Surfing Queensland 2013 Annual General Report 2013 | Page 6

CEO’S REPORT

Surfing Queensland Boardriders Clubs were
also provided with several event platforms
such as the World Surfaris Coast of Origin and
the Be The Influence Australian Boardriders
Battle. Along with state based events, a host of
affiliated Boardriders Clubs continue to activate
some of the best club events in the country.

WELCOME TO THE 2013 SURFING
QUEENSLAND ANNUAL REPORT
As usual, the year began with a flurry of activity
with surfers taking advantage of the prime swell
window from January through March. Surfing
Queensland was able to capitalise by hosting
several major events during this time.
The 2013 Breaka Burleigh Pro was the most
successful in the events history and saw the
event truly come of age with the inclusion of
the Women’s 6 Star components allowing the
world’s best female surfing talent to surf the
iconic Burleigh Headland. Burleigh delivered
consistent swell throughout the event window
and it was Owen Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons
who took final honours in the men’s and
women’s respectively, in front of a crowd which
resembled that of the famed Stubbies events
which took place in the late 70s.
The Quiksilver & Roxy Pro soon followed with all
eyes focused on the Snapper Rocks Superbank
however spectators and athletes alike were
greeted with less than favourable conditions
at Snapper Rocks from the outset of the event.
After moving locations seven times throughout
the event window, the final showdown took place
at Kirra in perfect 6-8 foot barrels. The final
heat between Kelly Slater and local favourite
Joel Parkinson was nothing short of spectacular,
with Slater using his priority to claim victory over
Parkinson in the dying moments.
In 2013, Surfing Queensland launched an online
registration platform for all affiliated Boardriders
Club members. The system is a first for
Boardriders Clubs nationally and internationally
and has provided a host of benefits to the grass
roots sector of the sport.

6 – SURFING QUEENSLAND ANNUAL REPORT 2013

The Surfing Queensland/Australia Surf School
network expanded during the 2013 period,
which has enabled almost 80,000 participants
to take their first step into the water and
experience the exhilaration that only the sport
of surfing can provide. Surfing Queenslandaffiliated surf schools continue to set the
benchmark for best practice operations when
introducing participants to the sport of surfing in
a safe and friendly atmosphere.
Surfing Queensland continued to deliver
training and education in a number of areas
such as coaching and judging with several
new disciplines such as Stand up Paddle and
Bodyboarding receiving specialised courses to
develop respective disciplines
Congratulations to all Queensland champions
across shortboard, longboard Stand up
Paddlboard, prone paddle and Bodyboarding
who have represented Queensland at various
Australian Title and international events as
you have done Queensland proud. Of note was
Angela Jackson’s haul of three gold medals
at the 2013 ISA World SUP & Paddleboard
Championships, the Queensland Junior Team
taking out overall first at the Australian Junior
Surfing Titles, World Tour qualification of Mitch
Crews and Dimity Stoyle and, of course, Mick
Fanning’s spectacular win at Pipeline.
Another highlight for Surfing Queensland was
the implementation of the Jallum Jarjums
‘Fish Kids’ Indigenous Surfing & Employment
Ready Program. I was fortunate enough to be
heavily involved in this program and I would
like to personally thank Cameron Jones & Craig
Williams for their hard work in making this
program a reality.
Surfing Queensland achieves its key objectives
with the assistance of many partners and I
would like to acknowledge the valuable support
provided by the Queensland Government
through the Department of National Parks,
Recreation, Sport & Racing. This support
allows Surfing Queensland to deliver countless
programs and initiatives which directly enhance
opportunities within the sport of surfing at all
levels.

I would like to sincerely thank Surfing
Queensland’s major partners for their valuable
support of surfing in Queensland including
the Australian National Preventative Health
Agency (ANPHA) Quiksilver & Roxy, Breaka
Flavoured Milk, Tourism & Events Queensland,
Chiko, World Surfaris, Rapid Media, and Surfing
Life Magazine. I would also like to take this
opportunity to welcome Australian Skin Cancer
Clinics, HIF and Coastalwatch Plus as new
partners to Surfing Queensland.
Finally, I would like to once more extend my
heartfelt thanks to the Surfing Queensland
board of directors as well as the team of
dedicated staff at Surfing Queensland.
Your collective efforts ensure that Surfing
Queensland is a thriving organisation able to
provide tangible benefits to the sport of surfing
within Queensland.

Scott Gillies
Chief Executive Officer