Join Manly Malibu Boardriders Club as they honour surfing legend Snowy McAlister in June
BY ALEX DRISCOLL
Shortboards have, for several decades now, been the dominant choice for surfers since their explosion in the late 1960s. However, many surfing purists out there still use the traditional, nine-foot longboards that popularised the sport internationally.
Harder to manoeuvre than shortboards, but offering a smoother ride, one group which honours the old ways are the Manly Malibu Boardriders Club (Malibu being the colloquial name for a longboard). This love is on full display every year at their annual Snowy McAlister Winter Longboard Festival.
Named in honour of a local surfing legend, the event takes place over a June weekend, offering a cool but ideal climate for surfing.
The man for whom the event is named after, Charles ‘Snowy’ McAlister, is somewhat of an unsung hero of not only surfing on the Northern Beaches, but in Australia as a whole. “He was an early board rider for Sydney and Manly, surfing in the 1920s,” Tom Bennett, club president, told Peninsula Living Pittwater. “The club is very much dedicated to him, as so is the event obviously.”
Sometimes referred to as the ‘grandfather of Australian surfing,’ the former Olympian was inspired to pick up the sport after witnessing legendary Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku display his skills at Freshwater Creek in 1915. Snowy soon became a renowned surfer himself, known for his tricks, including handstands on his board. One of the first people to demonstrate the surfing potential of the Channel Islands in the UK and a founding member of the Australian Surfriders Association, Snowy passed away in 1999, with Manly Malibu Boardriders founded over a decade before in 1985.
The longboard festival has been running since 1987 and is a huge draw for the surfing community. “It’s a very prestigious event,” Tom says. “We get internationals and Australians coming to compete; people really come from all over.” The event is also niche in that it’s the only event in the surfing calendar where the longboard is the central focus. “The only requirement of entry is that you have a longboard,” Tom explains. “We definitely don’t discriminate. All levels surf from intermediate to pro level (are welcome).”
The competition is open to all abilities and ages, with open men and women’s categories, as well as juniors, over 35s and over 60s being allowed to compete.
Manly Malibu Boardriders
With entries closing on 23 May, The Snowy is a great opportunity for anyone who is interested in the art of longboard riding to enjoy a day out in the surf. It’s also a good excuse to get down to the beach in winter and watch all of the action.
THE SNOWY WINTER LONGBOARD FESTIVAL
Manly Beach | 7 and 8 June Cost: $65+
manlymalibuclub.com/thesnowy Email: manlymal@gmail.com