UPDATE FEBRUARY 4:
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Tickets have sold out for the 100 Years of Surfing formal dinner at Rydges Cronulla on Saturday, February 7.
But there's plenty more on, see details in Surf Report with John Veage
The dinner will mark the centenary of when Hawaiian swimming champion and Olympic gold medallist Duke Kahanamoku introduced surfing to Sutherland Shire on February 7, 1915.
The Duke was the world's top surfer when he brought the ancient Hawaiian sport of board riding to Australia.
His exhibitions at Cronulla attracted thousands of spectators.
Special guest at the formal dinner is 1976 surfing world champion Peter Townend, who was the world's first professional world champion.
Cronulla Chamber of Commerce president Mark Aprilovic said that the dinner would be a highlight of more than seven weeks of top celebrations including surf competitions at junior and elite levels, a junior ironperson event, a photographic exhibition, retro surfboard display and the unveiling of the Cronulla Surfing Walk of Fame honouring surfing champions from the region.
The celebrations are under the umbrella of Surf Retrospect Cronulla, from January 24 to March 8, which aims to raise financial support for Surfing Sutherland Shire, a non-profit organisation that helps talented junior surfers to develop as professional surfers.
The community has rallied to support the celebration, which is sponsored by the state government ($10,000), Sutherland Shire Council ($10,000), Olsens Funerals ($10,000), Sylvania BMW ($5000) and others.
The culmination will be a dinner at Sharkies Cronulla on February 21, which is open to the public and where the winners of the top 10 surf poll for the past 100 years will be announced.
Program details: surfretrospect.com.au
