Surfing in Australia

Bells beach surfers

Surfing in Australia refers to surfing in Australia. Australia is renowned as one of the worlds premier surfing destinations.[1] Surfing underpins an important part of the Australian coastal fabric. It forms part of a lifestyle in which millions participate with a mystique in which millions more have a documented interest.[2] Australian surfboard-makers have driven innovation in surfboard-design and production since the mid-1960s. Australia has launched corporate giants such as Billabong and Quiksilver.[3]

Governing body

Surfing Australia is the national sporting body thatIrelates to the sport

Tournaments

Men's Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour[4]
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast(Gold coast, Queensland)
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (Bells Beach, Victoria)
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro (Margaret river, Western Australia)
Other Tournaments

History

Surfing was brought to Australia in 1915 by Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku.[5] He demonstrated this ancient Hawaiian board riding technique at Freshwater (or Harbord) in Sydney, New South Wales. Duke Kahanamoku's board is now on display in the northeast end of the Freshwater Surf lifesaving club, Sydney, Australia.

Australia has produced multiple ASP world champions.[6] Such as: Wayne Bartholomew, Tom Carroll, Barton Lynch, Damien Hardman, Mark Ochilupo, Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, Layne Beachley, Wendy Botha, Pauline Menzcer, Chelsea Georgeson and Mark Richards.[7]

The World Surf League incorporates three major championship titles held in Australia. These include the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, and the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro. One of the most successful Australian surfers, Mick Fanning, has managed to win four titles at Bells Beach, earning him the current number one spot in the surfing ranks.[8]

Health Benefits of Surfing

The culture of surfing has grown dramatically from just being a relaxed way of living and now to what has become a mainstream sport. These progressions of the sport, have lead to research on the health benefits of surfing. Surfing promotes cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength increases and also balance. The strength and cardiovascular and strength benefits of surfing come from the constant paddling through the water, increasing arm and back strength whilst also getting the heart rate up. Surfing also gives one a chance to think and relax in an environment the decreases stress and relaxes the muscles.[9]

Demographics

w, h Mark Richards, 2.5 million recreational surfers in Australia, 420,000 annual surf participants,107 surf schools, 2,292 accredited sur, ing coaches, 212 and Mark RicharA.filiated Boatronrs Clubs with 17,287 members, and over 1 in 10 Australians are surfers.[10]

Australian World Title holders[11]

Men[12]

Women[13]

Australian Surfboard Shapers

Australia is a leading country in surfing and surf board design. shaping is an important part of the innovation and progressinon of surfing. Australian shapers include Darren Handley who is shaper to world champions Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore.[14] Mark Richards (4 times World Champion) is also an Australian Surfing and Surfboard shaping legend who shaped his own boards during his time on the world tour.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Australian Geographic". Australian Geographic. 2014.
  2. ↑ "About Surfing Australia". Surfing Australia. 2015.
  3. ↑ Warren, Andrew (2013). "MAKING THINGS IN A HIGH-DOLLAR AUSTRALIA: THE CASE OF THE SURFBOARD INDUSTRY". JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL ECONOMY No 71.
  4. ↑ World Surf League, World Surf League (2015-04-15). "Men's Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour". World Surf League. World Surf League. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  5. ↑ Wendy Lewis, Simon Balderstone and John Bowan (2006). Events That Shaped Australia. New Holland. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-74110-492-9.
  6. ↑ DiMartino, Jay (2015). "Australia's surfing history". about sport.
  7. ↑ "Australia's Surfing History". about sport.
  8. ↑ "Mick Fanning wins men's title at Bells Beach". ABC News. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  9. ↑ "Surfing - health benefits - Better Health Channel". Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  10. ↑ http://www.surfingaustralia.com/statistics.php
  11. ↑ "World Champions". World Surf League. WSL- World Surf League. 2015.
  12. ↑ "History". WSL. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  13. ↑ "World Champions". World Surf League. WSL- World Surf League. 2015.
  14. ↑ Handley, Darren (2015). "Blog". Darren Handley Designs. © 2015 DHD Surf - Performance Surfboards. All Rights Reserved.
  15. ↑ Baker, Tim (2013). Australia's Century of Surf. North Sydney NSW: Random House Australia Pty Ltd. pp. 184–185. ISBN 978 1 74275 828 2.

External links