Women on waves: Surf festival lineup announced

THE full program has been released for the Great Ocean Road Women’s Surf Festival presented by Ghanda, with anticipation sky high among surfers and key stakeholders.

The all-inclusive event in Lorne on December 7 and 8 will provide opportunities for female surfers of all backgrounds and experiences to celebrate their love for surfing and the ocean.

It will feature more than 20 different participation opportunities spread all over Lorne’s bustling township.

Surfing Victoria is welcoming Ghanda as presenting partner of the event. They will provide learn to surf lessons for women and girls alongside local surf school Go Ride A Wave.

Torquay surf camp operators Honu Honi will be hosting four free workshops throughout the weekend, including Coastal Yoga Flow, Understanding Your Cycle in Surfing, Surf Etiquette and Communicating in the Water and Surf Forecasting 101.

Lauren Hill of the Water People Podcast will be recording a live podcast with special guest speaker and ten-time Bells Beach Easter Classic champion Gail Couper.

The show will be followed by a Surfers for Climate screening of Belinda with a Q&A with surfer and environmentalist Belinda Baggs.

Yeti’s Beyond Sunset film will also be broadcast on the night.

Surfing Victoria chief executive officer Adam Robertson said they were proud to announce the schedule of events.

“We are stoked to welcome Lauren Hill down to interview legend of Victorian surfing Gail Couper, along with showing the new Surfers for Climate film Belinda at the Lorne Cinema.

“Coupled with Ghanda providing free surf lessons and the schedule of workshops planned, it’s going to be a weekend not to miss and we encourage all women and girls from across the state to attend!”

Surf Coast Women’s Boardriders chair Ashika Kanhai said the club could not wait to participate.

 

 

“Festivals like this help to form connections between women and the surf community.

“It’s about learning, connection, bringing people together and supporting women to love being in and caring for the ocean.”

Honu Honi founder Becky Goshnick said her team are thrilled to be running workshops to empower women.

“We’ve seen similar festivals to this run in New South Wales and Queensland and we’ve had so many of our students asking for us to help run something like it,” she said.

Corangamite federal member Libby Coker also threw her support behind the event.

“The event lineup looks fantastic, and I know that Adam and the Surfing Victoria team have worked hard to bring so many community groups onboard to make this a truly awesome experience for women who are keen to dip their toes into surfing,” she said.

For more information, head to surfingvic.com/great-ocean-road-womens-surf-fest