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The Sunshine Surf Masters is on again in Geraldton (Flat Rocks) this year on Saturday and Sunday 11 and 12 September and this year's event will be bigger and better than ever. The event has been running in Geraldton for over 30 years and is a highlight on the Geraldton and WA surfing events calendars.
The event always attracts the best surfers from across WA to Geraldton to compete for a share of over $10 000 worth of cash and prizes. This year there will be an added incentive for WA's best to make the trip to Geraldton for the weekend, with the winner of the Open Mens division to receive a wildcard entry into next year's Margaret River Pro trials.
This year's Sunshine Surf Masters will be broadcast live on the web, again thanks to WA Country Builders; go to www.gerosurf.com.au. So while you can't match the atmosphere and service spectators can expect down at Flat Rocks, if you can't make it to Flat Rocks you can still tune in over the weekend to catch all the live surfing action.
Through the ongoing support of loyal sponsors, including some of the best surf industry brands, many local businesses and the City of Geraldton-Greenough, the Geraldton Board Riders has been able to make the Sunshine Surf Masters one of WA's most highly regarded and popular surfing events.
Surfers will compete in divisions from Cadets through to Grand Masters, Womens and non-competitors; a division for surfers who haven't competed in a Surfing WA or GBR event this year. As always, the expression session will showcase the latest in innovative surfing. Surfers eliminated in the first round in each division get a second chance in the Dunny Bowl round.
The event is one of the most professionally run in WA as well, with qualified judges and the latest technology in scoring giving competitors and spectators wave scores and position updates after each wave surfed.
Presentations will be held on Sunday afternoon at the Geraldton Beach Hotel.
Entering this year's Sunshine Surf Masters is easy. It can all be done on-line via the GBR website (www.gerosurf.com.au). Entries need to be in by Wednesday 8 September. If you can't enter on-line, you can enter by dropping an entry form in at the Corner Surf Shop.
The Geraldton Board Riders capped off its 2009 surfing season in grand style on the weekend with the successful running of the 33rd Annual Corner Surf Shop Sunshine Surf Masters at Flat Rocks. This year's event was again televised live to thousands of online viewers thanks to WA Country Builders.
The decision to hold the event back a week proved to be a master stroke with great surfing conditions all weekend. Flat Rocks turned it on with solid overhead set waves and light winds providing the perfect setting for shot surfing action. High scoring rides were posted in many heats and the standard of surfing was exceptional. Contestants pushed themselves and their fellow competitors in every division providing great viewing whether down at Flat Rocks or watching the live telecast on the web. A field of 80 entrants, both locals and visitors from as far away as MargaretRiver, competed in the event.
Luke Campbell from Perth showed his class in the blue ribbon Corner Surf Shop Geraldton Beach Hotel Open Mens Division, blasting his way to one of the highest scoring waves of the event in the final. Campbell is currently ranked in the top 100 on the World Qualifying Series Tour and showed why he is regarding as a rising talent in world surfing. Locals Jesse Molloy (defending his 2008 title), Shawn Howe and Cayden Catto pushed Campbell to pull out all stops in the final and the crowd was treated to spectacular power surfing from all of the finalists.
The final of the Hot Buttered Boyd Purdy Surf Designs Junior Division was equally exciting with these junior surfers pushing their surfing to the extreme. There were regular hoots and gasps from the crowd as the juniors executed radical moves over the shallow reef bottom on the draining tide. High scoring waves were the order of the final as it went down to the line. Jake Kearney left it until the dying minutes to catch the wave of the heat with a succession of committed beyond vertical turns sometimes defying gravity securing him the title over brilliant performances from James Fleming and Max Marsden.
In the Geraldton Beach Hotel Senior Mens Division, Luke Hayter from Perth was on fire in the final, posting good high scores early in the event. Hayter was assisted though by an interference call on 2007 winner Ben McGay, who posted the highest scoring wave of the heat. Jai MacRides and Ross Fleming surfed a great final well in the final but they were unable to match the scores Hayter was locking in.
