Burleigh Heads Single Fin surf Festival could make a massive change in 2021

A unique Burleigh Heads surfing competition might have to make a huge change to how it operates next year. Here’s why.

A UNIQUE Burleigh Heads surfing competition might have to move to invitation-only entries after competing spots filled up within less than two hours.

The Single Fin Festival was held over the weekend, with host Terry “Tappa” Teece saying the demand for places in the annual event increases every year.

“The actual event was filled up in 90 minutes from entries being open,” Mr Teece said.

“We may have to go to an invitation thing. There’s been people that have been in the event for 23 years.

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Joel Parkinson tears it up at the Single Fin Festival. Pic Mike Batterham

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“There was a field of 96 men, 12 women and 24 juniors. A lot of people would love to surf in it, we’ve got people coming from all over the globe to surf in this event.”

The Single Fin Festival only allows surfers to compete on single fin boards made before 1985.

Mr Teece said Joel Parkinson and Mark Occhilupo were some of the big name surfers competing in the festival.

“North Stradbroke Island surfer Ethan Ewing narrowly defeated Joel Parkinson in the single fin classic (category),” Mr Teece said.

“Dimity Stoyle won the women’s (category). Mark Occhilupo won the legends invitation. Then you’ve got the juniors which was won by Joel Parkinson’s nephew, Kye Richardson.”

Mr Teece said unfavourable weather resulted in lower crowd numbers than previous years, however thousands still turned out to spectate from the shore.

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Action and Crowds at the Burleigh Heads Single Fin surfing comp. Pic Mike Batterham

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“We had about 3000 or 4000 people on the weekend,” he said.

“Really the surf was not very good on Saturday but everybody had a great time watching it. On Sunday there was a bit of rain, then the sunshine came out and the surf turned it on.

“It will probably be run (next year) with the same astounding successful formula. We have the charity luncheon on the Friday and the contest on Saturday and Sunday, we raised a lot of money for the bushfire appeal and Currumbin Wildlife Centre.”