The 20th Annual Noosa Festival of Surfing has kicked off at Noosa on the Sunshine Coast - the festival includes surf events, art exhibits and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

Kicking off with the Noosa Pro and the Champs for Charity the festival includes photography exhibitions, board demos and concerts throughout the week.
Some of the biggest names in surfing were on hand for the Champs for Charity on Saturday, March 12, to help raise funds for the Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal at the festival's annual fundraiser.

This year, the event included legendary surfers like seven-times world champion Layne Beachley, four-times world champion Mark Richards, two-times world champion Tom Carroll, plus champions Rabbit Bartholomew, Peter Townend, Beau Young, Josh Constable, and hall-of-famers Reno Abellira of Hawaii, Wayne Lynch and Bob McTavish.

The Festival's charitable activities have raised more than US$150 000 over the past three years.

Layne Beachley, a shortboard surfer took to the water on a longboard for the charity event.
"The waves were small - perfect for us old legends... It ended up being a longboard fest and they were all on 9ft boards and I was on a 5ft2" so I felt disadvantaged... it was lots of fun and I felt like I'm a little bit too young to be referred to as a legend," says Beachley.
One of the faces of the festival, Beachley says she's enjoying the festival for the surfing but also the entertainment.
"The paddle out for the opening ceremony was really good. Actually, the swell increased as we paddled out because the circle was that big we started to drift back in towards the beach, and I was on the beach side of the circle and got taken out by a wave - there was about ten of us that got taken out while we were holding hands, that was quite fun."

The Noosa Festival of Surfing runs from March 7 - 20th, 2011 featuring many of the biggest names in professional longboarding.

Competitors List:

Mens Open:

Dale Lasslett, SA
Joshua Croad, NSW
Kevin Piper, NZ
Adam Sheard, QLD
Lee Cooper, QLD
Trent Docherty, NSW
Oscar Lalor, VIC
Luke Lalor, VIC
Ryo Nishikawa, JPN
Teruman Yamamoto, JPN
Jordie Brown, VIC
Josh Berigan, QLD
Cole Jouanny, UK
Ryan Egan, NSW
Jason Tulk, QLD
Takushi Kawai, JPN
Jackson Winter, QLD
Silas Mackay, NSW
Andrew Dale, QLD
Cole Rush, VIC
Paul Jones, QLD
Will Cousins, VIC
Brett Caller, NSW
Michael Pinney, VIC
Ben Johnson, NSW
Hamish Mackay, QLD
Daniel Carter, QLD
Dane Chalk, QLD
Malakai Mitchell, QLD
Ed Cunningham, QLD
George Cunningham, QLD
Damian Farago, NSW
Yuki Nakayama, JPN
Ezra Norris, QLD
Ben Jones, SA
Jason Hsu, USA
Anthony Neal, NSW
Ruben Escalante, USA
Jason Weeks, NSW
James Pfister, NSW
Justin Healey, QLD
Jason Gall, NSW
Cody Ulrich, USA

5 spots remaining

Over 40s:

Brad Corby, QLD
Chuck Toussieng, USA
Andrew Engel, QLD
Bruce Goulding, QLD
Brian Young, NZ
Richard Smith, NSW
Anthony Boyd, NSW
Scott Ford, QLD
Don McIlwain, NSW
Simon Phin, NSW
Hayden Swan, NSW
Takuya Nishikawa, JPN
Erwan Le McUellic, NC
Yannick Ardeven, NC
Brendan Rose, VIC
Paul ‘Polo’ Romero, NC
Todd Jackson, NSW
Derek Camm, NZ
Michael Colledge, VIC
Eric Morat, NC
Peter Brightwell, QLD
Mark Temple, SA
Matt Fleming, NSW
Glenn Cunningham, QLD
Reid Johnson, QLD
Roberto Milio, Italy
Robert Lumby, NSW
Geoff Fanning, QLD
Shane Holborn, QLD
Chris Dunn, QLD
Thomas Meyerhoffer, USA

