Urquhart Bluff hosts Koori Surf Titles

MORE than 50 Indigenous surfers from across the state gathered at Urquhart Bluff for this year’s Woorrangalook Victorian Koori Surf Titles.

Held earlier this month, the 24th edition of the event again brought together Indigenous communities in a fun weekend of surfing and Indigenous culture.

Numbers were down on previous years due to the impact of COVID-19 across the state, but there was representation from Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, the Surf Coast, Phillip Island, Ballarat, metropolitan Melbourne and south-west Victoria.

The event opened on February 5 by Wadawurrung Elder Corrina Eccles and cleansed with a traditional smoking and mixing of the water’s ceremony.

Competition followed and participants were greeted with small surf and onshore winds.

With the assistance of surf coaches and volunteers in the water, the junior competitive divisions were finalised, followed by Open Women and Masters Women.

The Tag Team event rounded out the day with Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BADAC) taking first place from Wadawurrung, CFMEU and Surfing Victoria.

Tricky conditions met competitors on February 6, for the Open Men’s and Masters Men. Rhys Collins from Red Hill was victorious, taking out both divisions respectively. The Open Women’s division was claimed by Linley Hurrell (Torquay) with Corrinna Eccles (Torquay) victorious in the Masters Women’s.

Collins and Hurrell will go on to represent the Victorian Indigenous community after gaining a wildcard into the 2022 Rip Curl Pro Trials at Bells Beach.

The Surfing Victoria Encouragement Awards, of a surfboard each, went to Ruby Boagers (Armstrong Creek) and Aiden Tournier (Geelong). The Determination Award was taken out by Hunter Sisic (Ballarat).

Winners:

• Under 8 mixed: Millie Hughes (Geelong)
• Under 10 girls: May Marini (Ballarat)
• Under 10 boys: Arlee Livesey (Armstrong Creek)
• Under 13 girls: Grace Tournier (Geelong)
• Under 13 boys: Levi Marini (Ballarat)
• Under 16 girls: Alicia Wait (Ballarat)
• Under 16 boys: Rylee Duell (Phillip Island)
• Under 18 girls: Indra Purcell (Macarthur)
• Under 18 boys: Rameka Waiomio (Mill Park)
• Open Women: Linley Hurrell (Torquay)
• Open Men: Rhys Collins (Point Leo)
• Masters Women: Corrina Eccles (Torquay)
• Masters Men: Rhys Collins (Point Leo)