Meeting Barton is the best part because he’s such a nice guy.
- Jesse Hiatt
PROMISING up-and-comer Jesse Hiatt will take on the world’s best junior surfers this week at Barton Lynch’s Hurley BL’s Blast Off in Sydney.
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It will be his third appearance at the world’s largest junior surf festival which is by far the biggest grom surfing event in Australia.
He was looking forward to interacting with Lynch on the sand.
“He gives you tips along the way and meeting him is the best part because he’s such a nice guy,” Hiatt said.
Other commitments have prevented Hiatt from attending the event in recent years.
“The last one I went in was about two years ago,” he said.
Lynch has timed the junior surf festival to kick off in the first week of Spring so participants can enjoy the warmer weather, and spend their school holidays outdoors.
Lynch said the event continues to grow in size.
“Every year we sell out well ahead of the event taking place,” he said.
“The first year we started with 100 kids, and in 2016 we will have more than tripled that figure. It’s great fun and one of my favourite weeks of the year. I love being able to give back to the next generation of young surfers.”
More than 360 keen groms will hit Palm, Avalon and Whale Beaches for four days of surf fuelled fun, meeting other like-minded kids while improving their skills.
BL’s Hurley Blast Off event differs from others as it eases the kids into a competitive environment by putting the emphasis on coaching and advice instead of winning and losing. Every grom gets to surf at least twice before elimination starts, and participants are given tips to improve before the next round.
The hugely popular event is a fantastic way for kids to stay active during the school holidays, as well as meeting Aussie surfing legends.
Aside from hanging out with surfing superstar and event founder Barton Lynch, the kids will also get to meet and learn from legends like Layne Beachley, Tom Carroll, Rabbit Bartholomew, Terry Richardson, Damien Hardman, Ozzie Wright, Richie Lovett, and upcoming surfers like Cooper Chapman.
Out of the water BL’s Hurley Blast Off also includes a welcome barbeque, skateboard trick comps, the ‘Keenest Groms Awards’, ‘Blast Off Idol’ – a talent show allowing all the groms to showcase their various skills, as well as a traditional smoking ceremony and acknowledgement of the traditional land holders.
The event has supported some great causes in recent years including the Aboriginal Medical Centre, Surfrider Foundation, The Disabled Surfers Association of Australia, Palm Beach SLSC, Avalon SLSC, , Humpty Dumpty Foundation, the Cancer Council of NSW, SurfAid, and local schools such as Avalon Primary and Barrenjoey High.
BL’s Hurley Blast Off has ten divisions including; Boys 14’s, 12’s, 10’s, 8’s and 6’s, and Girls 14’s, 12’s, 10’s, 8’s and 6’s.
Tickets are $77 per child which includes a goodie bag and awesome prizes for the groms who place 1st-6th.
Entry to the surfing festival is available now at: www.blblastoff.com.au