This weekend saw the opening of an annual surf festival in the town I live in.
Now I am not a surfer but I love watching people surf.
Surfing represents the life of freedom to me. Maybe that is because my nephew has traveled much of the globe surfing. My brother also surfed and so do many of my friends.
Surf Festival – Noosa 23rd Festival of Surfing
Noosa is a holiday resort town on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland Australia. The surf festival has a lot of fun events including surfing dogs.
The surf festival lasts for 8 days.
There are more than 500 participants with the majority of our international entrants coming from the United States.
There are other teams from Japan, New Zealand, France, UK and New Caledonia.
We also have a busload of European backpackers that are competing in the Backpacker Challenge. There are 24 of them who had never surfed before they arrived here. They attended a surf clinic that ran for just a couple of days and they are up and surfing.
Most of the international entrants make it part of their vacation.
A little about Noosa
Noosa Main Beach while on the east coast of Australia faces north which means it is protected (for my friends in the northern hemisphere everything is upside down here). 🙂
The waves are not huge which makes it ideal for the Stand Up Paddle (SUP) which is very popular and part of the surf festival.
The beach is very beautiful and it is adjacent to a beautiful national park. Here are some photos I took yesterday.
This was the beach early in the day
The start of the national park
This track heads around the park and is a beautiful walk
A couple of fun events included in the surf festival
Little Humid Costume Surf – this video is from the Noosa Festival of Surfing website.
Surfing Dogs
By far the most popular event is the surfing dogs. We watched it late yesterday afternoon and here are some of the pictures.
Dogs patiently waiting
Here is a very short video also from the festival website.
The VetshopAustralia.com.au Dog Surfing Spectacular 2014
Surfing and Internet Lifestyle
Yesterday my husband and I had lunch in a restaurant on the beach then wandered down and watched the events.
I was filled with gratitude that we live in this beautiful place. I remember when we first visited Noosa and fell in love with the town. We dreamed one day we would live here.
At that time our reality was far from our current lifestyle. We lived in a city and even though we had our own business we did not have lifestyle freedom. We worked from our office premises for many hours each day and missed out on much of our kids’ lives when they were growing up.
Now with the internet there are so many more options.
If you dream of traveling the world surfing ….. or just traveling the world you may like to check out what I am doing now.
Or maybe you want to spend more time with your family ….or just want to live life on your terms.
It is possible and you can have the life you want. Check it out here.
Please leave me a comment below and share this post on the Surf Festival with your friends.
Make it a great day.
Sue Price
Skype: sueprice
PS
If you want to work in an environment that supports personal growth check this out.
Harleena Singh says
Hi Sue,
What fun I must say 🙂
I enjoyed the lovely pictures and the video too, and I think it must be very interesting to have it as a real festival for over a week! Usually you have holidays and such kind of festivals for 2-3 days, but 8 days ensures everyone’s on the beach!
I have an uncle who loves surfing and because of the place they live it, which is a hilly terrain, they miss out on it and travel all the way to the beach for their vacations just to surf. Yes, loads of fun for them 🙂
Thanks for sharing this with us. Have a nice week ahead 🙂
Sue Price says
Hi Harleena
Yes it was such fun the afternoon we went.
An 8 day festival is long for sure but our town is good at doing long events. We also have an 8 day long weekend, which is a arts type festival. 🙂 It is mainly because the town depends on tourism and so there is much done to attract them. Right now because much of the northern hemisphere is still cold it is a good time for people to visit Australian. One thing I loved on Sunday was hearing all the different languages being spoken.
It must be tough on your uncle loving to surf and not being near a beach. I guess they have their reasons for living where they do and at least he gets there for vacations.
Thanks for your comment Harleena and you too have good week.
Sue
Bren says
Hi Sue!
