Billabong Surfing

Article by: Jay
Last updated: Tuesday, 11-Jul-2006 00:00:00 CEST

Surfing is an increasingly popular recreational and competetive activity in which you paddle into a wave on a surf board, jump to their feet, and are propelled across the water by the force of the wave. With big sponsors such as Billabong it has become increasingly commercial and lucrative to become a top surfer.

The appeal of surfing probably derives from an unusual joining of elements: adrenaline, skill, and high paced maneuvering are set against a naturally unpredictable backdrop - the organic environment of the ocean - by turns, graceful and serene, violent and formidable.

Surfing Spots Around Western Australia

Gnaraloo WA

Gnaraloo is a legendary surfing spot on the coast of Western Australia, situated 160 kilometres north of the city of Carnarvon. It is also known as one of the best places in the world for windsurfing. The main wave in the area is called 'Tombstones', which is a heavy barrelling left-hander. There is also 'Centres' which is another left just south of 'Tombstones' and a variety of lesser known and 'secret' spots. Gnaraloo is only for experienced surfers due to its size, power and isolation from medical facilities. The area is also known for its fishing, as Gnaraloo is situated on the southern tip of Ningaloo reef.

Mararet River WA

Beaches near the mouth of the river are known for their excellent big-wave surf. The relatively isolated region nevertheless attracts many surfers around the world who enjoy the surf and the beautiful coastline. In 2005, Troy Brooks won the annual Margaret River Pro surfing competition.

Surfing maneuvres

Surfing involves eyeing a rideable wave on the horizon and matching its speed by paddling. A common problem for beginners is not being able to catch the wave in the first place. Standing up requires a lot of balance. Once the wave has started to push the surfer forward, the surfer must then jump to his or her feet and ride down the face of the wave. This involves a difficult process where everything happens simultaneously.

Surfers' skills are tested not only in their ability to control their board in challenging conditions, but by their ability to execute various maneuvers such as turning and carving. Some of the common turns have become recognizable tricks such as the "cutback" (turning back toward the breaking part of the wave), the "floater" (riding on the top of the breaking curl of the wave), and "off the lip" (banking off the top of the wave). A newer addition to surfing has been the progression of the "air" where a surfer is able to propel oneself off the wave and re-enter. "Tube riding" in a surfer maneuvers into a position where the wave curls over the top of him or her, forming a "tube" (or "barrel"), with the rider inside the cylindrical portion of the wave. This difficult and dangerous trick is the most sought after achievement in surfing.

Common Tricks:

Bottom turn
Cutback
Fade
Floater
Hang-five/hand-ten
Re-entry
Stall
Switch-foot
Take off
Tube ride

Surfing equipment

Surfing can be done on various pieces of equipment, including surfboards, bodyboards, wave skis, kneeboards and surf mat. Most modern surfboards are made of polyurethane foam (with one or more wooden strips or "stringers"), fiberglass cloth, and polyester resin. An emerging surf technology is an epoxy surfboard, which are stronger and lighter than traditional fiberglass. Equipment used in surfing includes a leash (to keep a surfer's board from washing to shore after a "wipeout", and to prevent it from hitting other surfers), surf wax and/or traction pads (to keep a surfers feet from slipping off the deck of the board), and "fins" (also known as "skegs") which can either be permanently attached ("glassed-on") or interchangeable. In warmer climates swimsuits, surf trunks, or boardshorts are worn; in cold water surfers can opt to wear wetsuits, boots, hoods, and gloves to protect them against lower water temperatures.

Surf conditions

There are a number of factors that influence the shape and quality of breaking waves. These include the bathymetry of the surf break, the direction and size of the swell, the direction and strength of the wind and the ebb and flow of the tide.

Swell is generated when wind blows consistently over a large area of open water, called the wind's fetch. The size of a swell is determined by the strength of the wind, the length of its fetch and its duration. So, surf tends to be larger and more prevalent on coastlines exposed to large expanses of ocean traversed by intense low pressure systems.

Local wind conditions affect wave quality, since the rideable surface of a wave can become choppy in blustery conditions. Ideal surf conditions include a light to moderate strength "offshore" wind, since this blows into the front of the wave.

The factor which most determines wave shape is the topography of the seabed directly behind and immediately beneath the breaking wave. The contours of the reef or sand bank influence wave shape in two respects. Firstly, the steepness of the incline is proportional to the resulting upthrust. When a swell passes over an abrupt incline, the force of the upthrust causes the top of the wave to be thrown forward, forming a curtain of water which plunges to the wave trough below.

Secondly, the alignment of the contours relative to the swell direction determines the duration of the breaking process. When a swell runs along a slope, it continues to peel for as long as that configuration lasts. When swell wraps into a bay or around an island, the breaking wave gradually diminishes in size, as the wave front becomes stretched by diffraction. However, it is more common to see waves cross into the shallower water and finally close out.

West Australian Surfriders Association

In August 1964, the West Australian Surfriders Association was formed by a group of keen surfers with the aim of developing competition surfing and a state surfing team above the already strong club system. With a name change to Surfing Western Australia in February 1996, the last 40 years has seen surfing has grow to be one of the largest participation and recreational lifestyle sports in Australia. Today, Surfing WA is recognised as the governing body of the 3 surfing disciplines of shortboard surfing, traditional longboard surfing and bodyboarding.

The association organises and conducts most surfing events in Western Australia and is involved in all other amateur and professional competitions held in the state. Surfing WA is also heavily committed to the development of surfing as both a competitive sport and a recreational pursuit.

In 2004, Surfing WA celebrated 40 years of service and administration of the sport of Surfing. A number of functions were planned, including the induction of 3 new life members and the launch of Offshore and Pumping: 40 years of surfing in Western Australia - a book commemorating the pioneers of surfing and surfing administration over the last 40 years.

2006 is shaping up to be a big year for the association. The competition year commenced with the inaugual Taj's Small Fries event for the groms down in Yals. The next big event was the 4 Star WQS Margaret River Pro at one of world's best wavelocations - Surfers Point, Margaret River Western Australia.

Surfing Events WA

2/12/2005 Level 1 Judging Course 2006
10/12/2005 Rip Curl Girls Go Surfing Day 2005 - Perth, WA
20/12/2005 NEW MEMBER INITIATIVES FOR 2006
16/01/2006 100 Club - New Surfing WA Membership with more benefits
28/01/2006 2006 Surfing WA Talent Search Program
28/01/2006 Billabong Girls Get Out There Day
18/02/2006 Level 1 Coaching Course 2006 - FULL
11/03/2006 NOAS Level 1 Judging Course March 2006
24/03/2006 Wahines Out West - Junior Women's Longboard Development Camp
27/03/2006 VIP Tickets >> Margaret River Pro presented by O'Neill
9/04/2006 Bodyboarding Development Camp

State Junior Series - Round 2 - Gas Bay Was held on Sat 29 & Sun 30 April

State Bodyboard Series - Round 1 - Gas Bay Was held on Sat 18 & Sun 19 March