The forecast for the swell folk who attended the Noosa in July conference this week was always going to be a wild ride.
Morgans’ analysts were first up, giving their surf report for the next 6-12 months on where the most promising breaks might occur. Naturally, with gold hitting all time highs that day, the yellow metal was a favourite for all.
Following that, the first riders paddled out for the day.
Hitting the deck on Wednesday were the nippers, with 13 precious metals explorers, some led by MDs that had seen a wave or two, up against the 13 critical minerals grommets. Some gnarly moves by the more exotic commodity explorers including niobium, vanadium and copper, however BHP’s decision last week to board up Nickel West left some of the nickel riders a bit flat.
Wednesday night’s after hours networking seemed to centre around the best vantage points to watch the final match of the State of Origin series. For a few lucky (or canny) conference attendees, the best plan was a two hour drive back to Brisbane to watch the game live. With New South Wales coming out on top, it was likely that the publicans around town packed up a bit earlier than expected.
Day two’s waves picked up, with the nippers watching on from the sidelines while the up and coming bros dropped in on a decent set. Many of the old school investors in the green room felt a bit of relief, with the chance of bombing considerably less than the day before. This probably explains why it was standing room only with the conference venue heaving with investors.
Before lunch, the pros put on a show, demonstrating what it takes to be a +$1 billion dude in a sea of junkyard dogs. Some epic moves from Noosa OG’s.
The industrial minerals bennies tried to school the watching crowd on their set, throwing shakas trying to convince everyone that they are stoked with the world. Compared to some of the nippers struggling for attention, coking coal, iron ore and bauxite were all hits with the crowd.
Thursday night in Noosa is surf club night, with nippers, OG’s and locals all exaggerating the quality of their set, backdoor moves and size of their boards. Regulars were happy that the lights stayed on this time after a blackout ruined the November drinks. Locals were less impressed that their local watering hole was overrun by a horde of loud interlopers.
It’s forecast to be a riptide on Friday morning, with nippers, bennies, kooks and barneys all trying for a piece of the action, before handing the beach back to the locals for the remainder of the year. Gold, copper, uranium and rare earth explorers are all hoping to catch decent waves in their presentations today.
For many of the presenting companies here at Noosa, it’s time to put the surfboard away for a while and dust off the skateboard for the trip to Kal for Diggers & Dealers in a few weeks.
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