Crystal Cylinders
Byron Bay’s Matt Wilkinson is heading into the second event of the 2017 WSL tour at Margaret River this week in WA as number two in the world after his runner-up finish at Snapper Rocks.
The event is forecast to get some big surf with waves up to five metres predicted at the peak of the swell.
Wilkinson has drawn Miquel Pupo and Jack Freestone in his first-round heat.
Board meeting
The Board Meeting Surf Charity held their third event at Lennox Head over the weekend with the Lennox Gelato and Coffee team winning the event.
Local northern rivers businesses entered teams of four surfers who took to the fun 1m waves.
The competition featured young, old, amateur, pro, male and female surfers.
It is run by volunteers and supported by local business and surfing communities, and raises much-needed funds for families.
PNG goes pro
The first ever professional surfing event was held on Papua New Guinea soil and Taylor Jensen and Chloe Calmon were crowned the inaugural Kumul PNG World Longboard Champions.
Local organisers initiated a powerful and innovative campaign to raise awareness about issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment, using surfing as the tool to get local communities active through the so-called Pink Nose Revolution.
Big Wave Tour
Peter Mel has announced the transitioning of his role as WSL Big Wave Tour Commissioner to legendary big-wave surfer Mike Parsons.
Mike Parsons will transition into this position for the 2017 Big Wave Tour season, which will kick off on May 1. Parsons’s experience as a big-wave surfer and former professional surfer on the WSL Championship Tour, relationship within the big-wave community, and technical knowledge of swell systems and forecasting make him the perfect candidate to lead the BWT.
‘I am excited to focus my attention on helping create a clear path for young, up-and-coming big-wave surfers,’ he said.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