In the Latitude Pearls Womens final Felicity Palmateer from Margaret River showed why she is one of WA’s top female surfers with an excellent display of power and speed surfing. On one special wave in the final Palmateer dropped into an overhead outside bomb late perfectly executing three massive turns before ling up the best and deepest tube of the contest finishing off with one more critical turn on the almost dry inside reef picking up the only 10 point perfect score of the event. The ride also earned her both the PW Drafting Services highest scoring wave of the day and tube of the event prize. Jaimee Wheatley was her closest challenger and other local girls Jazmine Fawcett, Lorenna Perrin and Dimitra Carter also surfed well.
Ross Fleming continued his good form this year by taking out the Bank of QueenslandMasters Division. Fleming displayed powerful turns choosing to take some rare right handers in the predominately left hand break, holding out former Australian title holder Steve Williams and locals Brett Schofield and Kim Burton.
The final of the Apprentice and Traineeship Company Cadet Division was another cracker this year. All boys surfed really well in the final but in the end it was some radical cutting edge surfing from Jesse Carter that saw him prevail over Max Marsden and the Fleming brothers, Damien and James.
This year there were more competitors in the Bhagwan Marine Non-Competitors division than in any other division. While this division is only open to surfers who haven't competed in a surfing competition this year, the standard of surfing was as high as in any other division. In the final, Jack McDonald's combination of poise and radical surfing gave him victory over Des Wakeham, Jye Pratt, Danny Dawson and Thomas Speck.
The WA country Builders Grand Masters division was again taken out by former Australian Champion Ian Darby from local surfing champion Leon Norris. Darby came out of the blocks early racking up a 7.33 ride on his first wave and backing up with another high score during the final to ensure a good win from Norris, Ian Salmond and 2008 Australian Champion Brent Moss.
Ben Callaghan took out the ‘Dunny Bowl’ division, comprising all surfers who were unsuccessful in their nominated division, and backed up that win with the most radical aerial maneuver in the Geraldton Beach Hotel Expression Session.
Geraldton Board Riders extends its thanks to all sponsors including the City of Geraldton-Greenough, competitors and spectators for making this year’s Sunshine Surf Masters such a successful event. Plans for the 2010 event are already underway.
Congratulations to BenGodwin !WQS Sunshine Surfmasters champ two years in a row! 2nd place went to Kit Rayner.
Godwin Reigns Supreme Two Years Straight In Geraldton…
(Sunday 14th Spetember 2008), The final rounds of the SunSmart Surfmasters were completed today at Flat Rocks in Geraldton. The 1 star rated event has attracted a strong field who have relished in some solid waves in WA’s
north west coast over the past three days. The weather has been against competitors and officials alike, with the usually sunny Geraldton turning on overcast days, freezing winds and big swells for WA’s second WQS for 2008. Strong SW winds had plagued the event from start to finish, with Flat Rocks providing some windy wedges and long left hand walls allowing for high performance surfing to take place. The finals day dawned bringing waves in the 2.0 – 2.5m range and breed of local surfers hoping to taste WQS glory. The lump and bump of previous days was replaced with some big left hand sections that the better surfers navigated with speed and flair.
Geraldton locals Danny Williams, Kit Rayner, and Ben McDonald proved that the area is full of talent with all three making it through to the semi-finals. Semi final one saw two surfers at differnet parts of their careers vying for their maiden WQS finals berth. Sixteen year old Danny Williams has recently returned from the Australian National Titles and would tak on a more experienced campaigner and big wave charger Kit Rayner. It was Rayner who surfed impresseively in the preliminary rounds and showed more composure than his younger opponent. Williams broke his board in the opening minutes of the heat and was immediatedly on the back foot. Rayner took the advantage and locked away a 6.33pt ride and back up 5.17 ride for the win.
The sole east coast entrant Ben Godin (NSW) was again shooting for back to back finals appearances at this event an showed why he is the defending champion. Semi two saw Godwin smash his opening wave with some on rail top to bottom combinations that was rewarded with a 7.10 by the judges. Godwin was on fire locking away another good wave averaging a 7.50pt ride and a step closer to the 2008 SunSmart Surfmasters title. Ben McDonald left chasing a 7.83 to progress within the first ten minutes of the heat. McDonald had been a surprise packet of the event defeating some more fancied opponents on route to the semi’s.
