Surfcoast Longboarders (Surfing)
Latest News & Results
Winter Classic Raises 3K For Cancer Sufferer.
By Mark HumphreyLocal icon Greg Brown dominated the Over 50's category.
Point Impossible, Vic/Aus. 29th July 2014. Surfcoast Longboarders annual Winter Classic Longboard Festival raised in excess of $3,000 from the event with the entire proceeds going to former local Torquay resident Kate Donaldson. Donaldson in her mid-20’s has had to move back to Melbourne with her family as a result of on-going treatment. The Winter Classic is Surfcoast Longboarders marquee annual event with proceeds from the event donated to a nominated worthy cause.
Heat and semi-finals were conducted on Saturday at the pristine surf spot known as “Spot” on the Fairhaven coastline. With semi-finals run and won the Sunday finals were conducted at the regular contest location of Point Impossible with 7 finals in total to be decided.
First up was the Loggers final and like the Over 50’s final the contest was virtually decided before the surfers hit the water. Junior surfer Ben Considine has been in fantastic touch throughout the year picking up wins in major senior competitions around the country and went into the final as the red hot favourite. Considine dominated the event to take out the final from Luke Lalor with Dave Edwards and Andy Roche filling the minor positions.Ben Considine's signature stance.
Considine continued on his way also winning the junior final which was next up. A quick change of competitor tops on the shore line had Considine back out in the line up and ready to go in no time. Considine picked up the win from Luke Lalor with Kari Klewer 3rd.
Over 60’s was next on the agenda with Nigel Kidd taking the win from Bob Smith, Al Spence and Pete Coffey.
Officials decided to bring forward the prestigious Open category to take advantage of the improving conditions. Unfortunately Michael Pinney after qualifying strongly through the heats was a no show on finals day leaving Liam Griggs-Kennelly, Luke Lalor and Emma Webb to fight out the final. G-K started off strongly dropping into a couple of neat little rollers. Webb had followed on from her heats with classic longboard surfing at pushed both G-K and Lalor throughout the 25 minute final. In the end it was Griggs-Kennelly who picked up the win in a closely fought contest with Emma Webb. Webb placed 2nd ahead of Luke Lalor with Pinney judged 4th.G-K picked up the coverted Open division.
After her fantastic performance in the Open final Emma Webb was going back to back with the Women’s final up next. Webb easily accounted for herself during the final to this time pick up the win from Morgan Griggs-Kennelly, Emily and Krystal.
Next up was the Over 50’s with former Aussie champ and region legend Greg Brown the overwhelming favourite. Brown got into the action early posting a high scoring wave from the outset and then elected to sit out the back and wait patiently for his next wave.
John Lane was busy racking up a number of good point scoring waves along with Brian Kuit and Bud White. The battle between club heavyweights Kuit and Lane was solid with both guys swapping good point scoring rides. With less than 5 minutes left on the clock Brown picked up another high scoring wave to comfortably take the lead and subsequently the win from John Lane with Brian Kuit hot on his heels in 3rd followed by Bud White.Larry Hayes' gamble to take on the younger guys paid off winning the 40's category.
The final event on the days program was the Over 40’s final. In what turned out to be a smart move, regular Over 50’s competitor Larry Hayes decided to drop back a division to take on the younger Over 40 longboarders. This proved to be a master stoke as Hayes picked up the win in the 30 minute final. Although not having to compete against Greg Brown, the decision to initially drop back to the 40’s was a bit of a gamble with the final being a 5 surfer final. Paul Squirrel and SOUL front-man Brian Tucker were also looking for the win with Squirrel in particular very aggressive on the wave. Female long boarders Boo Lalor and Nicky Mathews were also keen to do well in the small but clean conditions. Following in Hayes in the final was Paul Squirrel with Brian Tucker 3rd. The girls fought out the remaining places with Boo Lalor getting the nod over Nicky Mathews.Boo Lalor picked up 4th in the Over 40's
With the completion of the 40’s final the event come to a close with organisers hailing the “Classic” a success and looking forward to presenting Kate with a cheque in excess of 3k.
Well done to the Surfcoast Longboarders and the competitors who rolled up in numbers to support the event. Plans have already started for next years’ “Winter Classic” to once again run towards the end of July. Keep an eye on http://www.surfcoastlongboardclub.com/ for future updates.
