Surfing Victoria's Adam Robertson knows nothing, still expecting to set up. Torquay Councillors in the dark. Bells still on WSL site and Visit Victoria website as Apr 1-11.
Dates have been confirmed via Ballina Shire Council for the Lennox WCT event.
“The proposed event is a professional championship short board surfing competition for men and women. It is proposed to run from 1 to 11 April 2021, with bumping in/out extending the event period from 25 March until 14 April 2021.”
Ergo, Bells cancelled.
Surfing Victoria’s Adam Robertson knows nothing, still expecting to set up.
Torquay Councillors in the dark.
Bells still on WSL site and Visit Victoria website as Apr 1-11.
At Surfing NSW, permit holders for any NSW events, an unidentified man answered the phone and said, “I’m not obligated to tell you anything.”
Ballina Shire Council GM Paul Hickey recommends council support Lennox CT proposal despite WSL claiming community support and written objections from said community orgs.
ie. WSL claims Support from Lennox National Surf Reserve Committee.
Actual statement from Surf Reserve:
We, as custodians of the LNSRA (Lennox National Surfing Reserve Association) have not been approached about the proposed contest by the WSL or BSC. We have had to contact you. Community disgruntlement is already occurring in regard to this proposal. Approving this contest will divide the community even more. Does BSC really need another point of division like the Lake Ainsworth road debacle
The LNSRA is also concerned that mass protest in the water while the event is on (paddle-outs to interfere with the contest) could result in injury to community members, contestants, officials, and security.
The Association also points out that under Federal, State and Local legislation within the Lennox National Surfing Reserve. ‘All current activities, access and licences which have been issued by regulatory authorities to individuals, or groups will also remain unchanged.’ If BSC allows a contest to occur they would be in breach of these laws as surfers would be restricted from the Reserve (the water) throughout the contest period.
And, at least once councillor, Jeff Johnson, is publicly against the event.
Very much confusion and white hot anger and potential chaos/mass protest paddle-outs.
More as the story develops.
Unfortunately they generally got ignored or brutalised.
The only way this makes sense is if the Kiwi owners of Rip Curl have decided they don’t want to spend the money and have pulled the pin. Which means that’s who you should be calling, not Adam Robbo.
mic drop.
Here’s the agenda
Of today’s Council meeting
Interesting shit
https://ballina.nsw.gov.au/…
Interesting stuff. I would have voted yes. Being a Victorian and having lived in WA, both those comps are looked forward to and supported by the majority of the locals. Especially Bells. Can’t say about Snapper because i’ve never been while the comp is on.
It has no affect on crowds except for that small period when the comp is on and if you’re a grommet you are absolutely frothing and if you’re an older guy you best sit it out an watch lest you get humiliated in the water.
If it was a secret spot like what happened in Mexico, well that’s another thing entirely.
Given the dates are exactly over the Bells period you’d have to guess they don’t think Victoria’s covid rules are gonna fly with all the competitors having to quarantine. Perhaps they want to postpone Bells or perhaps they are going to pretend that Lennox is Bells like they did that year Trent Munro won Bells at Phillip Island.
Come on Longtom I expected better from you. Ballina Shire Council streamed the entire extraordinary meeting thisafternoon. Council voted against it. Not that it matters. They have made it pretty clear they are going through State. Interested to see where this ends up, but it ain’t looking pretty for the WSL.
I get the NIMBY sentiment – I get livid whenever out of towners show up at “my” spots (I’m a blow-in myself) let alone when they start taking pics/vids and sharing on social media.
But this “lennox is sacred!!” angle? Delightfully amusing to watch from afar.
Imagine Jordys Bay without a contest.
Sounds like a great place to include in a surf trip itinerary!
But I’d probably still give it a wide berth. If I’m travelling and I have to share with more than 8-10 other surfers then I’m doing it wrong.
you, sir, are welcome where i surf any time. what a lovely ethics. x
Tom has had the best solution yet.
Burley (chum, groundbait, ‘blood in the water’) the area hard out for a week or two before the contest starts.
On the first day of competition the wOsl will postpone it due to sharks.
On the second day of competition the wOsl will postpone it due to sharks.
On the third day of competition the wOsl will CANCEL competition due to sharks…
Piss in the hand (that means ‘easy’)……
Gab and others will def not surf it remember WA – they all wanted it cancelled so easy fix really
I believe, Gumhead “Curren”Holley, Steven “South Wall” Smith, Rod Ando & Khan Ando may be given a call to attend This Event as “Local WildCards” should only Be Fair..
“mass, paddle-out protests”?
I like the sound of that, it almost makes surfing sound like fun again.
And surfers were once thought of as rebels.
Not after the Wsl gets through with them though.
The obvious move is you start the burley trail now no???
FUCK YES ! !
It will interesting to see which CTers say Nup!
Wozzle obviously are not a fan of Dan and his crazy open/close, open/close lockdown antics. Can’t risk losing an event a day before. I guess they took the initiative and moved the shitshow to somewhere with some common bloody sense! Oh – Lennox – oops!!
It seems absolutely crazy. Shady deals; A screwing B screwing C to achieve what?
LT, I hope it doesn’t come off, and that the Le-Ba surf community comes out solid on the other side of this Charlie Foxtrot.
Australians are World class whingers.
Another victory over the poms
That’s good.
I don’t know if GoPro could have a better opportunity for an ad campaign than what’s being served up on a platter with paddle out protests at Lennox. Protestors yelling”Wanna have a go Pro?!” at Pros while filming on a GoPro on every conceivable mount, hell even GoPro mounts no one thought probable.
Faaaaaarrk !
(or is that fuuuuuucck ?)
This really is getting quite fuckin’ hilarious.
The wOsl, NSW and VIC are completely tripping
It AIN’T gonna happen
(at least it gives us something to whinge about seeing as there’s been no reported shark attacks lately)…
A mass paddle-out and party-wave bonanza by everyone & sundry to surf the holidays away, completely ignoring the comp strictures, would be super-duper amusing. Longboards, inflatable swans, the lot.
Get all the VALS to join in…..maybe drop them off in a boat so they do not damage their skin on the rocks
Medina would burn them all.
Epic work Tom. Yeti can Thor & Blessed Hollaway be celebrity Judges! & Glen Curtis, Abooty, Neil Byrnes & Sonny Cerf for the Wild cards please, thanks. 😃😔🙂.
You can’t script this
If they score a late season cyclone swell (strong chance) this event will actually be sick.
not sure whether 2481 will get you in the door to watch.