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Patron - Kieren Nash |
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Arrived
in PNG in 1967. First taste of surfing (after the freezing
waters of Bass Strait) was at Hula in 1968 after an eight
hour drive in a dilapidated long wheel base Land Rover along
with three mates and what were then almost antique long boards.
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Later
had the utmost pleasure of living and working in Milne Bay
and had a number of good to average sessions at unnamed spots
in the Louisiade Archipelago between Misima and Tagula, then
on to Mukawa on Cape Vogel and Kitava on Kiriwina (during
a mini cyclone) |
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Moved
into Port Moresby in 1972 and with Peter Mortimer, Tim Towers
and Terry Anderson started to realise the potential of the
Main Reef (coincidentally where todays Spot X is). as we were
into water skiing transport to and from the reef was always
available. |
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I
would be unable to guestimate the numbers of trips out to
the reef over the years as some occured both before and after
work whilst others happened during work. |
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Have
also had the pleasure of surfing Wewak breaks on numerous
occasions during the late 70's (also during work trips), Lido
out of Vanimo, north coast of Madang with James Cassell and
the totally unpredictable and bone jarring trips to Hisiu
in the early 90's. |
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I
had the honour of accompanying the PNG contingent from Lido
village who represented the country in the Inaugural South
Pacific Indigenous Surfing Comp held at Tavarua (Cloudbreak
and Restaurants) in Fiji during 1997(?) |
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remain sincerely impressed with the efforts put into getting
surfing on the PNG tourism map by the current and previous
members of the SAPNG. A group of focused individuals who have
uniquely combined their passion for surfing for the betterment
of the counrty as a whole. |
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surfing terms " the best has yet to come, tomorrow will
be better than yesterday". |
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President - Andrew Abel |
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Home
province, Miline Bay, of mix Miline Bay/English parentage.
3rd Generation Abel and member of one of PNG's Pioneering
Missionary families of the Kwato Church (originally London
Missionary Society) dating back to 1891 in Miline Bay Province |
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Been
surfing for 20 years using both shortboards and longboards.
Learnt how to surf while going to school on the Sunshine Coast
in Queensland, Australia. Since 1989, I have committed myself
since SAPNG's formation to promoting and developing surfing
and surf tourism in parallel in PNG. Over the last 20 years,
I have surfed all around PNG and will continue to pursue the
dream of seeking out those illusive uncrowded surf breaks
in remote provincial centres and to establish relationaships
with the local people to enable them to directly participate
through the SAPNG Affiliated Club Structure.
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Through
this unique win-win set up, the local people are able at the
grass roots level to capitalise on opportunities in engaging
in sport surfing and surf tourism consistent with our SAPNG
Constitution and Goals as outlined in the website. |
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Founded Vanimo Surf Club, Sandaun Province, pioneer surf club
of PNG in 1987
- 1989, Founding Member, Surfing Association PNG
- 1995, Appointed President held position to present day
- 1995, Captained PNG Surf Team, Short Board Division, SP
Games, Tahiti
- 2002, founded Sero Board Riders Club, Port Moresby
- 2003, Manager/Coach/Reserve for PNG Surfing team to S.P.
Games Fiji, Cloudbreak, Tavarua Island
- 2005, Appointed Board Member to PNG Tourism Promotion Authourity
(PNGTPA) representing SAPNG for surf tourism
- 2006, Appointed to National Museum and Art Gallery Board,
representing SAPNG
- 2006, Appointed Member of Consultive Implementation and
Monitoring Committee (CIMC) in toursim sector - representing
SAPNG
- 2007, 2nd Open Longboard, PNG 2007 Surf Titles
- 2007, 1st Masters Longboard, PNG 2007 Surf Titles
- 2007, Awarded
the Member of the Order of Logohu Medal (ML) by PNG National
Government for 20 years service to community in the promotion
of surfing and tourism
- 2007, Appointed
member International surfing Association (ISA) New Surfing
Nations Committee |
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Secretary - Richard Farrell |
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Grew up at Burleigh Heads on
the Gold Coast, Queensland. Have been surfing for over 25
years.
I first came to PNG in 1995 and have spent
the majority of time since then in various parts of PNG (with
a few years back in Australia), namely Port Moresby, Madang,
Mt Hagen, Kokopo and Kimbe. I have surfed many places within
PNG including the breaks around Port Moresby, Kavieng, Vanimo,
Dalom and the breaks around Tokua/Duke of York Islands, ENBP.