Winter Classic "Finals Day" Images
Winter Classic To Benefit Cancer Sufferer
By Mark Humphrey
Fairhaven, Vic Aus. 26th July 2014. Surfcoast Longboarders annual Winter Classic Longboard event will this year donate monies generated from the event to once local Torquay resident Kate Donaldson. Kate in her mid-20's is battling through the disease and has had to shift up to Melbourne along with her parents while she is receiving treatment. The family made the decision to sell up in Torquay and move back to Melbourne in the best interests of Kate. With ongoing regular treatment in Melbourne the family decided they could best support Kate by re-locating to Melbourne.Liam Griggs-Kennelly displays classic longboard surfing.
The Winter Classic is an annual longboard event that Surfcoast Longboarders run with the emphasis on donating monies raised from the event to either an individual or an organisation in need. As part of the event an auction night is being held at the Torquay Front Beach Cafe with all encouraged to get along. Entry is free with the night expected to go through to somewhere around 11pm...
With the heats now completed the action continues tomorrow with finals day. The club is expecting an 8am start at Pt Impossible.
A full report on the event will be posted in sportingscribe.com on Tuesday.
Winter Classic Action
By Mark Humphrey
Lynch Takes Out The Prized Event
The annual Surfcoast Longboarders charity 2-day event was held this weekend at Point Impossible on the Surf Coast Shire of Geelong with Adam Lynch taking out the coveted Open Final in clean off-shore conditions.
Boardriders surf for charity.
Around 90 competitors braved the perfect winter conditions in classes ranging from juniors to over 60’s. Receding hairlines and music from back in the day were the focus of the event which this year will benefit The Great Ocean Road Coastal Committee (GORCC).
The Great Ocean Road Coastal Committee is an organisation responsible for the up keep and maintenance of the foreshore along the famous Victoria Great Ocean Road which encompasses the event location (Point Impossible) and the famous surf precinct of Torquay and Bells Beach.
Past President and current committee member Bob Smith said “this year the funds raised from the event and associated auction night will go directly to GORCC which was nominated by the club as the beneficiary of this year’s event”.
“Each year the surf club nominates the beneficiary of the event with a local family in crisis the beneficiary every second year" said Smith. "We are very fortunate to be in a position where we get a lot of support from the surfing community in our quest to help out others. In the past we have helped out the family of an 8 year old girl who had her leg amputated due to cancer and also the family of a 6 year old boy who had been struck down with leukemia”. Smith noted that although the GORCC was a government department the extra funds provided by the event will definitely assist the committee in their endeavors to maintain the famous stretch of foreshore along the Victorian coastline.
The event consisted of heats and a final for Traditional 60’s style surfing, junior boys and girls, open men and women and classes for over 40’s , 50’s and 60’s.
With longboards the order of the day the event saw competitors show their skills on the planks with hang 10 manoeuvres proving popular with the judges. A hang 10 manoeuvre is where the surfer will walk to the front of the surfboard and hang their toes over the front of the board whilst surfing the wave. Hang 5 manoeurvres were very popular throughout the event with the occasional head stand thrown in.
Luke Lalor "hangen 5" Dave Edwards headstand surfing
Surfers from all eras contested the event with booties and head caps the order of the day in the brisk winter conditions.
Anthony Shields "hood and booties for the winter " Sam Cox with the hood to keep out the cold
The odd head of long flowing lochs could be seen amongst the predominately receding hair lines as the contestants chilled out to music from the era whilst standing around the braziers trying to keep warm as they consumed food from the bbq.
Shane Firns "lochs blowin in the wind" "Stretching time for the over 50's"
Following on from a day of heats and quarter final action, an auction was held at the Torquay Cafe with goods being donated from various surfing and non surfing businesses. Asked on the success of the auction past president Bob Smith said "the event was extremely well attended and finished up being a very successful evening for the club". Although fundraising monies are yet to be tallied, Smith expects the final donation handover to GORCC to be significantly higher than past fundraising efforts.
With the Saturday night festivities out of the way the showcase event of the weekend was the Surfcoast Longboarders Open final. With all finals being run and won during the morning session all eyes were on the top 4 finalists.
Surfcoast Longboarders Open event winner Adam Lynch in the action.
Halfway through the 20 minute final Adam Lynch had a slight lead over Grant Price with Luke and Oscar Lalor locking horns for the final podium position. Lynch who had won his last 2 heats was surfing strong and looked to be the one to beat on paper. Oscar Lalor put in his best ride of the final to date to be tied for 3rd with less than 10 minutes to go. Next to get up was Lynch who put together a series of turns and some plank walking to post his highest score of the day to increase his lead over Price. Price was next up and had a consistent wave to slightly increase his overall tally. After a couple of low scoring waves Luke Lalor was busy in the water catching yet another wave.
Luke and Oscar Lalor bottom turns.
