Surfing legend buries rumour
No mayoral ‘Rabbit’ run
FORMER world surfing champ Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew has quashed rumours he will run for Mayor of the Gold Coast at the next Council elections.
The rumour mill on the southern Gold Coast is in overdrive with not so much whispers as a roar of reports the popular surfing official has decided to stand against incumbent mayor Tom Tate.
However, Rabbit said there was no substance to the rumours.
“I am not the spiritual leader of surfers. I am not the Bhagwan,” Rabbit told the Bulletin, laughing.
“It’s a wildfire rumour. It happened about 12 years ago as well.
“With social media and all the instant info channels out there, the rumour really is spreading like wildfire but it’s not true.”
Bartholomew said he was too busy to run for mayor thanks to commitments involving his sons, budding professional surfers Jaggar and Keo, and his involvement with surfing bodies including Surfing Australia.
“I’m super busy – I’ve got four or five projects on the boil at different stages of development that will take up all my time in the next few years,” he said.
“My son is about to leave school and wants to be a professional surfer and wants me to coach him and travel with him.
“I’ve got a lot of projects on, including things with the World Surf League and Surfing Australia that are going to take a full commitment.”
Rabbit said he was flattered that people thought he had mayoral potential.
“They know my track record is good and I know there’s trust there that I have acted in the best interests of the sport and surfing stakeholders but I’m incredibly busy,” he said.
“I’m more likely to head to Hawaii or Indonesia than I am to run for Mayor,” he said.