Date change call for events

Lancelin man Mal Lobb wants to see the month-and-a-half gap between the November Mid West Wind Fest and his home town’s January Ocean Classic squeezed to just a week.

Mr Lobb, who heads the Lancelin Chamber of Commerce, said last weekend’s big wind and water sport event had 348 competitors, some hailing from as far as Europe.

According to Mr Lobb, interest in the sport was booming.

“We had international entrants who hadn’t been here before,” he said.

“It was a pretty good turnout.

“We’ve been running 34 years now and since 2008 have held the Guinness World Record for the longest running open ocean event.”

Mr Lobb noted that further north Geraldton and nearby shires held their second Mid West Wind Fest in November.

According to the Lancelin organiser, it only made sense for the two events to be held closer together.

“I think it would be a good idea if we held them back to back,” he said.

“There are some people who live for surfing and they come over and it would be good if they could go to more than one event.”

Mr Lobb said he welcomed interest from other chambers or organising bodies to move the dates so the events “flow together”. He said Lancelin’s Ocean Classic was always traditionally held before January 15, when their crayfishing season begins.