With the finalsist both in good form the twenty five minute final provided many highlights. Godwin and Rayner both traded blows and exchange the lead early in final. However, it was the defending champion Ben Godwin that went from strength to strength showing the forehand repiotre that had seen him secure the highest combined scores of the event. Godwin secured a 7.50 and a 5.87 to seal back to back wins at Flat Rocks for two years in a row.
“The waves were tricky out there, but that suited me just fine, we have a similar left hand point at home which I surf all the time.” Said Godwin who has never had to defend any surfing title before and was feeling some pressure going into the final.
“I was way more nervous this time, coming in feeling really ready but as last years champ you can feel like you have a target on you back.”
Godwin will now look to use this event as a spring board into bigger events in 2009 and will remain in WA for a few more days in hope of swell and offshore winds and travel home to NSW on Wednesday.
The 2008 SunSmart Surfmasters Proudly Supported by: SunSmart, Healthway, ASP Australasia, Geraldton Boardriders, and
Surfing WA. Full results and media avaliable at ASP
Australasia website.
The Geraldton Boardriders capped off its 2008 surfing season in style on the weekend with the very successful running of the 32nd Quiksilver Sunshine Surf Masters. The event was held from Friday to Sunday 12th - 14th September at Flat Rocks. This year's event again included the World Qualifying Series event for the second year running and for the first time was televised on the web, thanks to WA Country Builders.
Weather conditions were not ideal, with an onshore westerly wind prevailing across the event but there was plenty of swell and surfers were surprised at how well the surf break at Flat Rocks handled the conditions. High scoring rides were posted in most heats and the standard of surfing was very high, particularly given the less-than-optimal conditions. Competitors pushed themselves and their fellow competitors in every division, which created some great viewing whether down at Flat Rocks or watching the live telecast on the web. Over 80 surfers competed in this year's event.
In the Healthways WQS event, Ben Godwin from the central north coast of
NSW was back in Geraldton to defend his title. The trip back to Geraldton paid off for Godwin, who held out local favorite Kit Rayner in the final to win the WQS title for the second year running.
In the Corner Surf Shop Open Mens Division, local surfers were able to secure 3 out of 4 places in the final in a division which boasted some of the best surfers in WA. In the end it was Jesse Molloy's explosive surfing that attracted the highest scores from the judges. Molloy held out Mitch Taylor from
Perth and last year's Senior Mens and Open Mens winners, Ben McGay and Justin Hagan to take victory.
Jerome Forrest, who pocketed $500 for his radical surfing in the Geraldton Beach Hotel Expression Session, also outsurfed a class field in the Northcoast Holdings Juniors division to take out the title for 2008. Forrest's smooth but critical surfing saw him get the points over Mitch Nesbitt and local young guns Ryan Wright and Danny Williams.
In the Hot Buttered Boyd Purdy Surf Design Senior Mens Division, WA surfing champion Paul Patterson from Yallingup narrowly held out local champion Justin Hagan. Locals Maitland Woodcock and Ben McGay also made the final.
In the upset of the event, Macaulay sisters, Laura and Bronte from
Margaret
River, placed first and second respectively in the Latitude Pearls Womens final ahead of locals Leah Wright, who recently placed 4th at the 2008 National titles, and Lisa Blackmore, who is the current GBR Womens champion.
In the Opus Music Masters Division, Steve Williams from Perth was able to catch better waves in the final and post high scores, which at the end of the final was enough to see him overcome strong opposition from locals Kim Burton and Leon Norris and Ian Darby from
Perth. Darby had a better result in the Rod McVee Roof Sheeting Grand Masters division, taking out first place for the second year running ahead of Norris, Brent Moss and Brett Schofield.
In the Apprentice and Traineeship Company Cadet Division, local State champion Jake Fawcett held out a division and final comprising some of the best up-and-coming juniors including last year's Sunshine Surf Masters champion Mitch Nesbitt, Jake Kearny and Lachlan Mazzucchelli.
