It really is an icon of women’s surfing
From humble beginnings 14 years ago, it’s grown to become an icon of women’s surfing.
It’s the ICON All Girls Surf Showdown and it’s on again this June Long weekend at Lennox Head.
Success in this weekend’s Open Pro event will open many doors for the winner, as it has done for previous winners such as Stephanie Gilmore, now pushing for the top spot on the women’s world tour.
Others winners read like a who’s who of women’s surfing — names such as Pauline Menczer, Laurina McGrath, Jenny Boggis, Kate Skarrat, Sam Cornish, Rebecca Woods, Gilmore, Nicola Atherton and Sally Fitzgibbon.
Organisers say that these girls and many others who have competed at the Showdown have gone on to dominate women’s international surfing.
“The ICON has proven to be an excellent stepping stone to world-class competition, as demonstrated by 2006 Open Pro winner Sally Fitzgibbon, who recently won the Under-18 World Junior Surfing Event in Portugal,” they said.
The All Girls Club says the event is celebrated for its fun and friendly atmosphere.
The contest is spread out over three days of the June long weekend with the first competitors hitting the water at 7.30am on Saturday. The contest is mobile and makes use of the best contestable conditions between Lennox Beach and North Wall Ballina.
To find out where the competition is, listen to local ABC radio, Bay FM or Paradise FM for more up-to-date locations over the weekend or check out the contest board outside Lennox Newsagency daily.
And this year the girls are going green. ‘Wipe out Waste’ is an intiative introduced by Ballina Shire Council and is supported by the Showdown. Waste avoidance strategies at the event will include competitor calico bags and reuseable stainless steel mugs. Any recycling at the event will be separated using two bins at each bin station and with the help of the Lennox Longboarders the All Girls aim to recover 40 per cent from recycling at this year’s event.
On Saturday evening the Department of Sport and Recreation will host the Competitors and Sponsors ICON Showdown Disco Dance Fever and Fashion show. There will be a Fashion Parade, prizes and giveaways for best costume, ‘movers and groovers’, and competitors will go into a draw to win a Chixstix Surfboard.
As well as being a big stepping stone for the winners, the All Girls is an important boost to the local economy. The hundreds of visiting surfers, their parents and friends have to be accommodated and fed, so that means money coming into the Lennox and Ballina areas.
And as for the surf this weekend, let’s hope there’s a decent swell. North-west to south-west winds are predicted for Saturday’s opening day.
PICTURE: Last year’s Open finalists.
