State's best longboarders dazzle at Phillip Island

TORQUAY’S Ben Considine and Anglesea’s Molly Powell have inched closer to a spot in the Bells Beach Longboard Classic, winning the Open Longboard divisions at Round 1 of the Victorian Longboard Titles on Phillip Island.

More than 50 of the state’s top surfers were greeted with light winds and terrific waves for both days of competition, allowing them to put their best surfing on show in the pursuit of vital state ranking points.

The event was held over two days at Phillip Island.

Considine took control early on Saturday, posting repeated excellent scores in both the Open Men’s Longboard and Logger Quarter-Final and Semi-Final heats.

Carrying his momentum through to finals day at Cape Woolamai, Considine excelled in the clean and oily conditions, putting together a slick combination of wrapping manoeuvres and noserides to earn himself the win in both divisions.

With the Open Longboard division win, Considine increased his chances of securing the top Victorian state crown, which will give a wildcard spot into the World Longboard Tour’s Bells Beach Longboard Classic in August.

“I’ve been putting in a bit of work into the lead up to this competition, so I was happy I was lucky enough to come away with the win,” he said.

“The wildcard is definitely on my mind, and it is also a big goal of mine to get into the event.”

Molly Powell was victorious in the Open Women’s Longboard division.

Trailing Considine was Andrew Burgan in second (Cowes), Sam Dunton (Mornington Peninsula) in third and John Stephen (Aireys Inlet) in fourth place.

The Open Women’s Longboard division went down as one of the closest of the weekend, with only 0.03 separating the winner and runner-up.

Torquay’s Angela King started proceedings with a bang, scoring a 6.00 for a searing forehand carve to give her an early lead.

However, Molly Powell (Anglesea) and 2022 state champion Bea Conroy (Point Lonsdale) were quick to fire shots of their own, with the former taking off on one of the biggest waves of the day to earn herself a 7.00-point ride.

With Powell in pole position, Conroy kept her honest with a last-minute wave to try to get over the line.

Needing a 7.20 to overtake Powell, the judges awarded Conroy with a 7.17, leaving her just behind when the buzzer sounded.

King was third and Natalie Van Der Heyden (Cape Woolamai) was fourth.

Other local surfers to win a divisional title included Bea Conroy (Point Lonsdale, Open Women’s Logger), Melanie Renton (Ocean Grove, Over 40 Women’s Logger), Emma Webb (Jan Juc, Over 40 Women), Greg Brown (Torquay, Over 50 Men and Over 60 Men) and Bob Smith (Jan Juc, Over 70 Men).

For full results from all divisions, head to surfingvic.com/live