MARGARET RIVER BOARDRIDERS

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Margaret River Big Wave Challenge

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Press Release 8th May 2007

Big Wave Event Honours Lindsay Thompson

The Margaret River Boardriders Club Inc recently announced the Margaret River Big Wave Challenge - Lindsay Thompson Invitational to be staged over a two month waiting period from May to June 2007 at Surfers Point, Margaret River.

“We created this event in honour of Lindsay who was tragically killed in the Gracetown cliff collapse in 1996,” said John McTaggart, President of the Margaret River Boardriders Club Inc.

Lindsay Thompson RIP

 “Lindsay is one of our local surfing legends. He was one of the first coaches in Australia and the voice of surfing on ABC regional radio for 8 years.  He was one of the pioneers of the Margaret River Masters Surfing Contest (now the Margaret River Pro), the Beach Life Surf Shop and was instrumental in junior surfing development in the State through his involvement in Surfing WA, so we want to ensure his memory lives on through this event,” he said.

Similar to the Hawaiian Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in memory of Eddie Aikau, the event will be held over one day with a minimum of 4m swell. Twenty top big wave riders will be invited to compete in a winner takes all event.  Surfers will be judged on wave height and technique without tow-in assistance.  They will compete twice over the day in 5 man heats each lasting one hour and each surfer can catch a maximum of four waves each per heat, with the two highest scoring waves winning the day.

Ozzie Adrian going for it on a huge wave!

Ozzie Adrian going for it on a huge wave! Photo by Russell Ord.

 “Using online swell forecasting from Coastalwatch, we’ll know within seven days in advance if the event is on.   People interested should check the websites for regular updates and information.  Word will hit the street pretty quickly from then on the 'surfvine',” he said.

Funds raised from the event will be used to establish the Lindsay Thompson Junior Surfing Scholarship, an ongoing award to help up and coming junior surfers within the State.

Local legends Damon Eastaugh, Paul Paterson, Dave Macaulay, Mike McAuliffe, and Mitch Thorson are among the starting line-up for this year. 

“The event is certain to grow in popularity and we hope to attract some even bigger name surfers next year once we get the thing off the ground,” he said.

“The Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association, Coastalwatch, Empire Realty and Surfing WA are founding sponsors of this event.  We’d also like to partner with local businesses that want to be involved. The images from this event will provide excellent branding opportunities for those that financially support us,” he said.

Coastalwatch Chairman Mr. Kim Sundell said today: "Coastalwatch is delighted to be supporting the Margaret River Big Wave Challenge, in what will be a fitting tribute to local legend Lindsay Thompson. Coastalwatch is committed to ensuring the success of the event by also providing expert swell-forecasting, live vision, and promotion and coverage of the contest on www.coastalwatch.com. I hope Huey cooperates during the waiting period, allowing the contestants to showcase their unique big-wave skills."

AMRTA CEO Francine Burton said “We are thrilled to be involved in this event and believe it will be an excellent promotion for Margaret River highlighting the importance of surfing as one of our key tourism assets.”

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Pictures provided by: Russell Ord and Helen Thompson