Waves of Wellness

It’s not often that you get the chance to drop in on surfing legends such as Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew AM, Mark “Occy” Occhilupo, or Olympic bronze medallist Owen Wright. 

But that has been the case every year when more than 70 property and financial executives wax their boards and paddle out to catch the barrels at the annual fundraising event for brain health, Wipeout Dementia. 

The aim of the executive surfing competition remains the same as it has been for the past 10 years: to support UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) research into dementia. 

The need remains as urgent as ever. Since Wipeout Dementia began, the number of people living with dementia worldwide has risen from 44 million to 57 million, a figure projected to grow sharply without a medical breakthrough. Shockingly, it is the leading cause of death in Australia. 

Wipeout Dementia began as a grassroots idea: a handful of city executives and top-notch surfers sharing the waves to raise awareness and funds for brain health. A decade on, the event has raised more than $3 million to support CHeBA’s crucial research into brain ageing and dementia prevention. 

“Each year we see the human side of this disease through the stories of our surfers,” says Professor Henry Brodaty AO, CHeBA Co-Director.

“Their passion fuels our research and reminds us why advancing prevention and treatment is so urgent. Dementia isn’t just a health issue – it’s a social and economic challenge that will touch every Australian family.” 

Most of the participants are related to or close to someone who has been affected by dementia. Professional big wave surfer Felicity Palmateer, who surfed in this year’s event at URBNSURF, the new wave pool near Sydney’s Olympic Park, lost her mother to the disease when her mother was only 52. 

Surfing legend Owen Wright, who took part last year, has also been affected; Owen’s father was tragically struck down at a young age with dementia.  

The good news is that CHeBA’s landmark Maintain Your Brain trial, the world’s largest online lifestyle intervention study, found that modifying lifestyle factors can delay dementia onset by more than a year – a change that could reduce dementia prevalence by 15% by mid-century, saving billions in care costs. 

By investing in partnerships across countries and leading research centres, CHeBA is spearheading a global effort to prevent dementia before it begins. 

The main focus is on improving the diagnosis of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). Researchers are also collecting global data on its risk factors, and finding biomarkers for early detection. Their long-term aim is to develop strategies to treat VCID. And just as importantly, to prevent it in the first place.  

The secret of the Wipeout Dementia’s ongoing success, says the organiser, CHeBA’s Heidi Douglass, is the sense of community and fun. This year’s event was no different. “Everyone was totally stoked from start to finish,” Heidi says.

Learn more about Wipeout Dementia and how you can support vital research into brain health.