Brenton Burton impressed in the Bahgwan Marine Non-Competitors division to win over Thomas Speck, Alex Knowles and Chris Perren. Ryan Wordsworth from Rockingham won the Blacktop Engineering Dunny Bowl division, which comprises all surfers who were unsuccessful in their nominated division.
The GBR extends its thanks to Surfing WA, all of the sponsors, competitors and the City of Geraldton-Greenough for making this year’s Sunshine Surf Masters such a successful event and looks forward to an even bigger and better Sunshine Surf Masters in 2009.
SUNSHINE SURF MASTERS A HUGE SUCCESS
The Geraldton Boardriders capped off its 2008 surfing season in style on the weekend with the very successful running of the 32nd Quiksilver Sunshine Surf Masters. The event was held from Friday to Sunday 12th - 14th September at Flat Rocks. This year's event again included the World Qualifying Series event for the second year running and for the first time was televised on the web, thanks to WA Country Builders.
Weather conditions were not ideal, with an onshore westerly wind prevailing across the event but there was plenty of swell and surfers were surprised at how well the surf break at Flat Rocks handled the conditions. High scoring rides were posted in most heats and the standard of surfing was very high, particularly given the less-than-optimal conditions. Competitors pushed themselves and their fellow competitors in every division, which created some great viewing whether down at Flat Rocks or watching the live telecast on the web. Over 80 surfers competed in this year's event.
In the Healthways WQS event, Ben Godwin from the central north coast of
NSW was back in Geraldton to defend his title. The trip back to Geraldton paid off for Godwin, who held out local favorite Kit Rayner in the final to win the WQS title for the second year running.
In the Corner Surf Shop Open Mens Division, local surfers were able to secure 3 out of 4 places in the final in a division which boasted some of the best surfers in WA. In the end it was Jesse Molloy's explosive surfing that attracted the highest scores from the judges. Molloy held out Mitch Taylor from
Perth and last year's Senior Mens and Open Mens winners, Ben McGay and Justin Hagan to take victory.
Jerome Forrest, who pocketed $500 for his radical surfing in the Geraldton Beach Hotel Expression Session, also outsurfed a class field in the Northcoast Holdings Juniors division to take out the title for 2008. Forrest's smooth but critical surfing saw him get the points over Mitch Nesbitt and local young guns Ryan Wright and Danny Williams.
In the Hot Buttered Boyd Purdy Surf Design Senior Mens Division, WA surfing champion Paul Patterson from Yallingup narrowly held out local champion Justin Hagan. Locals Maitland Woodcock and Ben McGay also made the final.
In the upset of the event, Macaulay sisters, Laura and Bronte from
Margaret
River, placed first and second respectively in the Latitude Pearls Womens final ahead of locals Leah Wright, who recently placed 4th at the 2008 National titles, and Lisa Blackmore, who is the current GBR Womens champion.
In the Opus Music Masters Division, Steve Williams from Perth was able to catch better waves in the final and post high scores, which at the end of the final was enough to see him overcome strong opposition from locals Kim Burton and Leon Norris and Ian Darby from
Perth. Darby had a better result in the Rod McVee Roof Sheeting Grand Masters division, taking out first place for the second year running ahead of Norris, Brent Moss and Brett Schofield.
In the Apprentice and Traineeship Company Cadet Division, local State champion Jake Fawcett held out a division and final comprising some of the best up-and-coming juniors including last year's Sunshine Surf Masters champion Mitch Nesbitt, Jake Kearny and Lachlan Mazzucchelli.
Brenton Burton impressed in the Bahgwan Marine Non-Competitors division to win over Thomas Speck, Alex Knowles and Chris Perren. Ryan Wordsworth from Rockingham won the Blacktop Engineering Dunny Bowl division, which comprises all surfers who were unsuccessful in their nominated division.
The GBR extends its thanks to Surfing WA, all of the sponsors, competitors and the City of Geraldton-Greenough for making this year’s Sunshine Surf Masters such a successful event and looks forward to an even bigger and better Sunshine Surf Masters in 2009.