Wow! Such beautiful beaches! I love to watch people (and dogs) surf. It’s amazing to me. I’ve never tried it because I don’t like waves that are that big. 🙂 I have to agree in the “freedom” that you mentioned above. There is something liberating about surfing to me, just from watching it. It’s like when I used to drag race. It felt so liberating to cruise 100+mph down a quarter mile track. 🙂
Fabulous post Sue. I’m so glad that you are out there enjoying life and not feeling all bogged down my the need or urge to blog. Blogging is great, however, experiencing life is much greater!
Thanks for sharing!
Sue Price says
Hi Bren
The beach is beautiful here for sure. I too am not so good with big waves and generally they are manageable for me here to just play in 🙂
Watching he dogs is amazing as they seem to be loving just like many humans do.
Oh wow you drag raced – how cool. Now that would terrify me more than riding a wave. 🙂
I must confess I do not always get out and enjoy life enough but I am working on doing it more. We moved here because the place offers a great lifestyle,
Thanks for your comment Bren.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Sue
William Butler says
Hi Sue,
Looks like a fun place to be. I especially love the idea of freedom as well that surfing provides. I went body surfing at Kekaha Beach on the island of Kauai. It was exhilarating!
I love the photos and videos. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful post.
Do you have room for a visitor? 😉
Kind Regards,
Bill
Sue Price says
Hi Bill
Body surfing is as much as I can do in the surfing stakes and I am only comfortable in smallish waves. I am sure the surf on Kauai is bigger. Yes it is exhilarating.
We do have a couple of spare rooms in the house so yes visitors are welcome. If you ever come out here come and see us.
Thanks for your comment Bill.
Sue
Adrienne says
Hey Sue,
That does look like so much fun and I enjoyed watching them surf and especially the dogs of course. I wonder if they really enjoy it or they just put up with it because of their owners. Love to know what goes on in their minds ya know!
Festivals are always so much fun and I’m sure a surfing one is really entertaining. I love to watch those professionals surf on TV, unbelievable some of the waves they take on. It’s not anything I’ve ever tried either but my brother and his family have.
Thanks for sharing this with us and always enjoy hearing what you’ve got going on over there. How cool.
~Adrienne
Sue Price says
Hi Adrienne
There are some dogs that enjoy it and some that are there because of their owners. Now of course I can not read their minds but it is pretty obvious when you watch them. The black and white dog at the beginning of the video is one of 3 dogs owned by a guy named Chris. He is a stand up paddle teacher and a dog whisperer. Lani (black and white dog) has been surfing with him for the 8 1/2 years we have lived her. She was a pup when I first saw her. She loves it you can just tell. So do his other two dogs. But some of the other guys dogs do not look so happy.
Ivan and I used to have a corgi when we were first married. We also had a boat and skied. The corgi came to the lake with us and used to spend the day on a small board riding the wake of the waves. She was amazing so I think she could have surfed too. Now Nirvana hated the water so no way for her.
Festivals are great and I love it when there are people from different parts of the world here.
Thanks for your comment Adrienne and I know you would love seeing the dogs.
I hope you are having a good week.
Sue
Jeevan Jacob John says
Never been a fan of water sporting (or related) events (Yeah, I had a bad experience in my child hood…almost ‘drowned’ in an amusement park…I still get some chills when I take a cold shower!).
But, it does look like fun 😀 Dog surfing, huh? That’s certainly interesting (Dogs are natural swimmers, right? So, it won’t be too hard for them..if they fall in the water).
Anyways, thank you for sharing this with us, Sue 🙂 Great to see that you guys had fun!
Sue Price says
Hi Jeevan
You are like my husband. He too almost drowned when he was very young. He loves looking at it but that is where it stops.
The dogs were amazing and they seem to do it so naturally. Yes they can swim. Some dogs love it and other breeds don’t but they seem to do it naturally.
We did have fun.
Thanks for your comment Jeevan and have a successful rest of your week.
Sue
Akaahan Terungwa says
Hello Jeevan,
What you just narrated has made me remember many things which I don’t bother doing because they proved harmful and terrible in my childhood or youth.
