Day one of the Wahu Australian Bodyboard Titles kicked off today in tricky three-to-four foot wedgey peaks at Gallows Beach, Coffs Harbour.
West Australia’s Lee Wilson (Margaret River, WA) set the benchmark in the Open Mens division. The WA bodyboarder posted the days highest single wave score and consequently booked his spot straight into the second round.
Other Open Mens heat winners included: Kyle Ward (Joondalup, WA), Jake Metcalfe (City Beach, WA), Scott Arena (Ettalong, NSW), Adam Keegan (Mt Coolum, Qld) and Noah Symmans (Albany, WA).
Shayden Schrader (Port Macquarie, NSW) was the standout performer in the Junior Mens posting the highest heat total over the entire division. Schrader threw down a combination of solid manoeuvres to post a 10.50 heat total (out of a possible 20 points).
2014 is the first year the Wahu Australian Bodyboard Titles have been part of the Australian Surf Festival.
2014 Australian Surf Festival Contest Director Glen Elliot said: “The best bodyboarders in Australia are competing for the right to represent Australia at the ISA World Titles and to be crowned Australian champion, this will ensure a high performance level from all competitors.”
The Australian Surf Festival at Coffs Harbour is set to attract more than 500 surfers from around the country, over the 18-day event period.
A hotline – 0458 247 212 – is operating for the festival which will feature a recorded message updated at 6:45am each morning with the confirmed daily schedule and contest venue.
Coffs Harbour is home to a number of great beach break options that work in a variety of wind and swell conditions. The main base for the event will be Park Beach which is located north east of the Coffs Harbour CBD. The event is fully mobile in the Coffs Harbour region with numerous beach break options which include Park Beach, Macauley’s Beach, Diggers Beach, Jetty Beach, Gallows, Arrawarra Beach, Mulloway Beach, Woolgoolga Beach, Emerald Beach and Sapphire Beach.
Live results and daily news will be updated at www.australiansurffestival.com
The 2014 Australian Surf Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event is also proudly supported by Coffs Harbour City Council, Coffs Coast Tourism, Wahu, The Hoey Moey, Nikon, Toyota, Pacific Longboarder, FCS, Australian Institute of Sport, Surfing NSW and Surfing Australia
1 August – Australian Surf Festival Opening Ceremony
2-6 August – Australian Surfmasters Titles
2-3 August – Australian Single Fin Titles
6-14 August – Australian Longboard Titles
7-10 August – Australian Logger Titles
14-18 August – Wahu Australian Bodyboard Titles
