Mark Richards addresses the room after he was named Australia’s Most Influential Surfer 1963 – 2013
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ustralian surfing celebrated its champions in February with Mark Richards and Stephanie Gilmore honoured at the 2013 Australian Surfing Awards in Sydney. The Awards marked a significant milestone in Surfing Australia’s history as it celebrated its 50th Anniversary following its formation in 1963 as the Australian Surfriders Association and over 500 guests celebrated at the gala event. It was an unprecedented gathering of Australian surfing legends from the past 50 years. Four-time World Champion Mark Richards was named Australia’s Most Influential Surfer 1963-2013, while five-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore was inducted as the 35th member of the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame. “It’s a great honour and very flattering and I feel incredible to be up here to receive this award amongst so many great surfers,” Richards said. “People like Bob McTavish, Nat Young, Layne Beachley, Simon Anderson, Rabbit, Occy... just so many people who have done wonderful things for surfing and it’s pretty amazing to get this honour.” The 25-year-old Gilmore, the current Women’s ASP World Champion, said she was humbled to be inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame. “This is such an honour,” Gilmore said. “Everyone in the Hall of Fame has had such an incredible impact on the world of surfing and to be included in that is unreal.”
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