Surfers dazzle at Koori Titles

MORE than 160 Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people gathered to celebrate culture on country at the Woorangalook Victorian Koori Surf Titles last weekend.

The event took place across two days at Point Roadknight and Urquhart Bluff along the Great Ocean Road and featured both first time surfers and the state’s elite.

The Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast, Phillip Island, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Yarra Valley, Metropolitan Melbourne, East Gippsland, Swan Hill and Warrnambool, Portland and Hamilton in Southwest Victoria were all represented at the event.

More than 160 participants took part in the event.

It was all smiles at the Koori Titles over the weekend.

Saturday’s action included a traditional smoking ceremony and mixing of the waters, before surf coaches and volunteers took groups of novice surfers through a few sessions.

The competitive women’s divisions followed, with Belle Gee and Corrina Eccles claiming the Open Women’s and Masters Women’s titles respectively.

Bell Gee was the Open Women’s and U/18’s champion.

Sunday’s competition was moved to Urquhart Bluff to take advantage of better conditions.

Anthony Hume was victorious in the Master’s Men’s category, before Torquay’s Joseph Murray ripped to his first ever Open Men’s title.

Joe Murray was the winner of the Open Men’s division.

For his efforts, Mr Murray and women’s winner Bell Gee will represent the Victorian Indigenous surfing community in the 2024 Rip Curl Pro Trials at Bells Beach next month.

“It was such a rewarding weekend to have communities come from across the state and be able to take them surfing,” Mr Murray said.

“It was topped off by being able to surf the final with all my new friends, it’s been an extra special weekend.”

Bell Gee pushing one of the young participants into a wave.

The traditional smoking ceremony and mixing of the waters.

Other divisional champions included U/8 Mixed: Jyda Austin (Hamilton), U/10 Girls: Indiana Bamblett Portland), U/10 Boys: Kayden McNichol (Geelong), U/13 Girls: Nikyrah Bamblett (Portland), U/13 Boys: Jesse Jones (Launching Place), U/16 Girls: Grace Tournier (Geelong), U/16 Boys: Daylan Rodaughan (Bellarine Peninsula), U/18 Girls: Bell Gee (Ocean Grove) and U/18 Boys: Rylee Duell (Phillip Island).

The Strong Brother, Strong Sister encouragement awards of a surfboard and wetsuit were presented to Charlie Judd (Geelong), Daylan Rodaughan (Bellarine Peninsula), Remi Livesay (Armstrong Creek) and Olivia Lusky (Geelong).

The Tag Team event was won by Strong Brother, Strong Sister.