Whalebone Classic inspires donation

A prominent Perth investor has personally sponsored the city’s latest surfing event, held at Cottesloe as one of seven long board contests on the World Surf League tour.

Albion Capital Partners principal Anthony Grist said he sponsored the Whalebone Classic because it was an inclusive event that inspired many.

“As a business owner and personally, I have great pride in promoting the region, including the Whalebone Classic, which symbolises Western Australia’s passion for sport and our status as a top destination for surfing,” he said.

Mr Grist is also chairman of Amcom Telecommunications and has been instrumental in setting up the technology accelerator program Amcom Upstart to mentor startups in WA.

“The great thing about the Whalebone Classic it attracts the best to set a benchmark for our up and comers, exposing them to talent to give them an idea about what people at the top do, much like we do when mentoring startups,” Mr Grist said.

The free event drew about 10,000 spectators during the second weekend of July, who watched 120 of the world’s best long boarders as well as local competitors ranging from 16 to 66 years old.