Patron - Kieren Nash
      
 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.
 
 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)
 
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.
 
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.
 
 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.
 
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(?)
   
I 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.
  


 
In surfing terms " the best has yet to come, tomorrow will be better than yesterday".  
   
President - Andrew Abel  
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
  
   
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.
  
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.
  

- 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

  
   
Secretary - Richard Farrell  

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”.

  
   
Treasurer - James Kruse  
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.
  
   
Having 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!
  
   
The 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.
 

Some 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.

  

 

  

My 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.

 
     
Contest & Tours Director - Jason Pini  
I Have spent the last 20 years playing in the ocean around Port Moresby, windsurfing and wakeboarding. Recently I have taken up kite surfing, the extra freedom in the waves is unreal!
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
     
Public Relations Director - Colin Taimbari  
Currently the public relations/media coordinator with the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion
Authority (PNG TPA). Also serves as the Board Secretary to the PNG TPA Board.
 
   
Have traveled extensively throughout the country covering stories and shooting pictures of tourism products and is quite knowledgable on the industry. Have also travelled on surfing expeditions to Lido Village in Vanimo and other sites with visiting overseas journalists and film makers and have a fair grasp on the surfing movement in PNG.
  
   
Was a working journalist, having served at the Post Courier newspaper and The National newspaper as its chief political correspondent before moving over to the PNG TPA.
 
   
Fully versed with the PNG media industry Colin brings with him to the Board of the Surfing Association of PNG some 12 years of media experience.
 
     
Social & Fundraising Director - Jennifer Baing  
Jennifer Mumi Baing. First learnt how to surf in August, 2006 on the breaks Pan Dulce and Germany in the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Still surfing the longboard and lovin it! I have been a member of the Sero Surf club since October 2006 and have surfed the powerful waves of Lido, Vanimo an experience that I will never forget. Still to surf the beautiful Kavieng but am looking foreward to it.
 
   

I look forward to the future of surfing in Papua New Guinea, as the world is yet to experience the hospitality of our people and the untouched beauty of our beaches and breaks. There is still so much to discover.

  
   
   
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