How many Australians surf?
The Sweeney Report indicates there are two and a half million surfers in Australia; although I’d tend to think there are half a million to a million more. It’s approximately ten per cent of the population, which is a big number. But it’s more than just a big number; surfing is an iconic Australian sport that plays a huge part in Australian culture and the Australian identity. Is three and a half million people in the water too many? I swear a million of them were out at Snapper this morning and it was a little unpleasant. There are only a certain number of waves. You’re never going to be able to do anything about that, but what you can do is manage the people who get involved in the sport and ensure they’re aware of some basic rules and responsibilities. Certainly we need to educate surfers Australia-wide, as well as inbound tourism, that you shouldn’t just paddle straight out at a place like Snapper or the Pass. We have plenty of beaches to spread the crowds out. The ski fields do it