5 spots remaining

Over 50s:

John Gregory, QLD
Mark Tume, QLD
Keith Lasslett, SA
Paul O’Grady, NSW
Stephen Perry, NSW
Luis Mejia, USA
Mark Baptiste, NSW
Mark Rogers, QLD
John Skinner, NSW
Peter Turner, QLD
Chris Bate, NSW
Mark Nixon, NSW
Rupert Newbold, NZ
Terry Goddard, WA
Mark Williams, NSW
Andrew Carter, VIC
Terry Glass, NSW
Brian Thompson, VIC
Peter Bendle, VIC
Mick Riddle, QLD
Guy Johnson, NSW
Russell Browne, VIC
Greg Moir, QLD
Alan Ashworth, NZ
Gerard Cogney, NC
Chris Cox, QLD
Patrick Sweeney, QLD
John Scaroni, QLD
Shane Irvine, NSW
Laurie Miller, NSW
John Pickering, QLD
Geoff Williams, NSW
Chris Quirk, NSW
John Hippocrates, QLD
Sput Keevers, NSW
Peter Wallace, QLD

FULL

Over 55s:

Ian Borland, QLD
Mick Henderson, QLD
Keith Crocker, QLD
John Murray, NSW
Ralph Bock, SA
Dave ‘Smitty’ Smith, USA
Peter White, QLD
Joel Baldwin, USA
Darryl Homan, QLD
Dave Dunn, QLD
Peter Lillies, QLD
John Mingramm, NSW
John Gillem, USA
Andrew Smart, SA
Nakano Hiroaki, JPN
Aldo Santamaria, NSW
David Storck, NZ
Herman Scholten, VIC
Phil Jarratt, QLD
Pablo Smith, USA
David Wilson, NSW
Ric Chalmers, NSW
Peter Becker, NSW
Al Spence, VIC
Graeme Jenkin, QLD
Mike Pimm, NSW
Bill Morris, NSW
Peter F Hogan, QLD
Ian Walker, QLD
Paul Bioletti, NSW
Ross Gorfine, QLD
Raymond Smith, QLD
Murray Walding, QLD
Gary Kirby, QLD
Albie Curtis, QLD
Ben Pioli, NSW
Bill Tolhurst, NSW
John Flanders, NSW
Chris ‘Tigger’ Newling, NSW
Billy Neaves, QLD
Warren Walker, QLD
Bob Deiter, QLD
Stanley Peters, NSW
John McDermott, QLD

4 spots remaining

Over 60s:

Mark Griffin, QLD
Carl Tanner, QLD
Barry Davis, QLD
Bob Smith, VIC
Bruce Channon, NSW
Steve ‘Chooka’ Piec, VIC
Steve Deppeler, VIC
Wayne Sutton, SA
Evert Harder, QLD
Neville Smith, QLD
Otis Sistrunk, USA
Nigel Kidd, VIC
Colin Pearson, VIC
Steve O’Donnell, NSW
Dave Thomas, NSW
Lynden Riley, NSW
Alan Williams, NSW
Ronny Silcock, QLD
Ron Greene, USA
Eric Walker, NSW
Garry Stuart, QLD
Warren Evans, QLD
Darryl Meredith, QLD
Darryl Hooker, NSW
Malcolm Brough, QLD
Ron Fidler, NSW
Graham Bullpitt, QLD
Bill Rogers, QLD
Steve Walden, USA
Bobby Sack, NSW
Ken Williams, NSW
Hank Renzenbrink, VIC

4 spots remaining

Over 65s:

Glenn Martin, QLD
Trevor Brady, QLD
Douglas Warbrick, VIC
Win Cuddihy, QLD
Denis Lowe, NSW
Rusty Miller, NSW
Bob Wood, QLD
Mike Williams, QLD
Tony Hopkins, QLD
Kerry Purdon, NSW
Pat Morgan, QLD
Peter Howe, NSW

