Since joining the Queensland Ambulance Service, Kingscliff resident Michelle Van Den Broek has learned that life is too short not to live your dreams.
So this week Michelle is about to tick a major “to do” off her bucket list.
You see, Michelle has entered the brand new Over 35 Women’s division at this year’s Malfunction Surf Festival which started at Kingscliff on Wednesday and ramps into full-swing over the weekend.
“I work with the Qld Ambulance Service and one thing I’ve learned – live every day like it’s your last,” she said.
Michelle said after years of sitting on the beach watching boyfriends surf, her new husband had bought her a board and encouraged her to take up the sport.
And two years later she is taking part in her first event – crossing it off her bucket list, seizing the day or maybe just learning the lesson not to enter competitions while drinking a couple of beers. So now she and her “coffee table” sized board will be taking to the surf.
Michelle admits to being “petrified” and has no illusions that she is out there to make up the numbers.
“I’ve told Sean (organiser Sean McKeown) that I’m the Eddie the Eagle of the event,” she said.
“Every competition needs an Eddie.”
But then that’s the beauty of the Malfunction – competitors of all ages and skill levels – all competing together – whole families joining in.
Mind you, some competitors will be taking it very seriously and, at the other end of the spectrum from Michelle, women’s professional surfing received a major boost with the announcement that the Cancer Institute NSW will sponsor the ASP LQS division at the Malfunction Surf Festival this week as part of their “Dark Side of Tanning” campaign.
“This is a real meaningful relationship for us at the Malfunction, as over the years we have lost too many of our community to the big C and, in particular, melanomas,” commented event director Sean McKeown.
“This year’s event will be missing two of our greats who are undergoing various treatments for melanomas. We wish both TT who has competed in every Malfunction since its inception, and possibly the world’s oldest surfing competitor Magoo, both a speedy return to the surf,” he continued.
An international field of women competitors has entered the Cancer Institute NSW Pro with competitors from NZ, Taiwan, Japan and the US all confirmed starters against Australia’s top female competitors.
Leading the Australian charge will be defending Malfunction champion Chelsea Williams (Tweed Heads). Williams will have to be at her best to fend off both the international challengers and
Rosie Locke (Noosa) and Melissa Combo (Ballina) who both qualified to compete at this year’s ASP World Titles events in France and China.
The Men’s ASP LQS Open has again attracted an excellent field of competitors, with the defending Malfunction Champion and 2009 World Longboard Champion (Emerald Beach) up against three-times Malfunction Champion and current Australian Open title holder, Dane Pioli (Tweed Heads), 2006 World Champion and five-times Australian Champion Josh Constable (Noosa), NZ Champion Thomas Kibblewhite and 2009 US Open Champion Taylor Jensen.
There are a further 11 amateur longboard divisions, SUP surfing and racing and retro surfing all happening over five days at Kingscliff.
On the land there are a range of activities including art, films, music, vehicle rally and display and free SUP demonstrations each day.
