Koori Titles to celebrate 25th anniversary

SURFING VICTORIA are “honoured” to be bringing the Woorrangalook Victorian Koori Surfing Titles back to where it all began at Urquhart’s Bluff this weekend for the event’s 25th anniversary.

The ‘Koori Titles’ will see Indigenous surfers from coastal and rural areas of the state gather for two days of surfing, mentoring and learning about culture.

Surfing Victoria Indigenous aquatics officer Jordie Campbell said it would be extra special to be celebrating the event in its milestone year in 2023.

“It’s one of the longest running Indigenous engagement programs in the country and the only one of its kind,” Campbell said.

“It’s pretty epic to be going into the 25th year – the Koori Titles was the original program that happened in Warrnambool when we first started the Victorian Indigenous Surfing Program.

“For it to be around for so long is amazing.”

Campbell said entry numbers were set to peak at about 200 participants, with competitors coming from the South-West, Gippsland and inland communities such as Horsham, Ballarat and Bendigo.

“It’s a big gathering of community from all over.

“The work we do will all the inland areas really just builds that trust and meaningful engagement with the community.

“It means they are happy to come to the Koori Titles and other programs and be provided with a great opportunity to see families and friends that they might only see once or twice a year.”

The event is accessible for surfers of all levels, with tomorrow (Saturday, February 11) being more about participation and Sunday being more competition-focused.

Sunday’s winners in the Open Men’s and Open Women’s divisions will gain wildcard entry into the 2023 Rip Curl Pro Trials at Bells Beach.

The event will be drug and alcohol-free.

For more information, email Jordie Campbell on [email protected]