2007 Sunshine Surfmasters!
QUIKSILVER SUNSHINE SURF MASTERS A HUGE SUCCESS
The 31st Sunshine Surf Masters, with Quicksilver as the lead sponsor, was held on Friday and Saturday 24th and 25th August at Flat Rocks and organizers are claiming it the best ever, not only because of the addition of the Tooheys Extra Dry World Qualifying Series event but also because of the great waves, exceptional surfing and quality event management on show.
The decision was made later in the week to compress the event into two days, as the forecast for Sunday was not favorable.The decision paid off, with great waves on both Friday and Saturday; a critical ingredient for a successful surfing competition.
Things kicked off on the Friday morning with heats and man-on-man quarter finals of the WQS.Flat Rocks turned on its best waves for these heats and with some of the best surfers in Australia on hand to compete for $10 000 prize money, the crowd was treated to the hottest surfing display ever witnessed at Flat Rocks.
The judges were kept busy with consistent high scoring rides in every heat.Ry Craike, Courtney and Kirby Brown from Kalbarri, and Kayshun Rodd from Geraldton all made it through to the Quarter finals.In the Semi finals on Saturday morning Courtney Brown surfed one of the best heats possible to knock out the highly fancied Ry Craike, and Ben Godwin from the north coast of NSW out surfed Brett Hardy, a Margaret River local who has previously won a National title.In both heats, the victors established a commanding position early with high scoring rides, Godwin slipping into the Barrel of the event.Both Brown and Godwin were the stand-out surfers in the Tooheys WQS and it was fitting that they met each other in the Final.In the Final, Godwin prevailed with his combination of style and critical maneuvers.While both surfers had high scoring rides, Godwin’s second wave scored an 8.5 out of a possible 10 and secured the title for him.In the end, Brown ran out of time in his search for a similar score.
Tooheys Extra Dry also sponsored an Expression Session, where competitors eliminated from the WQS event had the chance to win $500 for the most radical maneuver and $500 for the best wave.The surfing during the Expression Session was unbelievable.Jay Davies performed several forehand and backhand aerial maneuvers during the 20 minute heat and was a clear winner of the most radical maneuver prize.Joe Hadden, also from NSW, was awarded best wave for a wave on which he was able to complete not one but two radical “fins out the back” tail sliding turns.
In the Geraldton Beach Hotel Open Mens Division, Justin Hagan took out the title for the second year running.Halfway through the Final it was looking like Ryan Wright might take out the Open Final this year, with two high scoring rides under his belt.But Hagan saved his best for last.In the dying minutes, he caught a good wave that allowed him to execute trademark extreme maneuvers.That ride scored an 8.0 to back up his 7.75 from earlier in the final and gave him the title.
In the North Coast Contractors Senior Mens Division, Ben McGay held out Hagan to win the title for the second year running.McGay’s first wave scored an 8.5 and he backed that up with a 7.5 on his second wave.That was enough to give him the title.
Leah Wright won the Latitude Pearls Womens Final for the second year running, although this year Jazmine Fawcett gave her a real challenge.
In the Geraldton Beach Hotel Masters Division, WA State Champion Mark Clift posted two scores over 7 in the Final to hold out local favorites, Leon Norris and Ross Fleming.
Norris also missed out in the S Bends Caravan Park Grand Masters Division, being held out by defending champion, Ian Darby.
In the Apprentice and Traineeship Company Junior Division, Shaun Howe showed his class against quality opposition, including last years champion Tom Clarke (who placed 3rd in this year’s Open Division), getting a couple of the highest scoring rides of the finals.
In the Corner Surf Shop Cadet Division, Cottesloe’s Mitch Nesbitt dominated a division and final full of promising WA juniors.
Ben McDonald won the Bahgwan Marine Non-Competitors Division.
The GBR would like to thank SurfingWA, all of the sponsors, competitors and the City of Geraldton Greenough for making this year’s Sunshine Surf Masters such a successful event. Surfing Western Australia and Surfing Australia have already indicated that they would like the event to increase to a two star rating for 2008.
