Considine surfs to semi-final finish in Noosa

BARWON Heads surfer Ben Considine has finished equal fifth at the Men’s World Longboard Tour qualifying series event in Noosa.

The 29-year-old was a standout across the week-long competition, consistently posting some of the highest scores in the field as he advanced deep into the draw.

His 16.84-point heat total out of a possible 20 in round 2 was the highest of that round, while his quarter-final performance – featuring two excellent rides – produced the top combined score of the entire event.

Considine’s run ended in a tight semi-final, where he fell just 0.4 points short of a maiden WQS final appearance.

The stylish goofy-footer also impressed in the Logger Pro division, reaching the quarter-finals to finish inside the top 16 of a 64-surfer field.

He said his performances had reinforced confidence in his approach ahead of a busy stretch of competition.

“I’m getting better and better at putting heats together and although I didn’t make the final, I feel like my heat strategy is sound, and sometimes the waves just don’t come,” he said.

“I am confident that I’m surfing well and can throw some high scores at that level if I’m smart about my heat strategy.

“It will be my focus for competitions upcoming in New Zealand, the Victorian Longboard Titles and hopefully the world tour event at Bells later this year if I qualify.”

Other locals to compete in Noosa included Bea Conroy (Point Lonsdale), Rory Reyntjes (Torquay) and Harry Nelson (Torquay), with Nelson finishing fourth in the High Performance Longboard final.