Local longboarders heading to Aussies

TEN surfers from the Surf Coast and Bellarine have earned selection in the 2025 Victorian Longboard Team.

The local contingent are part of a 30-person squad who will travel to the New South Wales North Coast to compete in the Australian Longboard Titles later this month.

Leading the charge is former world tour surfer Ben Considine (Barwon Heads) who is competing in his first Australian Titles in three years.

Considine is fresh off the back of wins in the Victorian Longboard Titles, Victorian Old Mal Titles and this past weekend’s Winter Classic.

“I’m super excited to be going back, it’s been three years now since I’ve been to the Aussies due to various other contests and travel so I’m super excited to get back into it and compete with everyone there,” he said.

“I’ve had a good string of contests at the start of this year and feel good about my preparation and I’m ready to go.

“I’ll be doing the open men’s and the loggers so it should be a bit of fun, would be stoked to back up a win from my last Aussies a few years back!”

2024 Australian Titles finalist Melanie Staunton (Belmont) and Bea Conroy (Point Lonsdale) will both take to the water in the Open Women’s division, while Australian champions Greg Brown (Lorne) and John Lane (Torquay) will also feature in the event.

Other surfers to make the team include Nathan Rivalland (Jan Juc), Rori Reyntjes (Torquay), Melanie Renton (Ocean Grove), Brian Kuit (Torquay) and Robert Smith (Jan Juc).

Surfing Victoria chief executive officer Adam Robertson wished the team luck in the event.

“The Victorian Longboard team has historically been very strong, and we’ve seen many Victorians take Aussie titles. It will be great to see the team be successful again.

“Not only is this event a prestigious event but a great warm up for surfers competing in the World Longboard Tour Trials and World Longboard Tour event at Bells Beach (Djarrak) in the coming months.”

The Australian Longboard Titles begin on Tuesday, July 22.

For more information, head to australiansurfchampionships.com/longboard