Success for inaugural Kirra SurfStock Festival

Kirra, Gold Coast, Queensland – 11th November 2009

The inaugural Kirra SurfStock presented by Connecting Southern Gold Coast and in association with Kirra Surf and numerous local businesses was a total success. Spread over 4 nights and three days of Surf, Music, Movies, Art and Lifestyle events, the Festival was blessed with sunny weather, pumping waves and big crowds, and has set the scene for it to become an annual event.

Friday

ASP world title contenders Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning made their presence felt on Friday morning at Kirra for a Live SEAFM radio outside broadcast with special guests Bob McTavish author of “Stoked”; new General Manager of Surfrider Foundation Australia Kristy Theissling, movie man Tim Bonython and surfer/musician Lucas Proudfoot of Max Judo.

On Friday afternoon, McTavish launched his book at Kirra Surf, autographing 75 copies for lucky punters at the iconic retail store. Friday night continued with the Surfrider Foundation Fundraiser at the Kirra Surf Club – it was a huge success and was attended by surfing tribal elders and Australian Founding members of SRF such as Rusty Miller, Doug “Claw” Warbrick and Tim Baker. The “Legends” night featured a thoroughly entertaining evening with Bob McTavish, a tribute to the late Hypnotist Ronricco by Mark Anthony and the Dan Hannaford and Dave Murray Band. A memorabilia auction with some great Michael Peterson collectible items together with ticket sales raised over $5,000.00 for Surfrider Foundation.

Saturday

The weekends forecast of showers loomed ominous, however Saturday dawned with sunshine and the waves pumped at D-Bah for the JR Surfboards Kirra SurfStock Junior Teams. 16 clubs from Noosa to Ballina including an all Girls Team competed in an intense one day club battle. In the end Cabarita Boardriders came up trumps claiming the $1,000 for 1st place and a beautiful timber trophy from Jason Williams, winning their first team’s event by one point from the Alley Boardriders in second, Snapper and Burleigh were locked on equal points for third with Snapper getting the nod for third after a countback.

The Caba crew dedicated their win to one of their members Sam Ford, who would have competed but has been in a coma for the last month after a punch to the head in Coolangatta. The Ford Family has kept a bedside vigil praying that Sam will regain conscious and the clubs win has given them hope.

Tim Bonython’s  Jim Beam ASMF outdoor movies at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday evening was a huge success with families bringing their own chairs and pillows to watch the epic surf vision under the stars without a drop of rain. The Grand Night at the Currumbin  Surf World Surf Museum was just as successful with special guests Rusty Miller talking about the History of Surfing and Darren Handley discussing his shaping relationship with Mick Fanning.

Meanwhile at Café Le Monde, Kirra Surf, Beau Young and Matthew Pitts entertained with their musical prowess.

Sunday

Sundays Big Day at the Beach kicked off with a spirited 7k walk from Currumbin to Kirra dedicated to the late Denis Callinan while GC Lifeguard James, “Billy” Watson powered home to take out the Greenline SUP race.

The Beach Markets with a surf/art theme were a huge hit, and the beach volley proved to be super popular. The Miss SurfStock entrants were sensational, with Sunny Coast’s Danielle crowned the winner and then the sunny soaked afternoon kicked on with the 9 Bands playing for free in front of the Kirra Surf Club.

Many thanks to Dan Hannaford and Dave Murray Band, GAS, Minus Equilibrium, Cupids Bullet, Tokyo Beef, Isaac Paddon and the Tides, Genes, Birdie and the Quiet Excitement and Max Judo.

$8000!

The Kirra SurfStock raised nearly $8,000 for charity with the beneficiaries being Surfrider Foundation, Kirra Surf Club, Kirra Surfriders and Kirra Point Inc. Organizers are now planning next years event in earnest and wish to avoid clashing with any other events by establishing their dates early and next years Kirra SurfStock Festival will be tentatively planned from the 25th – 31st of October, 2010. Thanks again to all those who showed up and enjoyed the show and look forward seeing you all again next year.

Thank you

This years Kirra SurfStock would not have been possible without the huge support from local Business, Council and many more. A big special thank you to  major sponsor Connecting Southern Gold Coast for presenting the Festival in association with Kirra Surf and backed up by the following the Denis Callinan Gold Coast Traffic Offenders Program trust (GCTOP), Cr Robbins, Coolangatta Sands, Coopers, John Rankin, Fresh, Dayside plumbing, Kirramisu, Treasured Interiors, Caldwell Banker, Realway R/E, DJStringer, SEAFM, Southern Cross Ten, Tweed Border/Gold Coast Mail, Coastalwatch, SurfingWorld, GCSURF, Island Style Promotions, Mount Warning Spring Water, Bliss Hair Stylist, Extreme Signs, Greenline, KissnCousins, J.Hall Lawyers,  Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Tim Bonython Volatile Films, Kulu, Gold Coast City Council, Border Park, Leisure.Com, SurfWorld Surf Museum, Surfrider Foundation, Kirra Surfriders Club, Kirra Point Inc., Kirra Surf Club, Solarx, Bond University Beach Volleyball, Climate Wave, Driftwood Timber Surf Company, Mark Anthony Hypnotist, Ecofund, Dan@OceanArtwork.com, thatcomputerguy.net.au, Absee Media, 5 and a half, JR Surfboards, KFC, XS energy drink, Craig Humphries Security, Coolangatta Police, and the many volunteers including Southern Cross University Students.

Aloha and Mahalo!

(All photos this page – Darren Simondsen, Surfin Snapps Photography)