I have had the chance to travel to many different
parts of PNG through my work and the beauty of the country
and friendliness of its people never ceases to amaze me. I
would encourage anyone that was thinking of visiting PNG to
make the effort as you will truly have a fantastic time in
the “Land of the Unexpected”. |
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Treasurer - James Kruse |
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Have
lived and worked in Papua New Guinea since 1989 and a founding
member of the Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea and
its continuing Treasurer. Also appointed to PNG Toursim Industry
Association ) PNGTIA) and it's Treasurer in 2005. |
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grown up on the north Coast of New South Wales, I started
my surfing life riding waves at Lennox Point, South and North
wall Ballina and the waves around Byron Bay. On arriving in
PNG, I was amazed at the untapped potential for surf in the
country and the fact that most people assumed that there simply
“was no surf in Papua New Guinea” How wrong they
were! |
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early years of surfing in PNG were very much exploratory,
and the Association’s early members focussed primarily
on getting out of Port Moresby and discovering new breaks
around the country. |
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of these surfari’s were utter disasters with missed
connections, delayed flights, and sometimes zero swell. Others
however, produced some of the most fantastic surf any surfer
could wish for.
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fondest memories are of travelling through abandoned coconut
plantations to “discover” isolated reef breaks
and then paddling out with a couple of mates, knowing that
they were probably the first surfers to ever ride the wave.
With crystal clear tropical water, the occasional green turtle
feeding on the reef below you, and a view of rainforest clad
mountains dropping to a white sand beach lined with coconuts,
makes surfing in PNG one of the ultimate experiences in any
surfers life.
One
of the highlights of surfing in PNG for me, has been the opportunity
to represent the country in the longboard division at the
1995 South Pacific Games in Tahiti. The whole lead up to the
games, the training, fund raising, selection trials, and coaching
was a real learning curve for the Surfing Association. Getting
a team approved by the PNG Sports Federation Inc. and then
actually representing PNG surfing at an international competition
for the first time was quite an achievement for all those
involved.
My
involvement in the PNG Surfing Association has continued from
its inception to the current day. I still continue to get
out for the occasional wave on the reefs off Port Moresby
and I pack a board when travelling to the island provinces
looking for that opportunity to re-visit one of those secret
spots or discover another unridden reef break just around
the next headland. |
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Member for Land Operators- Shaun Keane |
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Born Rabual, East New Britain and rasied on North Coast
ENB Plantation with a brother & sister. All 3 siblings
are still in PNG, New Ireland incidentally.
Completed secondary education in North Queensland boarding
schools, and a tertiary degree in Melbourne. Enjoyed surfing
the Victorian coastline, but become a little disillusioned
working in a suit & tie. Returned to PNG with brother
Nick in 1995 with a view to plantations once again. Enjoyed
my fathers early day stories of plantations and life in
New ireland, not to mention the coastline and their interpretation
of the surf.
By late 1997, we had established a
small surf camp which survives well today - Nusa Island
Retreat - now a well idetified niche tourism product. Work
at a grass roots level and with strong community relationships
- Save na Luksave i stap!
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Life in the Islands, works good but always looking for excuses
for more surfing and fishing sessions - Quality Time! Supportive
advocate for the SAPNG and its affiliated clubs - the collective
vision for quality, equality and sustainability. Had a couple
of wins at the 2007 National Titles - saw and scaled the up
and coming local potential - don't think I'll be afforded such
luxuries again. Bring on the next titles - Kavieng is keen.
Lukim yu long Kavieng sampela taim! |
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Board Member for Board Charters - Adam Smith |
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After
two visits to PNG in 2002 and 2003 as a surfing tourist, my
wife Dani and I followed a dream and started Adventures In
Paradise Surf Charters, as I beleived that it would be the
best way to experience the outer island frontier of Lavongai
(New Hanover) in New Ireland Province.
We returned
to PNG in our catamaran in 2004 and set up business on Nusalik
Island in Kavieng, becoming the first Surf Charter Operator
in Papua New Guinea, and pioneering surf tourism in the Lavongai
area.
I have
been a passionate surfer and sailor since I was a kid, and
have done a lot of travelling and wave searching. |
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I
have been an active member of the Kavieng Surf Club (KSC)
since arriving in PNG, and really belive its vision of sustianable
surfing development. I have been a board member of the KSC
since 2005, and am a founding member of the Niu Ailan Surf
Club (NASA). Dani is on the NASA Board and is also very devoted
to the Surf Club's management and operations.
We have
managed to develop great relationships with the communities
on the islands that we visit, that it is these amazingly honest
and friendly people (as well as the great surf) that really
make our business thrive, and make our job so enjoyable. |
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Board Member for Vanimo - John Toles |
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- Currently
working at the Sundaun Provincial Administration's Division
of Fisheries & Marine Resources.
- Born
in Vanimo, attended Aitape High School then went on to National
Fisheries College and the Sandaun University Centre.
- Further
studies were taken at Cendrawaish Univeristy in Indonesia
for Language and Culture, then attended PNG Institute of
Public Administration and am currently a CPA PNG member.
- Have
had more than 21 years in Finance and Treasury and besides
work at the Sandaun Provincial Adminstration I am also involved
in the management of Vanimo Village Welfare Association.
- I am
also co-ordinating the community based surf-marine management
program for the Vanimo surf area Management
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Board Member for Nuaila Surf Alliance - John Aini |
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Board Member for Bouganville / Manus - Andrew Rigby |
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Board Member for Wewak - Alois Mateos |