In other local surfing news, Leah Wright, Craig Tuesley and Leon Norris will be part of the WA State team traveling this week to the north coast of NSW to represent WA at the National Surfing Titles.
Sunshine Surfmasters presented by Tooheys Extra Dry - Ben Godwin Takes Career First WQS Win In Western Australia Sunday, 26 August 2007
The final day of the Sunshine Surfmasters started with wobbly 1.5m – 2m waves on offer thanks to a building swell hitting the Mid North-West coast. The waves improved throughout the day with a dropping tide & culminated with a great final featuring local favourite Courtney Brown (Kalbarri, WA) & underdog Ben Godwin (Foster, NSW).
By 8am the sun had appeared & warmed up the waves for the first WQS semi final. This heat an absolute delight for all spectators with the two form surfers of the event going head to head. It was an all Kalbarri showdown between close friends Ry Craike & Courtney Brown that produced fantastic surfing from the opening minutes. Craike was left chasing is tail as Brown hooked into three great waves in the first five minutes of the heat. Brown’s 7.50 and 7.15 opening rides left Craike needing 8.15 to hit the lead. Craike waited patiently for a set wave & secured a 7.25 with 8 minutes remaining, but ran out of time before he could find a 7.41 require for the win. Courtney Brown had taken out his more fancied opponent & was humble in his win. “Craike & I are great mates & I knew that I’d d to do something special to beat him out there” said Brown.
The second semi final saw Ben Godwin slip into the barrel of the event & was rewarded with an opening 8.25 ride, placing him in the box seat at the 5 minute mark. Former Australian champ Brett Hardy (Margaret River, WA) needed a combination of 17.61 to snatch the lead and play a part in the final. However, good competition tactics saw Ben Godwin streak ahead & straight into the final.
One of the highlights of the day was the Tooheys Extra Dry Expression Session which was an invitational event that showcased some futuristic & innovative surfing to say the least. Joe Haddon (Foster, NSW) opened out with a huge backside air & linked together some great turns to take out the $500 best wave. While Yalligup’s Jay Davies walked away with $500 for the best manoeuvre with one of his trademark punts.
The 1* WQS final saw Courtney Brown, who had been on fire in each of his heats, taking on Ben Godwin who consistency had caught every bodies eye. With the low tide it was the inside waves that were wrapping around the reef at Flat Rocks offering some really critical sections for both finalists. It was a classic Goofy vs. Natural match up & Godwin surfing on his forehand that used a repertoire of sweeping roundhouse cutbacks & flashy snaps that saw him lock in a 6.50 & 8.40 for his opening two rides. This left Brown requiring something in the excellent range to take the lead. Godwin’s total of 15.15 points left Brown chasing a 8.16 to take the lead & unfortunately couldn’t find the waves that he needed. Godwin’s devastating start left him in the box seat for the duration of the final.
“Im sooo stoked with the win, I came over here to surf Kalbarri & get some training in before the Nationals back at home, but to walk away with the win makes the trip that much sweeter” said an ecstatic Godwin who walked away with $2500.00 USD for his efforts. The inaugural Sunshine Surfmasters was a great success & is anticipated to return again in 2008
Sunshine Surfmasters WQS gets underway in great conditions –
Friday August 24th 2007 – Flat Rocks Geraldton WA
Perfect conditions greeted competitors early at day one of the Western Australian Second World Qualifying Series (WQS) event for 2007, the one star Sunshine Surfmasters presented by Tooheys Extra Dry held at Flat Rocks in Geraldton. Clean 1.5m – 1.8m provided some of the state’s best surfers with idyllic rights & lefts to display their skills in the building swell hitting the mid North West coast of WA. Light NE winds & sunny skies made for a dream start to this newly introduced event on the WQS tour. Local Kalbarri rippers, the Brown brothers Kerby and Courtney, as well event favorite Ry Craike were part of the local contingent that set about devastating their opponents in the opening round.
