Shredding waves at new female Surf Fest

Festival co-organiser Linley Hurrell gets ready to take on the High Line. (Photo by Katey Shearer)

A one-day event celebrating women and non-binary ocean lovers of all ages and abilities is rolling into the Surf Coast.

The inaugural High Line Surf Fest will be held at the Torquay Point and Torquay Surf Lifesaving Club from 9am to 6pm on Saturday, March 9.

Festival co-organiser Sam Suendermann said the event would be the first women’s surf festival on the Surf Coast, which was volunteer-run and coordinated by local surfers.

“Wadawurrung Country and the Surf Coast are home to such an amazing community of women and girls who surf and love the ocean,” she said.

The festival’s program included a High Line Tag Team event, panels and workshops on surf culture, storytelling, environmental activism, surf skills, hula, and a showcase of local change-makers/

Co-organiser Noelani Le Nevez said High Line meant “connection, community, smiles, stoke and sharing”.

“We hope to see our community lifting each other up and taking the High Line spirit with them out into the world and onto the waves,” she said.

Co-organiser Jessi Rebel said the Surf Coast had a powerful surfing history and that the event would be an “important page in that book”.

“High Line Surf Fest is an important opportunity for the Victorian surf community to continue championing the women and non-binary surfers that live along this beautiful coastline,” she said.

Festival partners included Surf Her Way / Surfing Victoria, Torquay Surf Lifesaving Club, Patagonia, the PMF Foundation and Surfrider Foundation Australia.

“We are joined in our shared purpose to connect our community and let our love of surf and the ocean bring us together for a healthier, happier planet,” Surfrider Foundation marketing and partnerships director Daphne Yeo said.

More information about the High Line Surf Fest is available at highlinesurffest.com