Entering the ocean at night is not be everyone’s cup of tea, but up to 120 surfers will carve up the waves under the Easter full moon in the first ever Nocturnal Night Surf Tag event.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Organiser, Ulladulla Boardriders Club president Kurt Nyholm, said the event would be one of only a handful of night surfing competitions ever held around the world.
He said it was already creating a lot of interest among the surfing fraternity, with athletes from as far away as Bells Beach keen to take part.
“The interest has been phenomenal,” he added.
Floodlights will be used to light up Mollymook Beach from 6pm until 10pm on Easter Saturday as surfers of all ages and abilities done glow sticks and hit the waves in a novelty tag team event.
Kurt aims to create a festival style atmosphere on the beach, with live music, food stalls and, of course, plenty of luminous surfing action.
“We are hoping it will be a huge attraction for locals as well as tourists,” he said.
“Nothing like this has ever been held around here, and only a few times ever in Australia, so it will definitely be unique and something people will be talking about for a long time.”
Kurt said, while non-surfers might freak out about the thought of sharks at night, he explained that most surfers won’t be concerned.
“I took part in a schoolies night surfing event at the Gold Coast and, yes, it’s a bit eery being the water in the dark, but you don’t really think too much about it.
“The ocean is luminous and beautiful under the lights and you have to concentrate on reading the waves, that are hard to see.
“This is a tag team event, so surfers won’t be in the water that long - it will be a case of paddle out, catch two waves, then come in and the next person will go out.”
The nocturnal idea was born when Bannisters general manager Peter Bacon and Kurt were chatting under the floodlights being used to luminate the company’s new motel currently under construction in Tallwood Avenue, Mollymook.
“I mentioned how great it would be to use the floodlights to light up the beach and have a surfing comp and Peter said, let’s do it,” Kurt explained.
“Bannisters has come on board with $1000 first prize money to kick it all off.”
Hales Douglass has also dived in with a $1000 scholarship that will go to a promising young surfer.
“The Paul Hales Most Promising Grom Award will help with equipment and competition travel expenses,” Kurt said.
As well as adding to the Blessing of the Fleet weekend of festivities over Easter, the surf event will provide an opportunity for surfers of all ages and levels to get to know one another, with teams of five drawn out of a hat.
“We can accommodate up to 120 surfers, with at least one lady and one under 18 surfer required in each team,” Kurt said.
“I’ll be drawing them out of a hat to ensure everyone has a chance of winning the cash or one of many prizes on offer.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re an expert or a novice, it’s about having fun and getting out there in the dark.”
Kurt hopes the competition will become an annual event and a highlight on the surfing calendar.
Competitors will wear coloured glow sticks to help judges identify them, with the floodlights and full moon to light up the waves.
Depending on the conditions, the festival will be held at either Mollymook Reef or at the south end of the beach.
“We expect the event will bring half the town out to check out all the action, with a few thousand spectators to add to a phenomenal atmosphere”.
Anyone interested in getting on board, as a sponsor or competitor, should contact Kurt at Akwa Surf Shop in Milton.