Always one to impress, Craike set about stamping his authority on the event with his characteristic forehand wafts & futuristic repertoire of maneuvers. Courtney Brown was also on the front foot early scoring the highest wave score of the day making a massive 9.0 ride during his round 1 heat. Both Brown & Craike have won events at Flat Rocks in the past & looked suited to the waves early.
One of the heats of the day was round one heat six featuring top Pro Junior campaigner Jay Davies (Yallingup), taking on former Australian Champion Brett Hardy (Margaret River) & one of the states most consistent competitors John Davies (Margaret River). This heat was on from the opening minutes with each surfer locking in good scoring waves & to progress that they would have to capitalize on all opportunities. It was the never say die attitude of Brett Hardy that saw him score an 8.50 ride in the dying minutes of the heat to clinch the win over John Davies in second & Jay Davies in third, causing perhaps the upset of the day. Flatties fooled a lot of the surfers with some great double up waves & hollow section going unridden.
The morning provided some great surfing, but it was a couple of New South Welshmen in Ben Goodwin & Joe Haddon who had made the long trip West & weren’t taking a backwards step. It was the first time that Haddon & Goodwin had surfed Flat Rocks but both looked at home in the waves & found the going easy, winning their round one heats in convincing fashion. It was remarkable how quickly the pair adapted to the conditions & location, showing the WA boys how its done, with Haddon locking in a combined heat score of 15.75pts. “There’s some surf out there, bit fickle but if you can catch the right ones your set.” Said Haddon who’s spent the last week in Kalbarri surfing the famous Jacques Point will travel buddy Goodwin.
The event made it through round one, round two, & will proceed tomorrow morning with man on man quarter finals. With an expected jump in the swell overnight, the decision was made to hold off & see what Saturday will bring. The Sunshine Surfmasters WQS is running in conjunction with the 31st annual Sunshine Surfmasters, the states longest running surf event & provided a great way to finish off the day with some highly competitive divisions running throughout the day.
Day two will the see the $10,000 USD prize pool delivered including the $2,500 USD for the competition winner, not to mention valuable ratings points. The event will start again at 7am sharp.
Format is a guide only - always check with the beach Marshall!TIMEPROGRESSION DAY ONE (FRIDAY)Mins7.00amWQS ROUND 1 Heats 1-81609.40amWQS ROUND 2 Heats 1-48011.00amWQS MAN - ON MAN QUARTERS 1-48012.20pmJUNIOR ROUND 1 HEATS 1-3601.20pmOPEN ROUND 1 HEATS 1-4802.40pmJUNIOR SEMIS 1-2403.20pmNON COMPS SEMIS 1-2404.00pm9 Hours540TIMEPROGRESSION DAY TWO (SATURDAY)Mins7.00amCADETS ROUND 1 HEATS 1-3608.00amMASTERS SEMIS 1-2408.40amSENIOR SEMIS ROUND 1-2409.20amWQS SEMIS 1-24010.20amCADETS SEMIS 1-24011.00amOPEN SEMIS 1-24011.40amGRAND MASTERS SEMIS 1-24012.20pmTOOHEYS EXPRESSION SESSION2512.45pmWOMANS FINAL251.10pmCADETS FINAL251.35pmGRAND MASTERS FINAL252.00pmSENIOR FINAL252.25pmNON COMPS FINAL252.50PMJUNIOR FINAL253.15PMMASTERS FINAL253.40PMOPEN FINAL254.05PMWQS FINAL254.30PMFINISH9.15 HOURS
This years event will include a $10,000 US Tooheys Extra DryWQS 1 star division.
The Sunshine Surfmasters event will cater for many age divisions including: (ages as at 31/8/2007)
Open Men
Open Women
Cadet (16 and under)
Junior (19 & under)
Senior (28 and over)
Master (36 and over)
Grand Masters (46 and over)
Surfers who have not competed in a surfing contest during 2007 will be eligible to compete in the popular 'Non-Competitors' event.
Surfers who are eliminated in their heat are eligible to continue competing in the Dunny Bowl Round!
