We’re back for our 19th year and our 539th show. Happy New Year!

This show is slightly longer than our normal length but we hope that you will feel it is worth it, as we have a very interesting guest and also read and discuss a letter that we received during the break,

Our guest on this show is a man who had dedicated the past ten years to following a dream, to create a surf park to allow surfers to be able to surf even when the ocean is like a millpond. Andrew Ross is the chairman and chief development officer for Aventuur ( Aventuur.com) who are creating the largest surf park in the Southern Hemisphere here in Perth; which is due to start construction this year. What will the purists make of this? How are they addressing the environmental issues? Andrew shares his journey and the research carried out that to reach this point, and what the surf park will offer when it opens.

As mentioned we received a letter from a “concerned Hockey follower,” Ian Gillan in the UK, who wanted us to share his views on where the sport is at. He makes some very valid points, but how can the other fans ensure that such concerns are addressed?

The Hockey World Cup in India has just come to a close and the host nation India bowed out before the quarter finals. Some in India vented their frustration at the media, claiming that had they done their job asking questions that they felt needed to be asked prior to the tournament. Ashley looks at whether many in the media are prepared ask the hard questions. How many are influenced by threats to accreditation, access to athletes or tournaments? Are the media today in many cases simply a marketing tool for the sports and teams that they cover?

Rather than focus on one topic John opts to look at a few of the talking points that have come up while we have been off air over Christmas and the New Year. One thing that has got under his skin is the naming rights of our national football team, and he asks does the team now represent the nation, or the company whose name they wear? Test cricket also comes under the microscope and how T20 has changed the whole dynamic of the game where bat now dominates ball. Even the ‘pub team’ in the A-League comes under analysis.

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