This time his selection was good as the wave rolled out giving him the opportunity of posting his second highest score of the final and consequently giving him second place with only 4 minutes left on the clock. Price had one last chance of chasing down the two ahead but unfortunately the wave closed out which ended his assault on the title. Just for good measure Lynch caught the last wave of the final and managed to increase his two wave tally over Luke Lalor to take out the coveted final. Grant Price managed to pick up 3rd in a tight finish with Oscar Lalor.
Grant Price surfing in good Posso conditions.
In the other finals Liam Griggs Kennelly was victorious over Adam Lalor in the juniors but not without a fight. Lalor half the size of Kennelly had the highest scoring wave of the final but could not back the score up with another quality wave.
Boys finalists Liam Griggs Kennelly and Adam Laylor
Ben Considine won the Traditional 60's event with Scott, Will and Adam filling the minor placings.
The Over 40's final was won by Open finalist Grant Price with Sam Cox, Dave Gibson and Brett Lalor filling the minors.
Over 40's winner Grant Price with runner up Sam Cox
Dave Gibson and Brett Lalor
The Over 50's final was dominated by powerhouse surfer Greg Brown. Brown continually smashed the waves with his pink plank and never looked in danger of being beaten. John Lane finished a creditable 2nd followed by Brian Kuit and Dave Edwards.
Over 50's winner Greg Brown with some aggressive moves.
John Lane, Brian Kuit and Dave Edwards
The Over 60's final was hotly contested with Nigel taking out the win from Bob Smith, Al Spence and Sarge.
Over 60's winner Nigel with Runner up Bob Smith
Al Spence and Sarge
The second last final to run on the day was the Open Women's. Although the competition for the minor placings was hot, nobody was going to catch Sam Suenderman. Suenderman dominated the event with her powerful turns and manoeuvers and also showed her versatility by walking the plank several times. Suenderman won the Women's final from Lucy Small who also surfed well. The final podium placing was hotly contested between Kate Lawler and Boo Lalor with Kate eventually taking out the 3rd position.
Open Women's winner Sam Suenderman with runner-up Lucy Small
Kate Lawler and Boo Lalor
In what was a successful weekend for the club the day culminated with presentations to the victors.
Traditional 60's and Junior winners.
Over 40's and Over 50's winners
Over 60's and Womens winners
Surfcoast Longboarders 2013 Open Mens winners
More Surfing Action From The Weekend
Chris Hanrahan
Dave
Grant m
jason
mick
Steve
Adams
Anthony
Cruz
Glenn
Sam
Greg
Larry
Glenn
john
Brian
bud white
Dave
MickShane
Adams
Brian
Chris
matt
Oscar
Anthony
Chris
Greg
Liam
Eddie
Freddie
grant
like
J
Arturo
Luke
matt
Sam
will
grant
Larry
Liam
Oscar
Surfcoast Longboards Charity Event Takes Off.
By Mark Humphrey
The annual Surfcoast Longboards 2 day charity event started today in clean off-shore conditions at Point Impossible on Geelong’s Surf Coast shire.
Over 50's competitor Dave Edwards can do this standing on his head
The event is a well known local fundraiser that benefits either local community groups or local families.
This year close to 90 competitors will compete in the classes from Junior Girls right up to the over 60’s. In all there are 8 classes that cater for longboard surfers from all eras.
The judge's office Surfers from back in the day!
As part of the festival an auction night is being held tonight at the Torquay Frontbeach Café with both surfing and non-surfing goods up for auction.
Heats and quarter finals were conducted today with a full program of semi finals and finals to be conducted tomorrow.
Some of the heat action!
Grant Price Greg Brown
John Lane Matt Hayes
Oscar Lalor Luke Lalor
Liam Griggs Kennelly Larry Hayes
Action is once again at Point Impossible and starts at 8am.
A full report on the event will be posted tomorrow evening at the conclusion of the event.
Winter Classic 3 & 4 August 2013
The Winter Classic is fast approaching and will be held at Point Impossible
or 'Spot' on the 3 & 4 August 2013.
Divisions: Open, Juniors, Women, Junior Women, Over 40's, Over 50's,
Over 60's & Traditional
Cost: | $50 members & non members $25 Juniors up to two divisions $15 extra divisions |
This is a charity event and an auction night will be held at Front Beach Cafe on Saturday 3rd August from 7.00pm.
Please click on the link below to register.
- Winter Classic 2013 registration form (PDF form)
- Winter Classic 2013 registration form (Word form)
Surfing event has developed as a major, local, charity fund raising event
for the club over the past eight years.
The committee identified a local need within the Surfcoast community
and decided to ‘make a difference’ for a needy family or group.
Auctioned product generously donated by many local companies and a
proportion of entry monies contributed