By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
While many surfers have graduated from wetsuits to business suits, their passion for the pastime remains unabated.
It is the common surfing bond that draws them together, regardless of the circumstances.
East Geelong’s Paul Robson, an accountant with Crowe Horwath, has worked in many major cities around the world and always managed to gravitate toward others with a surfing bent.
“It was amazing. Wherever you went you’d start talking to someone and surfing would be mentioned and it became an immediate point of contact,” Paul observed.
The once anti-authoritarian subculture has become a lot more corporate over the years, with surfing companies now striding the leisure industry as business behemoths.
Taking it a step further, Paul wanted to take some clients to Torquay’s famous Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach to enjoy a corporate experience.
So he talked to Surfing Victoria about creating a VIP environment among the stands at Bells Beach.
“It grew from there, really; it’s all about getting likeminded people with a passion for surfing together.
“We wanted to do something for the corporate surfing community, so we had an initial gathering of about 20 execs.
“There was a lot of energy in the room, it was exciting because it was different and fresh.
“From there we held a couple of launches in Melbourne and Geelong – we had no idea how many, if any, would turn up, but the place was full.
“It was just through a bit of Facebook promo and a lot of word-of-mouth.”
Paul said the group now had about 90 members in partnership with Surfing Victoria, offering networking opportunities and events featuring well-known professional surfers such as Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew, Tom Carroll and Torquay’s Adam Robertson.
The group branched out to business lunches featuring guest speakers, with events sold out and generating waiting lists.
“Most of these things are targeted either at the corporate market or sporting members. This is a cross between the two,” Paul explained.
“If you’re in some type of business or need to get out and network and you have an interest in surfing, then Surfers in Suits is ideal.
“In fact, we’re having discussions with the surfing organisations in other states to do something similar.
“The cyclists do this well, with their rides and coffee stops. We didn’t want to make them into formal dry business events.”
Paul said surfing was one of the few activities that crossed generation gaps.
“You can have three generations in the water and it’s cool.
“You’re out there, the rest of Australia is in bed and the experience is addictive.”
Paul admitted moving from Melbourne to Geelong just for that reason.
Paul said Surfers in Suits wanted to do something for local businesses in the Torquay surfing community.
“The small business festival is on in August, so we’re going to hold a wrap up for the event on 30 August.”
Surfers in Suits’ Facebook page has more information.
