Local longboarders ride to success at Aussies

SURFERS from the Surf Coast and Bellarine represented the state with pride at the Australian Surf Championships over the weekend.

The Australian Surf Championships brought together more than 80 of the country’s top longboarders to Cabarita Beach, NSW for the chance at national honours.

Torquay surfer Melanie Staunton rose to the challenge against a stacked female field and earnt herself a second place in the Open Women’s division.

Staunton’s strong rail surfing and fancy footwork saw her earn two strong scores and be in the lead early in the heat.

However, world tour surfer Tully White (Allambie Heights, NSW) fired back with some crisp nose riding on the inside surfing bank to hit the lead as the heat hit its duration.

White finished in first, followed by Staunton, while third place went to former local resident Mia Waite (Noosa Heads, QLD) and fourth was Emma Perrier (Tweed Heads, NSW).

Australian Longboard Champs — Open Women’s finalists Tully White, Mia Waite, Emma Perrier and Melanie Staunton with Surfing Australia chief of sport Luke Madden. Photo: SURFING AUSTRALIA

Point Lonsdale surfer Ted Conroy was another local surfer to excel in the tricky conditions on finals day of the Under 18 Boys.

Conroy’s smooth approach landed himself in the final and gave him a strong chance at winning his first national title.

The local youngster begun his heat on the right note with some strong surfing, however was left chasing a mid-range score throughout the heat due to the precision of Tewantin dynamo Lennix Currie.

Currie was the victor, taking home back-to-back junior championships, Jive Constable (Noosa Heads) finished second, followed by Conroy and Kai Flynn (Cowaramup, WA) in third and fourth respectively.

Point Lonsdale surfer Ted Conroy (far right) finished third in the U/18 Boys division. Photo: SURFING AUSTRALIA

Surfing Australia contest director Glen Elliot congratulated all competitors on their surfing prowess.

“We were greeted with prime longboard conditions in the three-to-four-foot range. As the tide filled in, it offered multiple scoring opportunities from the outside banks through to the inside shore break,” he said.

“After lunch, the Junior and Open Men and Women semi-finalists hit the water in clean conditions, with big open walls allowing the surfers to display their full array of impressive longboard manoeuvres.”

At the time of publication, the over age divisions were hitting the water.

Champions will be crowned in the Over 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

For more information, head to australiansurfchampionships.com/longboard