608 boards were laid tip to tail on Newcastle’s Nobby’s Beach. Photo: Newcastle Herald
Some Australians from New South Wales officially smashed the old World Record for the longest line of surfboards laid end to end on a beach. During Newcastle’s 30th Annual Surfest, 608 surfboards were positioned nose to tail in a line, comfortably surpassing the previous record of 398, which was achieved by the City of Onkaparinga at Port Noarlunga Beach in Adelaide in 2013.
Recorded at Newcastle’s iconic Nobby’s Beach, the unbroken 1.13-kilometer (approximately 0.7 of a mile) line began at the southern end of the beach and snaked back along the stretch of sand toward the lighthouse. Sergeant Craig Jordon from Local Area Command and Chair of Tourism Hunter Will Creedon were appointed independent witnesses, as required under Guinness World Record guidelines. Their responsibilities were to verify the event was carried out according to the rules and ensure all the boards were touching in an unbroken line. Furthermore, marshals were stationed at every 50 boards.
The boards included everything from longboards, shortboards, malibus, kneeboards, SUPs, nipper boards and some odd surf crafts that had been collecting dust over the past several decades. They belonged to long-term surfers, members of the region’s boardriders clubs, grommets and pretty much anyone who owned a board. Before the event, Newcastle’s mayor Nuatali Nelmes said, “This was a celebration of Newcastle’s unique waterside culture. From the restaurants along the harbor to the many surf clubs, schools, pristine beaches and our working port, Novocastrians are connected to the water in so many ways. Surfing is in our DNA.”
Newcastle surfing legend Mark Richards kicked off the event by laying the first board and stating,”It’s as recognizable as the ships in our port and our warm hospitality, and what a fantastic way to celebrate the city, our surfing culture and the 30 years of Surfest with a Guinness World Record attempt.”
