Surfer arrested for indecent act near school

Mitch Coleborn. Photo / Getty Images

Australian professional surfer Mitch Coleborn faces up to six months in a Canadian jail after allegedly exposing his genitals to a group of children and adults near a school.

Coleborn, 23, from Queensland's Sunshine Coast, was in Canada for the O'Neill Cold Water Classic event staged at Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, when a night of drunken partying appears to have spun out of control.

He is charged with committing an indecent act.

If Coleborn is convicted, the nature of the offence could limit his ability to travel the world, particularly the US where some of the most prestigious surfing tournaments are held in Hawaii and California.

Coleborn also faces the prospect of his name being placed on Canada's national sex offenders registry.

"He is alleged to have exposed his genitals in a public place to people, including several children," Royal Canadian Mounted Police sergeant Jeff Preston told AAP.

"Alcohol was definitely a factor.

"We can't say for sure about drugs, because in our law there is nothing we can do to obtain a blood sample from him to determine if he was under the influence of drugs at the time, but alcohol definitely was a factor."

The O'Neill Cold Water Classic, which was won by Australia's Josh Kerr, ended last Thursday, with Coleborn losing in the fourth round to eventual runner-up, America's Eric Geiselman.

Sgt Preston said post-event celebrations continued Thursday night in the picturesque village of Tofino.

"They were having a celebration the previous night following the end of the competition,'' he said.

"I can't verify he (Coleborn) was partying all night but it (the alleged indecent act) happened at 8.40am on Friday."

Coleborn is alleged to have exposed his genitals to the group of children and adults about a block from Tofino's Wickaninnish Elementary School.

Police were called and the surfer was placed in custody until his release late Friday evening on bail. Coleborn agreed to surrender his passport.

"He is to remain within the province of British Columbia and he is not to attend any park or school or be within 100m of a park or school and he has to abstain from the consumption of alcohol and drugs," Sgt Preston, listing Coleborn's bail conditions, said.

Coleborn is scheduled to appear in Tofino's Provincial Court on November 1.

- AAP