World Surf League cops backlash after surfers bail on key community event

West Australian

a day ago

The World Surf League has copped a blast for not sending any of its athletes to a key annual community conservation event during the Margaret River Pro.
WSL traditionally organised for a handful of Championship Tour competitors to attend Nature Conservation Margaret River Region's annual busy bee held in conjunction with volunteers and local junior surfers.
While Nature Conservation staff, volunteers, parents and Cowaramup Bay Boardriders grommets attended the May 15 event at Grunters, no athletes came along this year as they had in the past.
Although it remained a WSL-supported event as part of its One Ocean partnership, parents and other stakeholders told the Times youngsters were left disappointed and feeling like their genuine conservation efforts didn't matter.
Gracetown parent Megan Garnett, who also co-ordinates the Friends of Gracetown conservation group, said many grommets had hoped for more than a free t-shirt.
'The event was a success, but I think it was a bit of a slap in the face,' she said.
'It does make that actually look like a tick-box for WSL and its environmental standing.
'All of us parents and local schools are trying to encourage this idea of being environmental custodians, and when that's not valued by their role models, that makes it twice as hard.'
In years past, surfers including Bettylou Sakura and Italo Ferreira joined young talent laying brushing and planting seedlings along the coast.
Ms Garrett said the region's young surfers looked up to the Pro athletes and the chance to rub shoulders with them while helping the local environment 'could have meant so much'.
Others told the Times it wasn't good enough for WSL to muster local groups when it needed to apply for permits — such as the inclusion of North Point as a location option, bitterly opposed by many surfers — but then pay lip service when the Pro was running.
However, a WSL spokesperson said the official surfing body remained committed to working with local groups and residents 'through sustainability and community engagements throughout the WA Margaret River Pro competition'.
WSL cited its partnership with Nature Conservation that included junior Boardriders, the Margaret River Coastal Residents Association, philanthropic group Line in the Sand, and the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.
But WSL declined to comment on why no professional surfers were available this year.
The disappointing no-show followed complaints from surfers also wondering why the wild cards trial in the lead up the Margaret River Pro was not televised despite everything being in place at Surfers Point.
And that negative feedback came on the heels of last week's reports the Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation had voiced its own disquiet that objections to using certain important heritage sites near the competition were overruled by the State Government.
WSL passed inquiries about the wild cards event to Surfing WA who were unable to comment before deadline.
A Nature Conservation spokesperson said talks were under way to avoid the shortfall in the future.
'Nature Conservation felt disappointed for the Cowaramup Bay Boardriders groms who were so pumped to work on country with their surfing idols,' interim manager Cass Jury said.
'We are working with the WSL to come up with a solution for future years that will prevent this disappointment and give the pro surfers an opportunity to contribute to the worthwhile work of the many coastal volunteers who work tirelessly to protect our fragile coastline.'
Boardriders spokesperson Keighley Bremner told the Times the event was 'a successful day' but declined to comment on the lack of talent on show.
WSL also noted this year it hosted a Capes Coastal Forum during the Pro.
'The forum created a space for community stakeholders to come together to discuss coastline protection,' the spokesperson said.
'The WSL is committed to supporting the community by joining forces with local organisations through workshops, projects, and the WSL PURE Grant program.'