Planning Schedule:
July 12th : GBR committee planning session - Done
July 23rd : WQS 1 star and contest running dates confirmed. Friday August 24th to Sunday August 26th. - Done
July 23rd : All sponsors confirmed - Done
July 30th : Posters & entry forms printed and distributed. - Done
August 2nd : GBR committee planning session. - Done
August 10th: Closing date for WQS Event entries - Done
August 22nd : Entries close for Sunshine Surfmasters at 5pm
August 22nd : Final GBR committee planning session
August 23rd: Contest area set-up at Flat Rocks
August 23rd: WQS Competitors briefing at Geraldton Beach Hotel (GBH) 7pm (all welcome)
August 24/25: Event in progress
August 25th: Presentations of all divisions TBA.
Expect good smallish conditions Friday then rsing for Saturday with head high sets.
Flat Rocks will handle these conditions. Swell direction is WSW on Friday and improves to dedicated SW for Sat.
2006
LOCALS SHINE AT THE 30TH ANNUAL SUNSHINE SURF MASTERS
The Geraldton Board Riders 2006 season culminated on the weekend with the successful running of the 30th Sunshine Surf Masters and a well attended presentation evening at the Geraldton Hotel on Sunday, where winners from the event shared in over $15,000 in cash and prizes with the bulk of the cash sponsorship being provided by local Midwest Businesses.
Event organizers were greeted with a 2.5metre swell on the Saturday morning at Flat Rocks with clearing cloud and moderate SE winds. A large field of over 100 entrants, including many visiting surfers from Perth and beyond, competed over the weekend and the standard of surfing was very high across all divisions. Sunday was the better day as the wind was from the East and the swell built slowly through the morning.
In the blue ribbon event, the Geraldton Hotel Open Men's division, local GBR 2006 club Champion, Justin Hagan reveled in the conditions at his local break catching more waves than any other finalist. He didn't have it all his own way though as he was up against some of the State’s top talent in Margaret River surfer Brett Hardy (a former Australian Title holder), 2005 Sunshine Surfmasters winner, Rockingham's Ryan Wordsworth and local star Ben McGay. Hagan had an early lead in the final picking off a good overhead peeling left seconds after the starting siren. He was closely followed by all 3 of his competitors launching into a flurry of lefts and rights within minutes. The battle was a brilliant one as surfers went wave for wave producing dazzling vertical moves that had the crowd hooting. Hagan sealed first place from Geraldton's Ben McGay towards the end of the final with his last wave scoring an 8.5 justly rewarding his superb surfing.
The Latitude Pearls Women's Final enjoyed good waves to test the strong field of female competitors. Misty Poyner ensured Leah Wright was on her game with two high scoring rides but they were no match for State Champion Wright's local knowledge and fiery moves. Leah will be representing WA at the Australian Titles in September.
The Carlton Draught Masters was another great final with local GBR Grand Masters Club champion Leon Norris, dominating the final from impressive goofy footer Kim Burton. Geraldton's Ben McGay turned the tables on Justin Hagan in the Geraldton Hotel Senior Mens Division, finding the better waves to take out the final from Geraldton's Ken Dann. Geraldton's Jake Molloy returned to the competition scene after a couple of months recovering from a broken ankle. The time away from the waves did nothing to cramp his style as he won a hard fought final in the Midwest Valuations Junior Division from another local champion Ryan Wright.
The Bundaberg Rum Air Show was exciting with 8 surfers in the water looking to boost the most radical aerial manoeuver. Geraldton's Ben McDonald had the best strategy and focused on the right handers and boosted two dynamic airs on the one wave to easily defeat the field.
In the other events Trigg's Ian Darby took out the Northcoast Contractors Grand Masters Division, Zac Alexandar (Perth) won the Baghwan Marine non-competitors while Danny Williams put on a sensational display to take out the Surfwest Cadet Division. This year the winner of the Batavia Timber and Salvage "Dunny Bowl" Final was Kalbarri's Jake Perkins.
GBR would like to thank all of the members and competitors for their participation and assistance with the 30th Annual Sunshine Surf Masters. Download the full results here! (Excel 187kb)
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