TBC Internationals Rock Winkipop

By Mark Humphrey

Winkipop, Vic Aus 23^rd July 2014. Current Torquay Boardriders Club International competitors Troy Brooks and Cahill Bell Warren went blow for blow in the clubs Agg 4 Open Men’s final held at Torquay’s Winkipop break last weekend.  Adding to the line-up was rising local star Makenzi Bowden who had no intentions of taking a back seat. Unfortunately for Tom Allen the 4^th finalist, personal commitments meant that he couldn’t join the final leaving the 3 guys to contest what was a highly anticipated final.Troy Brooks launching

Earlier in the day Brooks had spent time over at Jan Juc where the junior section of the club was conducting their rounds.  The club has grown to the point where it is no longer possible to conduct the junior and senior rounds together on the same bank. Even the junior category consisting of U/14’s and younger, had to utilize 2 take off banks in order to get through the day’s program.

Approaching 5pm and in fading light, the 3 man final opened up with Bowden straight into the action snapping off the lip to get the final under way. Makenzi Bowden finished in the middle of the Internationals.

Bowden was busy throughout the final taking off on anything that looked like forming whilst Bell Warren was more reserved in his choices electing to sit and wait for most of the first half of the final. Brooks was busy putting together a series of combination waves with the occasional launching manoeuvre sending him airborne. Classic trademark surfing from the International was treating the spectator gallery as he went head to head with Bowden pulling off some heavy carves combined with near vertical launches. Meanwhile Bell Warren had opened his account with his trademark backhand sweeping carve off the lip propelling him into a series of moves that netted 7 + scores from the judges. Cahill Bell-Warren smashes another lip.

Bell Warren looked to have tightened up his stance on the day giving the impression of a more compact Bell Warren as he went about his business. The 3 surfers went blow for blow in the second half of the final with the end result leaving the judges having to do a count back to determine the winner.  Troy Brooks was declared the winner with Makenzi Bowden getting the nod ahead of Bell Warren in one of the closest open finals seen at the club for some time. Brooks on accepting his trophy talked about the unbelievable growth and talent within the club having spent part of the morning conducting the junior ranks. In trying to encapsulate and enhance the altogether feeling within the club Brooks launched a new event “The Hells Bells” which will become an annual event on the TBC calendar. The unique event will run along the same format as the club’s single fin event that combines senior and junior surfers together in a team against team format. Scheduled to run on the 16^th of August, Brooks was excited about the fact that the event would team up the clubs best open surfers with junior boys and girls in the team format. Brooks spoke of having a selected judging panel for the day with a special trophy being struck for the event. Club President Cahill Bell Warren added to the launch by stating that the club was in the process of developing a new code of vision which is working towards addressing items like slowing down club membership and developing events like the Hells Bells.

Action from finals preceding the Open final showcased the depth of talent within the club. On paper the U/16 boy’s final looked to be a heads up contest between Tully Wylie and Tane Bowden. Wylie has had a chequed junior career to date both in club and state events while Bowden carries a bag full of tricks. Bowden with an awesome display of Arial surfing picked up the win from Wylie with Josh Van Neikirk hot on Wylie’s heels in 3^rd followed by Nathan Rivilland. Van Neikirk can consider himself unlucky to have to come up against talent like Bowden and Wylie comp after comp but in reality the stiff competition looks to be having a positive impact on Van Neikirk. Van Neikirk pulled off some powerful carves during the final with good strong bottom turns. It was no doubt one of his best performances in a final and showed the improvement he has made in just a short time. If he keeps picking it up at this pace expect to see Van Neikirk figuring at the pointy end in the not too distant future. Tane Bowden was awesome taking out the 16's final

The U/18 boy’s final was decided on the very last wave as Micky Robinson pulled off a reverse air to get the judges nod ahead of Lewis Oats with Josh Cammarere and Lewy Wright filling the minor places. Early in the final it was a tussle between Oats and Cammarere as they went head to head racking up good combination waves to each consistently score in the 6-7 point range. With Oats just getting away from Cammarere towards the end of the final it looked like Oats had it sewn up until Robinson finished a strong routine with a classic air reverse that catapulted him into the lead and the win. Micky Robinson on his way to a last gasp win in the 18's

In the Master’s final Damian Wilson carried on from where he left off by dominating the final and taking the win from a very busy Brad Kerr followed by Adam Ferrari and Nathan Swan. Kerr pulled off some good manoeuvres throughout the final but just couldn’t match it on the day will the air-time king in Wilson.Damian "Airtime" Wilson

The Grand Masters started off with regular top seed Dave Matthews carrying the blue #4 seed into the final. When asked what the deal was with wearing blue Matthews laughed and said “a few hiccups in the morning heats”. Steve Kay went into the final carrying the red #1 seed and surfed well throughout the 20 minute final. Matthews had opened his account early with a look back heavy carve that dropped him straight away into the lead. He backed that up quickly with some more aggressive work on the face and was never headed in the final. Kay finished 2^nd with Pete Caruthers doing enough to fill the number 3 spot. Martin Renahackkamp put in one of his best performances in a final and was probably a bit unlucky not to finish higher up the leader board. From the outset Renahackkamp got to work putting together a number of multiple manoeuvre waves that from the beach looked to have a bit of quality about them. Great effort from Renahackkamp and all the Grand Masters who put on a good show. Dave Matthews looks back at the damage done.

Earlier in the day the Women’s Open was conducted with Indi Robinson taking out the win from Maylee Fox followed by Grace Day and Bella Wilson.

Next event for the TBC is the Hells Bells on the 16^th of August. For more details go to http://torquayboardriders.com/

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