However, believe me, surfing is one thing I would still try even if I drowned and was rescued! The freedom (and extreme daring) it represents is simply what I cannot watch past me or forgo!
Why not reconsider surfing? And maybe learn how to swim (just to ensure you are safe?)
Always,
Terungwa
Jeevan Jacob John says
Glad you had fun, Sue 😀
@ Akaahan
I might…I do love trying new things, so I might eventually do things like surfing (I would love to).
To me, every time I come in touch with cold water (that is during a shower..or in beach, although it’s usually hot, since I don’t go to beaches during the winter), the memory comes back up! (Perhaps if I had a memory eraser?).
Sue Price says
Ah I love that Terungwa is encouraging you to try it Jeevan 🙂 You can wear a wet suit then it feels warm 🙂
Thanks Terungwa 🙂
Both have a good rest of your week.
Sue
donna merrill says
Hi Sue,
Thanks so much for those wonderful videos. I got such a kick out of the surfing dogs!
You do live in a wonderful place my friend. I’m sure that is one of the many “dream come true” stories you have to share. I know when I visited here, at Kennebunk Beach in Maine, I thought it would be impossible to make a life here.
But, like you, that power of the internet made our dreams come true also. If I ever want to sit on a plane for many hours, I would love to visit your beach area. The water looks absolutely beautiful. And I know how much you enjoy living there.
Cheers my friend!
-Donna
Sue Price says
Hi Donna
I knew you would love seeing the dogs. They were amazing. Yes we are both blessed to live in lovely places and we have made it happen. Without the internet our lives would be different for sure.
Donna if you and David ever come out here you know you can stay with us. Just do not come in the middle of our summer given you do not like the heat. It is a long trip especially from the east coast. LA to Sydney or Brisbane is about 14 hours but when you add the NY LA bit it is long. Some people break it up in Hawaii. Direct flight to Hawaii and then out here.
And if you do ever come it has to be for a reasonable length of time. I used to do short business trips to the US and they are hard on the body.
Thanks for your comment Donna and sounds like we might catch up soon.
Sue
Nirmal Anandh says
Hi Sue,
Enjoyed reading and I traveled with you. Interesting video and Pics.
Thanks for sharing this. You didn’t surf, but by seeing the surfing of people, you have made a wonderful post. Actually i am from Madurai, Tamilnadu, India.
Madurai is my hometown, Tamilnadu is my state and India is my country. I always used to surf every weekend, with my wife to the near by park. The park is named as Eco Park. It’s a large park in my district. We carry some eatables in the box. After entering in to the park, my wife locate the place to sit.
There we just sit and enjoy by seeing the children plays around, lovers fighting each other and cooing, parents scolding their children. It’s very interesting to see the different kind of people around there.
Then we had some snacks and i fight with my wife and come to my home. It’s enjoyable. Every week, we choose some place to surf around.
Anyway thanks for sharing and happy surf seeing sue…
Sue Price says
Hi Nirmal
Thanks for finding my blog and for your comment.
Thanks also for sharing a little about your life in India. Excellent that you like to surf. It is pretty similar in Australia as we like to eat at the beach or park too.
It sounds like there is a lot of action at Eco Park.
Today is the last day of the surf festival here. My husband and I went and watched a little of the finals this morning. Some very good surfers there.
Thanks again for your comment Nirmal.
Sue
Carolyn Nicander Mohr says
Hi Sue, Wow, what a wonderful festival! I like that it’s a long one so those new to surfing have a few days to learn how it’s done, creating new surfing fans!
The dogs are too cute! They are new fans too. How many sports can you do with your pup?
You’re right, the Internet really gives us freedom to live anywhere. I’m glad you and your husband were able to move to this place of paradise. I bet you get quite a few visits after this article. I may be one of them! Our winter here has been rough so I really appreciate seeing summer beach shots.
Sue Price says
Hi Carolyn,
The festival is quite long and many of the international competitors stay for much longer. It is great for our town.
