The world’s largest surf festival is riding a wave of momentum, five years after it almost wiped out.
The 10-day Noosa Festival of Surfing will be held for the 32nd time in March.
It’s expected to attract more than 450 competitors and 50,000 visitors, injecting more than $3m into the local economy.
Co-organiser Josh Allen said the popular beach town was essentially built on surf culture.
“Where would Noosa be without surfing/longboarding?” he said.
“The town has come a long way since it had a dirt road, caravan park and free parking.
“Many of the locals and tourists who visit the region appreciate the fact that Noosa Heads wouldn’t be what it is without the surfing and beach culture, which it was founded upon.
“This is backed up by the fact that Noosa Heads is one of 10 World Surfing Reserves, adding more prestige to the area.”
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Despite its reputation as a surfing mecca, the local festival almost folded in 2018.
Its future was in serious doubt when co-founder and former organiser Phil Jarratt scaled back his support mainly due to increasing costs.
The event was in limbo for months before travel agents World Surfaris announced they would take over the running of it.
“The local council was re-considering the festival’s future as a large-scale event in Noosa,” Mr Allen said.
“It was at this moment that John Finlay (Chairman of World Surfaris) threw the festival a life raft.”
World Surfaris were put to the test immediately, when a cyclone washed away chunks of the beach a week before the 2019 event.
COVID travel restrictions and uncustomary poor surf, particularly in 2021, also threatened to derail the festival’s resurgence.
But the event experienced a breakthrough edition last year.
“People are calling 2022 the best Festival of Surfing ever, after we scored great waves and had an amazing schedule of events held throughout Noosa for 10 days,” Mr Allen said.
Now, they’re ready to ride the momentum into 2023.
The festival will welcome back World Surf League competitors for the first time in three years.
Dog surfing, which attracts thousands of spectators, will he held again and there were whispers a music festival could be held.
There should also be a beach bar, private gazebos and local entertainment.
The surfing will be the highlight, as competitors from around the world converge on famous First Point, for longboard and shortboard events.
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