan may hold off until October, which would promise better surf with the seasonal typhoons swells. That’s assuming COVID-19 is contained by then.
Perhaps the internet and live coverage without crowds can save the sporting world.
In terms of surfing, televised wave-pool events without crowds is an alternative.
Surfing is not confined to competition activity, which only represents 10 per cent of the surf population.
Social travelling will be impacted heavily with surfers having to withdraw from planned surfing trips which will have a ripple affect for the boat tours in Indonesia and other international locations where travelling has become impossible.
Former Coolangatta Kid and our first world professional champion Peter Townend, who makes the Gold Coast pilgrimage at this time every year, was forced to unload his bags at Los Angeles airport on Sunday.
However, on the local front the recreational side of surfing will continue, just like we have seen this week with surfers taking advantage of the swell generated by Tropical Cyclone Gretel.
Although one wonders whether the Federal Government will ban overcrowding in the surf if there are more than 500 free surfers at the Superbank.
Obviously, this would be an absurdity.
While the Wayne Rabbit Bartholomew National Never Surrender Tour has been put on hold until further notice, I am happy to convey that the Cooly Surf Collective Exhibition will continue at the Strand Shopping Centre Coolangatta seven days a week from 10am-2pm.
By the way I have received word from the Rainbow Bay based Surfers Table of Knowledge newsletter that their next barbecue is tomorrow.
The TOK are not expecting more than 500 guests and are calling it the Corona-free barbie but have stressed BYO toilet paper. They welcome donations for raffles and their charity fundraising causes.
WAVE POOLS TELEVISED EVENTS WITHOUT CROWDS IS AN ALTERNATIVE