On Christmas Eve, longboarder and gender equality advocate Lucy Small received an unexpected email from John Finlay, chairman of the Noosa Festival of Surfing. Small, who has participated in the competition for 13 years, was informed that she was ineligible to compete in the 2025 event.
The email, sent by Finlay, stated: “Thank you for your interest in competing in the 2025 Noosa Festival of Surfing. We note that you are currently ineligible to enter any surfing competitions where the Noosa Malibu Club is a stakeholder. Accordingly, we are unable to accept your entry.”
Small quickly replied, asking why she had been suspended but has yet to receive a response. “They won’t actually give me any information about why I am suspended,” she said.
Feeling hurt by the exclusion, Small shared a screenshot of the email on Instagram the following morning, telling her followers she was “sad and hurt” by the decision.
Glen Gower, president of the Noosa Malibu Club, which is one of the organisers of the 2025 event, was copied in the email. Gower issued a statement to the Herald on Monday, explaining that Small had been banned from all club events due to comments she made that allegedly brought the club into “national disrepute.”
Gower referred to an apology issued by Surfing Australia in 2023 after Small’s remarks on equal prizemoney were published in the Daily Telegraph. The comments related to the prizemoney at the Noosa Logger, an event hosted by the club.
In response to the controversy, Finlay confirmed Gower’s statement and added that Small had made “erroneous statements” about equal prizemoney at the club event.
Despite the ban, Small received support from Adrian Buchan, chair of the Surfing Australia board, who commented on her Instagram post on Sunday, saying, “Thanks for continuing to advocate for equality Lucy. Fully behind you.”
The 2025 Noosa Festival of Surfing is being jointly organised by the Noosa Malibu Club, World Surfaris (where John Finlay is also chairman), and Event Generals. The event is supported by strategic partners, including Tourism and Events Queensland, Noosa Tourism, and the World Surf League.
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