Bragging rights on offer as tradies hit the surf

Top surfing tradies from across Victoria will hit the water for another instalment of the Worksafe Tradies Challenge on November 28.

Fifty of the best surfing tradies will be battle it out for bragging rights at Jan Juc beach with the event welcoming all lines of trades from carpenters, painters, builders, plumbers, electricians, surfboard shapers and more across three divisions; male and female including open, over-35 and a pairs event.

Ocean Grove surfer and carpenter Josh Johnson-Baxter has won the event a couple of times, including last year, and said he was excited to defend his title, but said it was more about having fun and the banter between fellow tradies.

“When the tradie comp came along, I jumped at it, I thought it’d be heaps of fun,” he said.

“There’s a little bit of banter between the boys, the different trades, chippies vs electricians – there’s always a bit of fun with that.”

Surfing Victoria Operations Manager Peter Murphy said it was great to see all the tradies come together for the event.

“It’s just good to have those nuts and bolts guys surfing in the event, we see them working around town and having a surf, it’s just great that they can come together and have a surf on the one day,” Murphy said.

While Surfing Victoria marketing and communications manager Liam Robertson was equally pumped about the event and anticipated good conditions on the day.

“Surfing Victoria are stoked to be once again hosting the Worksafe Tradies Challenge,” Robertson said.

“After a year of lockdowns and uncertainty, it’s great to have events back and bring together tradies from around the coast and the state.”

“The forecast is looking fun with a small swell and light winds so we should see some great action in the water.”

This is the third consecutive year that Worksafe, Fagg’s Mitre 10 and Belmont Timber have supported the event.

Fagg’s Mitre 10 general manager Andrew Pitman said the company was rapt to support such an event given it is one of the go-to places for tradies in the region.

“We’re happy to continue our association with Worksafe, Surfing Victoria and the sponsorship of the Tradies Challenge in 2020,” Pitman said.

“On top of this a large number of our Torquay customers are from the local surfing community, so the Tradies Challenge and our support of the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club are part of our commitment to the Torquay community. It’s our way to give back to those, that support a local business.”

All competitors will receive a competitor pack as well as there being over $2000 in prizes to be given away throughout the day.

All events will be run under the Surfing Victoria COVID-19 Risk Management guidelines.