Festival approach is single-minded

THE 22nd annual Burleigh Boardriders single-fin competition has drawn some of the biggest names in surfing to kick off the new year.

THE 22nd annual Burleigh Boardriders single-fin competition has drawn some of the biggest names in surfing to kick off the new year.

Expect to see former world tour champion Joel Parkinson, defending men’s and women’s champions Taj Burrow and Felicity Palmateer, and Hawaiian big- wave matador Shane Dorian heading the list at the event, which runs from January 4-6,

And there is every possibility that three-times world champion Mick Fanning will throw his hat into the ring.

It would be the first time that Parkinson and Fanning – the Cooly world champs – have surfed against each other since their retirement this year.

Joel Parkinson.

Their world tour contracts have prevented them from competing in the past although Parko sneaked in to win the 2017 Burleigh single- fin event. Arguably the world’s most popular single-fin event, it has been copied globally. It highlights the 70s era of single-fin surfboards before the introduction in 1981 of the Simon Anderson thruster three-fin design that changed the face of surfing.

Hosted by the local Burleigh Boardriders at one of the best headland venues, there will be a huge showcase of retro surfing equipment on display.

There will also be colourful shade tents to stay out of the sun, resembling the atmosphere of the first Stubbies Professional competition in 1977 at Burleigh Point won on a single fin by Kirra’s Michael Peterson.

Musician and guitar-maker Aaron Fenech with Felicity Palmateer, who won the women’s single-fin classic last year, at Burleigh point. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Like a good bottle of red win, this fun event just gets better with age and attracts thousands of spectators.

The annual sports charity luncheon will be held at Club Burleigh – formerly Swell Tavern – on Friday, January 4, ahead of the Saturday and Sunday competitions.

There are three main categories: opens, women’s and juniors.

Modern-day professional surfers will revert to the roots of the shortboard revolution using carve and flow with some modern manoeuvres on the old single-fin boards.

Entry forms will be available next month by clicking on the Surfing Queensland web page.

Aaron Fenech, a surfing musician who makes his own handmade guitars for local artists like Amy Shark, is designing a special custom single-fin guitar as a fundraiser.

It will be auctioned online.

Money raised from the auction will help the Burleigh Boardriders junior development program that has ­assisted young surfers like World Qualifying Series aspirant Liam O’Brien.