Exciting new pathway created for budding surfers who are competing on the web

Surfboard sales have skyrocketed and budding surfers have a new pathway to reach the top. Cabarita’s Kyan Falvey is part of a generation of surfers hitting the waves in virtual competitions.

During the shutdown of surfing events, a whole new area of opportunity has arisen riding on the back of a surfboard industry boom.

Welcome to the new era of virtual surfing in the form of web titles presented by Surfing NSW and Surfing Queensland.

Surfers have been able to submit surfing footage of themselves and be judged on their best two waves, much like a contest.

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The last public surfing events were held in March and future competitions are off until further notice due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The World Surf League 2020 Tour is still on hold on the back of travel restrictions, pending an announcement due in July.

But that hasn’t stopped people from surfing, especially with the epic run of surf in the last month.

JUNIOR SURFING: Parko's Grom Stomp. Kyan Falvey. Photo Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.

In fact, the surfboard manufacturing industry is experiencing a boom. According to a spokesman from Burford Blanks, a major supplier of surfboard foam worldwide, it’s never been busier.

“Sales of surfboard blanks have been unseasonably busy, which is probably due to people surfing and not working, plus the waves have been so good.”

NSW was the first to kick off the new format of a web-based surfing competition judged on footage.

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Cabarita’s Kyan Falvey was awarded third place in the U/16 boys when his dad submitted footage of him.

Kyan had entered the regional titles but when those were cancelled, competitors were offered entry into an online comp. Entrants had to submit two waves surfed and filmed in NSW in 2020.

Each wave was scored and the results were published.

Kyan Falvey and his Dad Ben filming for Web titles.

The new format designed by former Queensland junior champion Chris Friend allows each surfer to watch their own waves and the waves of their competitors.

“My dad filmed a couple of waves that consisted of a two-turn combo of two turns on each wave. It was a good process to sort through my own waves and work out which ones would get the best scores.” said Kyan, who now looks forward to beach comps.

But this new phase in surfing could be replicated all year round and opens up opportunities for both free surfers and competitive ones.

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