Wednesday 4th Feb .
Australian and International sporting stars will be visiting JAN JUC as part of the Australian Sports Commission's Indigenous Sports Program surfing based poject.

Laureus World Sports Academy members,

Layne Beachley
Cathy Freeman
Steve Waugh
Robby Naish
Daley Thompson (UK athlete)

All will take part in the activities on Wednesday.

The ASC's Indigenous Sports Program supported by the Laureus Sports for Good Foundation, helps to increase the number of Aborigines participating in sport.
Children from the Wathaurong community will take part in activities on the beach and will include traditional indigenous games , surfing technique lessons , saftey , ocean awareness surf lessons and a mini surfing competition to end the event.

Legendary former World Champions Layne Beachley and Robbie Naish will also give a Surfing demonstration.

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It's not every day that Robby Naish comes to town so I arranged to get the day off work and headed down to check out the action.



I got there early hoping to catch Robby before things got too busy.. They were just starting to set things up for the day's event.



Time to check out the surf.



It was pretty big and lumpy with the onshore wind.. This is looking towards Bells Beach.



This is looking back towards Torquay.



The plan was to teach these kids how to surf and all the surf school boards were being put out.



I remember from the recent Big brothers and sisters thing on Maui and that Robby might want to paddle out with a kid on the same board so I took my big 11'6" down just in case Robby wanted to borrow it.. (but didn't due to the conditions).



The signs were coming out and the stage area was being set up.





I thought the surfboard shaped signs at Jan Juc were pretty cool.





The famous people started to arrive.. I caught up with Robby and Tom.



The kids started to arrive and they all put red tops on and went down to the beach.





Robby was one of many famous sports people some Aussies and some from all over the world.















Robby borrowed a real surfboard..paddled out the back and caught a beauty..As it closed out it was well over head high whitewater behind him.



Next came the formal talking and thanking those who made this day happen.



Some of the Aborigines put on a great show doing a few dances with all the body paint.





Next came all the autographs.. Robby signed so many shirts and posters for the kids and fans.



I got to chat with Robby and left happy that I'd got to spend some time with him.



Heading home I stopped off at Pt Danger (Torquay)..and there were great little waves wrapping around into cosey corner.



Rich turned up with his 9'6" PSH and showed me his new fins that Blane recommended.



I hit the water and had a ball in the little waves surfing from 1.30 till about 5.30...then the wind came up..the tide came in..and the waves left.



I was almost glad because I was buggered.



I watched the kitesurfers and windsurfers.



I had some refreshing cold watermelon and then hit the road.



One last stop for a whopper on the way home.

DJ

IMHO, worth every penny. Robdog

Here's some more info and pics on the Laureus site.. www.laureus.com/press_releases?article_id=1542

I thought it was a great thing that they did for the kids.

DJ

Great stuff DJ .... To meet with those legends is alsome

Did you get a chance to surf with them as well?

To get kids involved in any sport is money well spent ,and to choose sup/surfing is great for our sport as SUP is fairly new in this country and hopefully one day like surfing is in the schools SUP will be another sport for them to choose .

Where's the photo with LAYNE ????????? it's not like you to not have a photo with the girls

Boylos

Way out of line a think Oliver (or are you really Allan Jones). Looks like it was funded by the private sector to me, not that I would care if it was gov funded. I do not think to many of your tax $ would have gone into it.
I have been involved with the care/ welfare sector and money does not flow as easly as many of the right wing/ redneck parts of the media like to make out.
Maybe you just got up on the wrong side of the bed or missed your morning latte , but I think there are alot more important things you should be getting uptight about.
Do not move to Byron if you want to drop out, more yuppie latte sippers then you can poke a stick at..
Not wanting to have a go at you, just do not like seeing people having a go at doing something good get bagged

now back to the surfing

Crikey - just when I thought you guys had the perfect place to live.

Great concept, typical non-grass roots, poor execution - someone has been taking lessons from the UK!

We just flushed £20billion to stop a bank going bust, then the bank announced that the traders who nearly took them down could be getting bonuses ranging from £10-20million.

Trouble is I am sure that the kids appreciate what's done irrespective of neighbourhood/wealth etc and if they can use it as a major PR exercise to increase the profile of an active lifestyle it has to be good.

Oh well, sun is shining, snow is gleaming - off to see if I can use a paddle with my snowboard.