FULL

Under 18:

Ben Jones, SA
Zye Norris, QLD
Hugh Daugaard, NSW
Dan Lillies, QLD
Nic Jones, QLD
Cole Rush, VIC
Bryce Williams, NSW
Jake Bevan, NSW
Harrison Biden, QLD
Oscar Lalor, VIC
Luke Lalor, VIC
Mitch Corbett, WA
Izak Clifford, QLD
Brodie Williams, QLD
Adam Whitby, QLD
Zak Southgate-Smith, QLD
Remi Darkis, NC
Lindon Whitfield, QLD
Jesse Hinkle, USA
Ed Cunningham, QLD
George Cunningham, QLD
Daniel Potter, QLD
Jack Entwistle, NSW
Dylon Hunt, NSW
Andrew Gough, QLD
William Crowe, NSW
Eli Steele, QLD

3 spots remaining

Under 15:

Ethan Kostromin, QLD
Chad Hobby, NSW
Harrison Jones, QLD
Jack Foley, QLD
Kai Ellice-Flint, NSW
Ben Considine, VIC
Adam Lalor, VIC
Jake Goold, QLD
William Crowe, NSW
Baptiste Rabut, NC
Tom Morat, NC
Louis Chamoux, NC
Cameron Dark, NSW
Jared Fowler, QLD
Kodi Wulff, QLD
Mat Withers, QLD
Harrison Brooks, QLD

1 spot remaining

Womens Open:

Denise Piper, NZ
Molly Powell, VIC
Kathryn Hughes, QLD
Sasha Leitmanis, VIC
Claire Finucane, WA
Kirra Perry, NSW
Renate Moerman, NETH
Erin Dark, NSW
Kristal Gersbach, VIC
Sam Suendermann, VIC
Roisin Carolan, NSW
Laura Pigott, NSW
Dimity Stoyle, QLD
Ashleigh Bennetts, UK
Taylor Nelson, USA
Hiroka Yoshikawa, JPN
Taylor Miller, NSW
Katherine Dodd, QLD
Monique Keane, QLD
Kozue Miyano, JPN
Lucy Small, WA
Hannah Reid, QLD
Leanne Gilkes, QLD

1 spot remaining

Junior Women:

Sara Toussieng, USA
Kirra Perry, NSW
Beth Palmer, QLD
Erin Dark, NSW
Catherine Watson-Brown, QLD
Maddie Watson-Brown, QLD
Lucy Cantori, QLD
Sam Suendermann, VIC
Kirra Molnar, QLD
Lucy Small, WA
Roisin Carolan, NSW
Lisa Nguyen, NC
Leilani Morat, NC
Rach Fleming, NSW
Ali Fleming, NSW
Taylor Nelson, USA
Demi Giovannoni, QLD
Eveline Van Brande, USA

6 spots remaining

Senior Women:

Vivienne Cresswell, NSW
Cindy Waldock, NSW
Boo Lalor, VIC
Claire Finucane, WA
Keena Wilson, QLD
Peppie Simpson, QLD
Debbie Kay, QLD
Julie Starr-Thomas, QLD
Niu Chen Lin, TWN
Kate Sullivan, VIC
Serena Townend, QLD
Kate Dwyer, QLD

FULL

Old Mal:

Steve ‘Chooka’ Piec, VIC
Matt Aldridge, QLD
Dave ‘Smitty’ Smith, USA
Beau Nixon, NSW
Mark Nixon, NSW
Rahn Goddard, WA
Jake Bevan, NSW
Mathew Chojnacki, NSW
Thomas Bexon, QLD
Trent Docherty, NSW
Ric Chalmers, NSW
Harrison Biden, QLD
Teruman Yamamoto, JPN
Wade Venville, QLD
Geoff Fanning, QLD
Jordie Brown, VIC
Isabelle Braly, NSW
Sasha Leitmanis, VIC
Jordan Nobel, VIC
Jason Tulk, QLD
Isaac Fields, NSW
Dane Wilson, QLD
Brett Caller, NSW
Peter Brightwell, QLD
Hamish Mackay, QLD
Harrison Roach, QLD
Justin Healey, QLD
Simon Patchett, NSW
Patrick Quirk, QLD
Luke Potter, QLD
Nathan Mackenzie, QLD
Jesse Hinkle, USA
Joel Hamilton, QLD

