Summer’s Next Big Wave Comes to Fox Sports
Surf Life Saving Australia, October 31, 2014:In what is the biggest television deal in the history of surf life saving, FOX SPORTS will launch a new, weekly series titled Summer of Surf on Saturday, November 29.
Showcasing Australia’s largest surf sport events, beginning with the iconic 2014 Coolangatta Gold and culminating in late April with the 2015 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, the Summer of Surf series will be broadcast on FOX SPORTS over 23 weeks, in a landmark agreement that will reinvigorate the sport.
In a major coup for Surf Life Saving Australia, for the first time, the Coolangatta Gold and the Australian Surf Live Saving Championships will also be distributed around the globe to a potential audience of more than one hundred million viewers across the USA, Asia and Europe.
Surf Life Saving Australia Chief Executive Greg Nance applauded the innovative new approach to broadcasting one of the nation’s most iconic sports.
“This is a fantastic initiative for surf sports in this country. The combination of surf, sand and sport is typically Australian and we are thrilled that people will have a chance to be a part of the action through Fox Sports,” Mr Nance said.
“Our athletes are incredibly gifted and this new broadcast deal will give them the opportunity to show Australia their skills and endurance and hopefully encourage plenty of people to get out to their local beach, join a surf life saving club and give it a go themselves.”
Each two-hour episode of the Summer of Surf series will include the world’s best athletes in all aspects of Surf Sports.
The Surf Ironman Qualifying Series (SIQS) will play a starring role in the Summer of Surf and for the first time Olympic athletes and their fellow surf club members will have the opportunity to showcase their skills to a national television audience on a weekly basis.
Ski, Board and Swim races, three person Taplin teams and the excitement of the fastest athletes on sand in the beach flags will feature throughout the summer.
It is the inclusion of the varied disciplines of Surf Sports that proved attractive to FOX SPORTS.
“The concept for the Summer of Surf began long ago when we identified the need for the sport to go back to it’s grass roots”, Castle Media Managing Director and concept developer John Palmer said today.
“Surf life saving is built on great people who share a desire to be part of a movement that literally changes lives. No other sport can genuinely state that they are a collection of heroes. The competitors in the Summer of Surf save lives as a matter of fact.”
The Summer of Surf series will cover some of Australia’s largest surf sport events, from major surf carnivals, to State and National titles.
“When the series was first discussed with SIQS Manager Trent Goulding, we were very conscious that we wanted to reward the people within the sport that have worked so tirelessly over so many years to build pathways for young people to be involved.,” Palmer said.
“From surf clubs to event administrators and especially all of the athletes who train so hard and compete not for money or fame, but because they absolutely love the way of life, that has always been the motivating factor.
“At the end of the day when a child and their parents are choosing a sport, we want them to immediately think of Surf Sports as a healthy, fun and exciting option.
“The Summer of Surf will reflect those values and promote the ideals of surf life saving, the skill and the athleticism of the competitors and the opportunities that come with being part of such a great community.
“In addition, we want them to remember the stars that they see on television each week are the same heroes that will be protecting them at the beach on the weekend, and you can’t have it any better than that.”
Summer of Surf Event Schedule
Coolangatta Gold (November 1 & 2)
Ocean Assault - Alexandra Headland, QLD (November 15 & 16)
Coffs Craft Carnival, NSW (November 29)
Thirroul, NSW (December 6)
Maroochydore, QLD (December 14)
Jim Wall Ironman, Torquay, VIC (January 9)
Fairhaven, VIC (January 11)
Australian Interstate Championships, NSW (January 23)
Manly, NSW (January 24)
Freshwater, NSW (January 25)
Ocean Assault - Gold Coast (February 7 & 8)
Newport, NSW (February 28 and March 1)
NSW Championships, Umina, NSW (March 14 & 15)
QLD Championships, Maroochydore, QLD (March 28 & 29)
Australian Championships, North Kirra, QLD (April 13 – 19)
FOX SPORTS’ broadcast of the Summer of Surf series begins Saturday, November 29. For more information, please head to foxsports.com.au/tvguide
Further enquiries:
John Palmer
Managing Director
Castle Media
Ph: 0423 402 099
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia
Media Manager, 2014 Australian Commonwealth Games Team
Deputy Media Manager 2016 Australian Olympic Team
Media Manager 2014 Pan Pacs
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
Hanson Media Group | P O Box 299 | West Burleigh Qld 4219
Phone: +61 7 5522 5556 | Mobile 0407 385 160 | Fax: +61 7 5522 5557
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