Noosa Festival of Surfing 2007 presented by Global surf Industries kicked off yesterday at Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Day one of competition began with the Odyssey 20/20 ASP Rated Men’s Pro Round one heats, with a potential prize purse of $7,500.

First Point Noosa provided excellent conditions with very clean one metre hollow waves, wrapping all the way down the long point break. Competitors were very excited and with good reason. It can be hard to catch waves to yourself at this break when the surf is good, let alone having it with just you and three others in the entire line up.

Italy’s Carlo Cavallari one of the many Pro’s elated with today’s delivery, “It’s just amazing to be here and get this place at its best, I am just so happy to be surfing it with only a few others, I would like to be out there as soon as possible”, said Carlo.

Coolum’s Seb Wilson (QLD) was one of the local brigade who made the most of the early round opportunities scoring a 9.23 out of a possible ten during his encounter with Mikey De Temple (USA). Temple managed to win the round one heat with a strong 8.30 and an 8.33. Both surfers will contest round two of the Odyssey 20/20 ASP Rated Men’s Pro.

Contest Director Alan Atkins another who was thankful for the great surf on day one: “We were expecting the swell to increase overnight and we were very happy indeed when we saw the line up this morning, the surf can make or break an event and so far the sea has been very good to us, but there is still a long way to go yet”, said Atkins.

The USA’s Christian Wach who took out the Guy Takayama Pro at Oceanside in California breezed through his opening heat, posting a 16.1 out of a possible twenty. The 17-year-old from Orange County feels right at home in Noosa: “It’s great to be back here and score the point on fire, hopefully the swell will hang in there for a few more days,” said Wach. Gold Coast Longboarder Oliver Shaw opened his account well, winning his way through to the round of 32.

Former World Champion Ray Gleave (NSW Cabarita) was another of the pros who made it look all too easy, Gleave is no stranger to Noosa and certainly appeared to be in fine form winning his heat convincingly. Noosa Heads local Rosie Locke showed why she is ranked in the top four on the Women’s ALC ratings with a strong come from behind win in her first round heat of the ALC rated $2,500 Banana Boat Pro.

Locke now faces up against reigning World Champion Schuyler McFerran from the USA. World Champion Josh Constable (QLD), Hawaii’s Bonga Perkins, two-time event winner Grant Thomas (QLD) and a host of other international and local stars are set to make the most of a falling tide when they hit the fantastic surf for their round two heats.

All of the action from today’s Noosa Festival of Surfing can be viewed live on www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com.