3 spots remaining

Progressions – 24 Teams

Round 1 to Round 2 – 8 heat winners plus highest 4 other teams
Round 2 to Semi final – 4 heat winners plus highest 2 other teams
Semi final to Final – 2 semi-final winners plus the highest other team.
Paul & Jackson Winter QLD
Mark & Beau Nixon, NSW
Mark & Bryce Williams, NSW
Andrew & Daniel Carter, VIC
Pablo & Jennifer Smith, USA
David & Dane Wilson, NSW
Brett & Oscar Lalor, VIC
Win & Matt Cuddihy, QLD
Jared & Jeff Fowler, QLD
Dean & Rachel Pinsak, NSW
Graham & Alex Bullpitt, QLD
Eric & Tom Morat, NC
Tony Dempsey & Kass Bertram, QLD
Glenn & Ed Cunningham, QLD
Rusty & Taylor Miller, NSW
Ben & Dane Pioli, NSW
Robert & Lindon Whitfield, QLD
Mick & Selby Riddle, QLD
Pierre & Louis Chamoux, NC
Trevor & Joshua Brady, QLD
Peter & Brett White, QLD
Herman & Paul Scholten, VIC
Warren Walker, QLD
Peter & Jye Townend, QLD

FULL

Noserider Pro Trials:

Seeded finalists

Christian Wach, USA
Taylor Jensen, NSW
Harrison Roach, QLD
Zye Norris, QLD
Alex Bullpitt, QLD
Matt Cuddihy, QLD
Ezra Norris, QLD
Harley Ingleby, NSW
Beau Nixon, NSW
Lee Cooper, QLD
Dale Lasslett, SA
Thomas Bexon, QLD
Ben Considine, VIC
Fraser Biden, QLD
Teruman Yamamoto, JPN
Wade Venville, QLD
Jordie Brown, VIC
Dan Corbett, WA
Brodie Williams, QLD
Ryan Egan, NSW
Brendan Rose, VIC
Isaac Fields, NSW
Jared Neal, NSW
Isaac Paddon, NSW
Zak Southgate-Smith, QLD
Silas Mackay, NSW
Trent Dickey, QLD
Mitch Surman, QLD
Will Cousins, VIC
Matt Shay, VIC
Pat Saunders, VIC
Jesse Hinkle, USA
Clinton Guest, QLD
Yuki Nakayama, JPN
Brett White, QLD
Chris ‘Tigger’ Newling, NSW
Troy Mothershead, USA
Luke Potter, QLD
George Trimm, USA
Kameron Brown, USA
Dwayne Paenga, QLD
Victoria Vergara, RI
Dylan Holland, QLD
Cyrus Sutton, USA
Brodie Murray, NSW
Jared Mell, USA
James Parry, UK
Kai Ellice-Flint, NSW

FULL

Tandem Open:

Beau Nixon & Jessica Bevan, NSW
Fred & Lily Branger, QLD
Simon & Nicole Phin, NSW
Jesse Schultz & Jessica, QLD

Fin-Free Pro:

Fred Branger, QLD
Jordie Brown, VIC
John Skinner, NSW
Jimmy Weigall, VIC
Matt Williams, QLD
Cameron Byron, QLD
Jacob Stuth, QLD
Harrison Biden, QLD
Ezra Norris, QLD
Taylor Jensen, USA
Sandy Haynes, QLD
Jackson Winter, QLD
Harrison Roach, QLD
Mark Pridmore, QLD
Zak Southgate-Smith, QLD
Alex Austin, QLD
Joel Hamilton, QLD
Christian Wach, USA

