Approximately 100 Olympians participated in surfing sessions at URBNSURF parks in Melbourne and Sydney, engaging with the sport as a marker of its inclusion in the Olympic Games.

In Sydney, around 60 athletes, ranging from those who competed in the Paris 2024 Games to those who participated in the Tokyo 1964 Olympics, took part in the event. Meanwhile, Melbourne hosted about 50 Olympians, including athletes from the Seoul 1988 Games and the Paris 2024 cohort.

The two-hour sessions featured beginner, intermediate, and advanced lessons, led by experienced surfers including Blake Johnston and Luke Egan, along with URBNSURF coaches. The event aimed to provide a safe environment for athletes to explore surfing.

At URBNSURF Sydney, notable participants included Ruby Trew, a 15-year-old skateboarder and surfer who will represented Australia at Paris 2024. Trew participated in advanced surfing sessions alongside Olympic swimming medallist Justin Norris, who won a bronze medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics. Norris was joined by his children, who are known for their online presence as the “Norris Nuts.”

In Melbourne, Caitlin Parker, who made history as Australia’s first female boxer to win an Olympic medal at the Paris Games, also took part in the surfing event, transitioning from boxing to surfing under the guidance of URBNSURF coaches.

“We are thrilled to have held such a unique event at both of our URBNSURF parks this morning. We feel incredibly lucky to be able to host Australia’s elite athletes at our state-of-the-art facilities.”
“To see so many incredible athletes trying their hand at surfing for the first time was an amazing experience,” said URBNSURF CEO Jennifer Vandekreeke. “At URBNSURF, we offer perfect ocean-like conditions that cater for beginners who have always wanted to learn to surf as well as high performance athletes and advanced surfers. We were stoked to see so many Olympians catch a wave for the first time.”