Thousands of people flocked to Kingscliff Beach in northern NSW for Day 1 of Surfing Australia’s Seas The Day women’s surf festival. The world’s largest female participation surf event draws women and girls from across the country to compete in the fun tag-team surfing competition alongside their idols, many of whom held workshops and inspiring talks at the festival.
The day began with a Welcome to Country ceremony, before competition kicked off in small and clean one-to-two foot waves. The Salty Girls Surf School Under 12 Mini Shredders hit the water first, followed by the Open Women’s Longboard presented by Coffee Supreme and Ghanda Girls Under 18 Shortboard divisions. On the shore, the festival featured plenty of entertainment, with 1993 World Champion Pauline Menczer signing copies of her new book and Olympic Bronze Medallist, Owen Wright, even popping in for a visit.
Guinness World Record Holder Laura Enever said: “It is such an amazing event. I think just seeing everyone come together and collaborate to celebrate what an incredible sport, lifestyle and community we have. It’s so welcoming and fun, and a beautiful place for everyone to celebrate women and surfing, and just surfing in general.
“Watching the Under-12s this morning in their tag-team competition and meeting some of their heroes was the best ever. All the groms said it’s their favourite event of the year. Some people have driven through the night just to get here.”
The Celebrity Surf Challenge was another highlight with Gold Coast Suns AFLW players and media personalities surfing alongside legends of the sport including 1990 World Champion Pam Burridge, 7x World Champion Layne Beachley and World Para Surfing Champion Emma Dieters.
Gold Coast Suns AFLW Defender Georgia Clayden said: “I was nervous going in. Very surreal to look around you and see so many incredible surfers. I’m glad I had the big board! This event is so much fun. We’re in such an exciting time for women’s sport. Seas The Day is a great event to celebrate that and really promote it going forward and I absolutely wanted to be a part of it again.”
The Celebrity Surf Challenge was a closely fought contest that was won by the longboard team of Kirra Molnar, Tory Gilkerson and Tully White.
Competition resumes at 7am tomorrow with Open Women’s Shortboard presented by Sambazon.
About Seas The Day:
Seas The Day is is the world’s largest female participation surf event that aims to encourage women of all skill levels to compete in a pressure-free environment. The festival features guest speakers, workshops, movie screenings, food trucks, live music, entertainment and more.
Seas the Day is proudly funded by the NSW government and is a sponsored event of Tweed Shire Council.
Seas the Day is also proudly sponsored by Jim Beam, BC™ Protein Snacks, Ruffie, Ghanda, Sambazon, Coffee Supreme, Tracks, Cudgen SLSC, Carve Eyewear, Raww Cosmetics, Hampton Event Hire, Salty Girls Surf School, Surfers for Climate, Surfing Mums and One Wave.
For more information, please visit seasthedaysurffestival.com.
Getting ready to compete at Seas The Day. Image: Andy Morris / Surfing Australia
Olympic Bronze Medallist Owen Wright taking a surf lesson at Seas The Day. Image: Andy Morris / Surfing Australia
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