Winter Classic to support family in need

SURF COAST Longboarders will bring the community together next weekend for its annual Winter Classic surfing event and auction night.

The event on July 13 and July 14 will be headlined by surf action at Point Impossible Beach and an auction evening at the Torquay Angling Club, with all proceeds supporting a local family in crisis.

Surfers will compete across 16 age categories, with equal spots allocated to both men’s and women’s divisions.

Surf Coast Longboarders Club president Penny Andrews said excitement was high going into the event’s 23rd year.

“We are so looking forward to it, it’s always such an amazing event which brings the surf fraternity together for a great cause.

“It’s been a significant part of the surfing community for a very long time. It makes us very proud.”

“The entries and all the proceeds from the auction will be directed to a Torquay family this year who are doing it really tough.

“We just want to generate as much as we can. Last year to get $11,000 was phenomenal, but anything we can do to help is amazing.”

She said the WSL Longboard Tour coming to Bells Beach the week following the Winter Classic would mean some of the world’s best would be throwing their names in the draw.

2006 world champion Josh Constable, world number eight Rogelio Jr Esquievel (Philippines), world number nine Taka Inoue (Japan), North American number one Chloe Coleman (United States) and Sakura and Kaede Inoue (Japan) were all locked in to compete.

“The timing of the event is fantastic, and we are hopeful of attracting plenty of them to join us at the event.

“It’s very exciting to think some of the world’s best can come and be part of our club for the day, not just in the water, but to help with our fundraising efforts.”

Entries remain open at liveheats.com/sclb

To donate to the cause, head to instagram.com/surfcoastlongboarders3228