Ok have got WWA's support to go ahead with this, they will help out and provide insurance (we need to all rejoin i think)

I'm in the process of setting up a meeting with Mandurah City Council.

What are your ideas?

a 4m swell with a steady eddy 25knt sw'er


more serious ideas:


Borrow some L boards and have free to try for newbies.

a gear swap/sell expo

get a shop to display/sell some 09 gear ...new DEMO gear if the wind is up!

get a loca aussiel pro to do a talk wave,speed,freestyle etc

a talk on safety in windsurfing,...tips to get u out of strife.

sausso sizzle with $6 !!! cans of J Beam - (Most Important)

demo gps for people like me who haven't had a go yet


if its windy
wave/speed comp... and just general fun in the h20....

sounds like a great idea hards.

All great ideas so far.

Greeny, no you won't need to be a WWA member. At this stage being a WWA member will give you free insurance coverage if you enter an event, and i think WWA is gonna offer very cheap membership.

My idea is to set something up at Novara, maybe tents/Marquees etc with displays etc. But if waves and wind materialise be able to hold a wave event as apart of the festival at Avalon? This is all preliminary, will have to get permission and approvals, without disadvantaging locals in a way that they may complain. That's why I have to talk with City of Mandurah.

Hi Joe, A festival would be great – but will it be promotional for the general public as well as WS community? I think there would need to be a very broad range of activities to interest all levels (especially beginners), families and to attract new people to the sport. Would be great to have everything in the one location, though some activities may need to be held elsewhere (waves intro/demo etc at Avalon as you suggest).

Following are just a few ideas:

Would be great to really fill up the 2-3 days with as many different events as possible where people can pick and choose what to “have a go” at.

Beginners Activities – can we get some instructors to provide free workshop / demonstration activities. Primary aim to get people to see how much easier it is to learn with modern equipment and “re-introduce” people to the sport. Everything from land lessons / simulators to first tries in the water.

Shop/Suppliers – to run stalls, demo’s, and run beginner instruction?

DVD Tents - maybe 2 tents (Marquees with chairs DVD projectors etc) with a range of DVDs running, covering learning aspects in one tent and locations/disciplines in the other tent. Session times posted outside.

General WS Events – a large range of informal events and demonstrations for different disciplines from gybe runs, freestyle, speed, waves, all with the aim of “have a go” keeping the whole festival low key and inclusive (no results, all just for fun).

Other Family Activities – maybe some bouncy castles, performers etc setup in a barriered (or easily monitored) area – hopefully council to pay for so free for all. This may help make it a more family type festival. Over the top??

General Food/Drink stalls – organise council to allow the normal stall/van type operators.

BBQ’s etc – run by WS community at selected times

Publicity / Participation – would be three aspects. First is to get the Council and WS industry involved and co-ordinated. Second is to get as much general public promotion / advertising as possible. The third aspect is to get as many current windsurfers and their families involved and participating on the day. Really promote it as a fun festival for all including families.

Organisation – would need a main festival committee that also liaises with Council. Need Council assistance in location, setups (barriers/fencing?, PA system, tents, power, seating, lighting etc), security, promotion, some minor funding for family activity items etc?

I suppose the main question is how far do you want to go with the festival and how large the numbers participating can be.

Joe, very happy to help in any way I can, even being on the committee if I can contribute in any way (aghhhh committees). Will send you my phone numbers. Certainly as a minimum I am happy to help organise, and man the DVD tents (with 2-3 others and my family during the festival - that way I can still join in a couple of the events as well).

When is the timing of the festival - are you still thinking Jan '09 prior to the L2L.

I really like the idea of having it over 3 days. Like a long weekend? Sat, Sun, Mon? Then all the Perth blokes can actually come down and stay with friends and family and invite them to "come and see"? Having a carnaval/festival type atmosphere would be great to have somewhere to go and hang out in the morning and wander around waiting for the wind to come in. A place to mingle and talk windsurfing for 3 days.
Hey Hards, I have a couple of mates who play in a band. They are called Red Triangle. I could get a demo disc for you to listen to? In fact its Rick Gath's nephew. I could even organise him to set up a Gath stall?

All sounds good. Add me to the list of Hardie's little helpers.

hardie said...

All great ideas so far.

Greeny, no you won't need to be a WWA member. At this stage being a WWA member will give you free insurance coverage if you enter an event, and i think WWA is gonna offer very cheap membership.

My idea is to set something up at Novara, maybe tents/Marquees etc with displays etc. But if waves and wind materialise be able to hold a wave event as apart of the festival at Avalon? This is all preliminary, will have to get permission and approvals, without disadvantaging locals in a way that they may complain. That's why I have to talk with City of Mandurah.

I have always suspected the Ledge to Lancelin was timed to fill up the quiet weekend after christmas and new years eve, get people back into the town and shops. Of course Lancelin is a small town, not like Mh

The moved the ledge to lancelin to another date (once I think) - and of course there was no wind - but there have been plenty of January weekends jinxed by having a competition.

Someone might need to consult H---e (lets not even say it) about whether you are sacrificing a windy day by scheduling a competition.

Anyone got any statistics on which dates would be best for good wind and good tides ?

But a great idea ! ! !

The shops might need to stock up on weed fins.

Meeting with City of Mandurah this thursday, and the preliminary phonecall suggested they were all for it!!