Koori surf titles enjoy great conditions

The Woorrangalook Victorian Koori Surf Titles were held over the weekend at Urquhart Bluff on the Great Ocean Road.

More than 120 indigenous surfers from across the state gathered to celebrate the 20th annual event, which brings together indigenous communities in a fun weekend of surfing and indigenous culture.

Communities represented at the event included east Gippsland, Portland and the South West, Koroit, Bendigo, Ballarat, Shepparton, Metropolitan Melbourne, Bass Coast, Mornington Peninsula, as well as Geelong and the Surf Coast.

The event was opened on Saturday by Corrina eccles and the Deadly Dancers Troupe who cleansed the event with a traditional smoking ceremony.

This was followed by learn-to-surf sessions where all of the participants were given a skills and a water safety lesson.

Saturday saw pumping conditions with light offshore winds and sunny skies.

In the afternoon, the junior competitive divisions were finalised along with the Open Women and Masters Women.

Sunday saw slightly smaller waves where both Open and Masters men’s divisions were contested.

Jordie Campbell of Sandy Point won his 10th consecutive Open Men’s Title and gained a wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro Trials at Bells Beach.

“This event is such a fun weekend,” Campbell said.

“It’s awesome to see so many communities gather together and spend the weekend at the beach enjoying the ocean.”

Under 13 Girls Champion Fenella Collins from Pt Leo, Joe Joe hayes-Griggs from the Latrobe Valley and Blade Butler of Geelong were awarded surfboards donated by Strong Brother, Strong Sister and painted with traditional Indigenous artwork by Cormach evans.

The Good Sports Award provided by the Department of Justice was awarded to Alla Purcell from the Macarthur in South West Victoria.