Surfboards ahoy: Swap and meet added to women’s surf festival

HEALTH and Hire Lorne’s popular surfboard swap and meet aims to be bigger and better than ever.

The fourth edition of the event will be held in conjunction with the Great Ocean Road Women’s Surf Festival on December 7.

The partnership will help amplify its mission of reducing the local surfboard footprint by reusing and recycling.

Community members are invited to buy a stall for $10, with all funds supporting local therapeutic surf charity Ocean Mind.

More than 150 boards are expected to be swapped and sold during the day, with shortboards, longboards and retro models all to feature.

HAH Lorne owner Leon Walker said excitement was high heading into the event.

“Our previous three events have been really good, with over 150 boards. We are hoping for bigger and better this year.

“For us, it’s really pushing the message of recycling and reusing boards.

“We also love how it brings people together, including the older crew who don’t get out anymore but still love it.

“We can’t wait to see all the fantastic boards and gear being exchanged.”

Surfing Victoria head of events and marketing Liam Robertson said the surfboard swap and meet would be a welcome addition to the Great Ocean Road Women’s Surf Festival.

“It adds to an already exciting lineup of activities over the weekend for everyone to enjoy.

“We are also stoked to be donating all of the registration fees from the board swap and sell to Surf charity Ocean Mind who do incredible work across the state.”

Ocean Mind founder Raechel Parker said her team was thrilled to be the event’s major beneficiary.

“It’s great to be part of the surfboard swap and meet and the women’s surf festival as a whole.

“Any funds raised really helps support local young people, so we are really happy to be able to do that.”

The event will run from 10am to 2pm on the Lorne Foreshore in front of the HAH Lorne store.