Interesting question I guess there are quite a few sports you can do with dogs. Walking and running and surfing. Playing ball … still thinking 🙂
I know you guys have had a rough winter. It is funny when it is hot here to see all the pictures of snow on Facebook. I really hope you do come and visit.
Thanks for your comment Carolyn and have a great weekend.
Sue
Kumar Gauraw says
Hi Sue,
Looks like you and I have synchronized our posts to be around festivals this time 🙂
I had heard about Surfing Festival due to a few friends in Australia but never realized this much fun it is. The videos are wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
The beaches are beautiful. You do live at such an exotic location. If (well, I will definitely) I come to Australia, this seems like a really awesome beach to visit..
Thank you for sharing and you have a great weekend and a happy Surfing festival.
Regards,
Kumar
Sue Price says
Hi Kumar
I see what you mean with us both writing about festivals. I will check yours out shortly. 🙂
There are quite a few surfing festivals in Australia each year but this one has the added fun components. I think some of the others are more hardcore surfing only.
The location here is very beautiful. The beach is often voted the most popular in Australia. The main reason is the climate. It is sub tropical so even the winters are not too cold. Many people swim and surf all year round. The added attraction is the lush green surrounds.
When you come to Australia Kumar you certainly must visit here. And Melbourne for the most famous cricket ground 🙂
Thanks for your comment Kumar and you too have nice weekend.
Sue
Greg Urbano says
I love the idea of surfing dogs, they just seem to go well together!!
Sue Price says
Hi Greg
Thanks for finding my blog and for your comment.
Yes the dogs seem to love being out there on those boards. It is wonderful to watch.
Sue
Akaahan Terungwa says
Hello Sue,
Living the Internet dream has always been my long term desire. It is always super frustrating waking up and dreaming about things you honestly know you either can’t outrightly afford or cannot compromise due to the fact that you’ve got to make a living offline.
I congratulate you on having achieved this long term dream of yours…in the coming years, my family and I may just be your neighbours in Queensland!
Always,
Terungwa
Sue Price says
Hi Terungwa
I think many people aspire to the internet dream. It was not a reality for me when I was younger as there was no internet. Life has changed so much over my life time. For most of my life I spent hours in my car getting to and from my office (even when it was our own business).
You will get to a stage I am sure where your online business will allow you to leave the offline world. It all takes time 🙂
It would be wonderful to have you and your family as neighbours in Queensland 🙂
Thanks for your comment Terungwa and you have a great weekend.
Sue
Akaahan Terungwa says
That is one of the benefits of the present age Sue. In my youth, I never envisaged that one day there would be something even called an International Network! But here I am not only benefiting from a system I never knew would exist, but also living off it.
I also concur that there is a time your online activities begin to pay more than the ‘normal’ offline stuff…this year, I have been fortunate to record that milestone. What I wait for is for it to properly ‘take off’, if you understand what I mean!
By all means, make it a great Sunday!
Always,
Terungwa
Sue Price says
Hi Terungwa
That is an amazing thought to be using a system that was unheard of when we were young. I wonder what else will happen in our lifetime.
I totally understand what you mean when you say you are waiting for it to properly take off online. Me too 🙂
I hope you enjoyed your Sunday and have a great week to follow Terungwa.
Sue
Sylviane Nuccio says
Hi Sue,
Looks like a lot of fun. I agree with you, surfing to me also kind of represent freedom. I love those surfing dogs, they sure have a lot of good balance that I don’t even have LOL!
Thank you for sharing your end of summer Australian festival 🙂
Sue Price says
Hi Sylviane
Yes the dogs have amazing balance. It was such fun seeing them.
I met a French woman last week who is pretty new to Australia and she was telling me she grew up surfing in the south of France.
I hope you are feeling better.
Thanks for your comment here.
