He knows its waves like the back of his hand as a surfer, lifeguard and lifesaver.

Rawson hopes this home advantage will see him walk away with the inaugural Lake Macquarie Festival of Surfing longboard title as his first win after a five-year hiatus from competition.

The festival is part of Surfest's 30th birthday celebrations and will also include the Lake Mac Shortboard Masters and the Lake Mac SUP Classic (stand up paddleboarding) across all age divisions.

At 39, Rawson won Surfest's under-50 Longboard Classic title in 2009 and was runner-up in the open Longboard Classic title in 2010.

"Surfest [2015] will kick-off my campaign as it leads into the state and national titles," Rawson said.

"I'm excited that it's at Redhead as it guarantees waves that are consistently good."

He said locals knew it was a good surfing beach.

"It will give outsiders exposure to a beach not well-known that produces good quality waves."

Rawson hopes the event attracts attention, especially of Australian champions like Josh Constable and Jackson Close, to help lift the sport's profile.

Longboard competitions have had a chequered past with Surfest.

The last event was in 2010; it was only the previous year it had reappeared on the schedule after a 10-year break.

Surfest event chief Warren Smith said he hoped the Lake Mac Longboard Classic would start a resurgence in competitive longboarding in the region.

His aim is for the festival to become an annual Surfest event in Lake Macquarie.

Entries have started to roll in from local and national competitors for Saturday and Sunday, February 14 and 15.

■ Go to surfest.com for more info.