It was an epic event this year which is new to the Coffs Coast region. The new event put together by Daniel and the team at the Coffs Harbour City Council alongside Surfing NSW was a massive success. With whispers of this being a permanent feature in Coffs Harbour and being bigger and bolder next year, so it is a big watch this space.
Day 1 The first event was on Saturday being the qualifier for the Nudie Australian Boardriders Battle held in awesome conditions at Gallows.
Have a look at some of the action below.
It was a nail bitter in the semi’s but true to form we powered through and ended up with a 2nd place result and straight through to the big event next year in Newcastle which is fast becoming the best event in surfing in the World!
Day 2 – Sunday launched into the Coffs Harbour Open – stop six on the Australian Open of Surfing series and placed right in the middle of the Coffs Coast Festival of Surfing.
With small but contestable waves wrapping around Macauleys headland. With a massive showing from CHBC we had Taj Watson kick off the day. It was a real show of force with young and old surfers pulling on a jersey and getting amongst it, the field of 11 surfers included:
Bonnie Hills
Rosie Smart
Carly Shanahan
Taj Watson
Will Martin
Ryley Smidt
Ethan Stocks
Lee Winkler
Jayke Sharp
Shaun Cansdell
Otis Carey
The day also included a superheat from our club to showcase to the World our diversity and unique club spirit. The rippers got things kicked off in the 4 team event and did not disappoint in and out of the water. With the event getting broadcast live it was a great platform for the rippers to express themselves and really bring back the true grassroots of what club surfing is all about. Inclusion and fun for everyone.
The froth was very real with Guy Thio giving some amazing interviews and some stylish Elvis style moves on the beach, he really has the moves on the land and in the water. Not to be out done Emil Burton gave tribute to surf legend Kelly Slater and hep share the stoke. Dane Magill got a long peeling left hander to the beach to help his team out in the points department. Dane also had some classic moments in the post heat interviews and kept the commentators on their toes. True to form Daniel Jeffcoat put in a big effort and was a pleasure to listen to in the interviews.
This brought us into the groms where we saw Creed Smart, Hunter Winklers, Carter Crowley and Will Martin unleash in the small but fun conditions. Carter got a sick left and showed us the groms are a force to be reckoned with. It was epic to see Lee Winkler, Shaun Cansdell, Jayke Sharp and Otis Carey put up their time to this great little event arranged by John Machon.
Otis nailed a sick air rev and Shaun smashed a few nice carves. The Goofey Footers took the win over the Future Presidents.
• yummy food and live acoustic music and chilled out DJ grooves on solar powered stage
• beach clean ups with cool prizes, guided nature tours as well as Aboriginal bushtucker and cultural tours with Uncle Mark Flanders
• awesome hands-on creative activities for all ages including recycled art workshops, mural painting and art forage and installation activity
• kids fun including free learn to skate lessons and MASSIVE bubbles
• mini secondhand market with secondhand surfboards and board swap plus vintage surfboard exhibition
• loads of sustainable living info and inspo with many inspiring local organisations caring for Country
• plus a TURTLE RELEASE and much more!!!
For all the action for the day view the clip below, at about the 4 hour mark the super heats starts, a real must watch and be sure to check out the post heat interviews.
Day 3 of the Coffs Coast Surf Festival and Day 2 of the Coffs Harbour Australian Open of Surfing
With a big number of CHBC surfers progressing through from Sunday it was straight into the action with big names exiting the morning early. Jayke Sharp looked impressive and surfed well getting through to nearly the business end of the event. But it was a ladies again getting us home for the Coffs Coast with Carly Shanahan and Bonnie hills battling all the way through to the final.
Massive effort and well done with your finals results.
RESULTS:
Open Men
1 – Mikey McDonagh (Lennox Head, NSW)
2 – Chris Zaffis (Angourie, NSW)
3 – Kobi Clements (Long Reef, NSW)
4 – Jackson Baker (Merewether, NSW)
Open Women
1 – Philippa Anderson (Merewether, NSW)
2 – Ellia Smith (Coolum, Qld)
3 – Carly Shanahan (Wolli, NSW)
4 – Bonnie Hills (Mullaway, NSW)