Sue
Arleen says
Sue- As you know I am a dog person so I loved the dog video and really could see that this would be so much fun. Reading your article I have decided at my age I plan to live life on my terms. When you are younger you are worried about what other people think, should you or should you not be doing something. Today knowing and experiencing many pains in my life, I now feel it is my turn. I don’t hurt anyone in the process but I have become selfish with my time. You know the song that Frank Sinatra sang “I Did it My Way”. The power is within each of us.
Sue Price says
Hi Arleen
I knew you would love the dog video. You also would have loved to have been there I am sure. Some of the dogs look like they were born to surf. It is amazing.
I love what you have said about living life on your terms. I think that is one of the nicer things about being the age we are now that we do not worry what other people think. I used to spend my life doing that. I am with you no more. I think as women we can give too much to others and have nothing left for us. Being selfish without hurting people is the way I believe we are meant to live.
Arleen I also love that song by Frank Sinatra and relate it to me life.
Thanks for your comment as I really resonate with what you have said.
Have a good week.
Sue
andleeb says
Hello
It was fun watching video and pictures…
I first time came across the fact that Dog , apart from swiming can do surfing , you know man is an amazing creation by God he can turn anything to his interests.
I live in Saudi Arabia and we have sea here but not that active ….. But when i see tides i love that some day i can surf….. but here you know i can not….
Thank you for such a nice share.
Sue Price says
Hi Andleeb
It is great to see the videos for sure. There are also places in Australia like you describe in Saudi Arabia where there is ocean without surf. We have both.
I never thought of dogs surfing either until I first saw it when I came to live in this town.
Thanks for your comment and have a great day.
Sue
Mary Stephenson says
Hi Sue
Never had a desire to go surfing or water skiing (or any kind of skiing). I used to swim a lot when growing up. Spent many summer afternoons wrinkled up in the salt water. lol I lost interest in swimming when I was about 16 and have done very little swimming since. Water is for showers and drinking. Salt water is good for looking at. But I think every kid should learn how to swim and float on their back, never know when you might need that skill.
I respect the ocean and all that lurks in it. There are sharks on the California coast and I do not want to be part of their food chain. They have the Mavericks along our coast but it is dangerous on the beach when that happens. A couple of years ago the waves were so huge that they ended up catching some people on the shore. They had to be rescued. So now they don’t let any spectators down on the beach when the competition is going on.
I do love to watch the ocean and it seems like you have a nice long beach there so it has plenty of room for spectators.
Mary
Sue Price says
Hi Mary
I used to water ski and absolutely loved it. I am a terrible snow skier. I did not even try that until I was in my 40’s.
I am the opposite to you I love being in the water. It is my greatest way to rejuvenate. It feels for me like all the troubles and concerns just are washed away. My husband is like you and does not like being in it but he almost drowned when he was a kid.
We have sharks in Australia too. Where I live now there are shark nets so not many get through. The problem with them though is that dolphins also get trapped in the nets.
What are the Mavericks? I am not familiar with that term.
I have only seen the beaches in the south of California. A couple of times I have driven down the coast from LA to San Diego. Where do you live? It says “ask” on your Facebook profile 🙂
Thanks for your comment Mary and have a good rest of your week.
Sue
Mary Stephenson says
Hi Sue
I live in SF Bay Area.
Here is the news on the contest:
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Mavericks-surf-contest-draws-thousands-to-5172071.php
They have pretty rugged shores and that is probably why it produces such high waves.
Mary
Sue Price says
Hi Mary
I am still to get to SF and hope to in the not too distant future.
Thank you so much for sharing that link with me – wow that is real surf I get what you mean.
Thanks again and have a lovely weekend.
Sue
Whirly Dog Supplies says
I just love seeing the surfing dogs…
the one with the little blue shirt is adorable. i design and make dog apparel and pet clothes and you have given me a great idea to find fabrics that would work well for our little canine surfers. Summer is almost here throughout the country!
Sue Price says
Hi there
The dogs were great and glad this has given you some ideas for a new product 🙂
Thanks for leaving a comment.
Sue