Corporate Cup:

Morrison Media, QLD
McTavish Surfboards, NSW
Tropicsurf, QLD
Rip Curl, VIC
Global Surf Industries, NSW
MY by Meyerhoffer, NSW
Walden Surfboards, NSW
Classic Malibu, QLD
Golden Breed, QLD
Surftech, NSW
John Madill Toyota, QLD

Stand Up Paddle Divisions:
Maximum board length required – 12’6?

Open Pro Surf:

Beau Nixon, NSW
Craig Munro, NSW
Tatsumi Kawai, JPN
Greg Sunderland, QLD
Will Cousins, VIC
Paul Jones, QLD
Scott Penwarn, QLD
Woogie Marsh, QLD
Jackson Close, QLD
Geoff Breen, QLD
Geoff Barden, NSW
Justin Holland, NSW
Hayden Stintman, QLD
Andrew Prowd, QLD
Andy Davies, NSW
Noel Graham, NSW
Roger Saunders, NSW
Ben Apps, NSW
Tully St John, QLD
Paul Jacko, QLD
Ross Phillips, QLD
Mathew Lumley, VIC
Jason O’Donnell, NSW
Anthony Collet, QLD

FULL

Over 45 Open Surf:

Paul Winter, QLD
Stuart Murray, NSW
Cameron MacGowan, QLD
Peter Turner, QLD
Rob Pirie, QLD
Todd Jackson, NSW
Michael Stokes, NSW
John Mingramm, NSW
Richard Smith, NSW
Jason McManus, NSW
Mark Temple, SA
Peter Cuff, NSW
Cameron Wyllie, NSW
Danny Sheard, QLD
Chris ‘Tigger’ Newling, NSW
John Chalk, QLD
Nigel Crook, QLD
Matt Fleming, NSW

FULL

Women’s Open Surf:

Maria Kingi, NZ
Mary Morrison, QLD
Kristiana Page, VIC
Sondra Purser, NSW
Erin Dark, NSW
Samantha Williams, NSW
Cinde Fisher, WA
Melissa McManus, NSW
Emma Webb, VIC
Jenny Ryan, QLD
Elyse Comerford, NSW
Shakira Westdorp, NSW

FULL

SUPS RACE

View the race course.

5km Loop Race – Open

Stuart Phinn, QLD
Tatsumi Kawai, JPN
Scott Penwarn, QLD
Woogie Marsh, QLD
Alan Heald, QLD
Andy Davies, NSW
Noel Graham, NSW
Jason O’Donnell, NSW
Paul Jacko, QLD
Ross Phillips, QLD
Simon Hunnybun, QLD
Anthony Collet, QLD
Troy Pease, QLD
Jason Voght, QLD
Jake Jensen, QLD
Gavin Smith, WA
Damo Andrew, QLD
Andrew Edhouse, QLD
Beau O’Brian, QLD
Steve Walker, QLD

5km Loop Race – Women:

Simone Horsfield, QLD
Sondra Purser, NSW
Melissa McManus, NSW
Cinde Fisher, WA
Angela Jackson, QLD
Elyse Comerford, NSW
Jenny Ryan, QLD
Sue Sheard, QLD
Kirsty Holmes, QLD

5km Loop Race – Seniors (Over 45):

Stuart Murray, NSW
Peter Turner, QLD
Terry Glass, NSW
Rob Pirie, QLD
Jason McManus, NSW
Mark Temple, SA
Peter Cuff, NSW
Cameron Wyllie, NSW
Danny Sheard, QLD
Nigel Crook, QLD
Mick di Betta, QLD
Alain Teurquetil, NSW
John Townsend, QLD
Rob Noel, QLD
Matt Fleming, NSW