International eyewear company Arnette has come to the rescue of the State’s premier grass roots surfing event, taking office of the recently defunct Brothers Neilsen Junior Surf Challenge on the Sunshine Coast which has been running for the last 12 consecutive years.
The collapse of Brothers Neilsen, which went into liquidation in June, left the prestigious tournament with an uncertain future and in desperate need of a naming rights sponsor. With the assistance of Arnette, the long-running event that was developed in the early 1990’s, now has a brighter outlook.
The all-new Arnette Junior Surf Challenge, running in conjunction with the September school holidays, will act as a fantastic introductory competition for those groms who have not competed before or have very little competitive contest experience with intermediate divisions included for first-timers.
The Arnette Junior Surf Challenge will honor the format that has made the event an institution on the Surfing Queensland calendar. All divisions feature a second chance format which guarantees surfers at least two bites at the cherry. In addition to maintaining the event’s traditions, Arnette has expanded the draw to cater to the micro groms of the sport by featuring under 8, under 10 and under 12 divisions.
Arnette is proud to be backing an event that encourages both participation and competitive sportsmanship by catering to intermediate and advanced surfers. And by reducing the entry fee it’s a low cost activity for kids on their school holidays.
Arnette Marketing Director Graham Dickinson was very pleased at their acquisition of naming rights sponsorship to this great junior event saying, “Although the circumstances are not ideal, we are really excited having the Arnette brand involved in junior grass roots surfing. The Junior Surf Challenge has been on the Queensland calendar for years, and we are very pleased that we can keep it going.”
Surfing Queensland CEO Andrew Stark was elated at the news of the event survival saying, “This is one of the very best grass roots junior events in the country that has been running for over 12 years.”
“When Brothers Neilsen fell over recently we were genuinely disappointed for all the kids that were excited about competing in the event, but Arnette has really saved the day and provided the investment to keep this great junior surf comp alive. In school holidays on the Sunshine Coast at the start of the summer surf season, it’s such a perfect junior sport development event and we are really thankful of the great support of Arnette.”
Competition will commence on Monday 29th September, with finals being run on Friday 3rd October, 2008.
Divisions including boys U/18 and U/16 advanced, boys U/18 and U/16 intermediate, boys U/14, boys U/12, boys U/10, boys U/8 girls U/18, and girls U/16, girls U/14 along with girls U/12 will be surfed. All divisions feature a second chance format.
The main contest site is Maroochydore beach, but the event does have the option of going mobile on the Sunshine Coast.
Entries are now available from Surfing Queensland’s website: www.surfingqueensland.com or by calling the Surfing Queensland Office on (07) 5520 1165. All divisions are limited – First in first served basis!
