SVNews
Rusty Miller
NOOSA/QLD (15th March, 2012): The talk of the town today was all about hanging toes, with the eagerly anticipated round two of the Golden Breed Noserider Pro hitting the water around the middle of the day.
But the rainy start was owned by the old boys, with the Over 55, Over 60 and Over 40 divisions all taking place in the growing and groomed waves wrapping around the point into Laguna Bay.
Dates of birth had no baring on abilities, those of a more lengthy lifespan still managing to draw exclamations from the meagre crowd and very healthy scores from the barrage of onlooking judges.
Age is just a number to the young at heart, and Bruce Channon and Eric Walker proved it. Among several excellent performers, these two both amounted a 7.75 single-wave score – something to be proud of for even the youngest and most agile.
Event director Phil Jarratt was swathed in a mist of Deep Heat after exiting the water, but a mid-range score testament to the efforts he threw into his exploits in the third round of the Old Guys Rule Men’s 60 and Over.
The 55s too, sponsored by Smythe’s Inc, drew some spectacular exhibitions. Despite his second place, Bill Tolhurst registered the wave of the third round, the local shaper unable to back up a tremendous wave just shy of the 9-point mark.
With the round two repercharge of the Sebel Resort Noosa Men’s Over 40 out of the way, the ladies took to the water. Waves stuttering and wind prevailing from out to sea, Georgia Young all the way from WA opened her heat with a scorching wave which, despite her inability to find a matching wave, took her into an unchallenged lead. She will definitely be a very strong contender in tomorrow’s semi final.
The Golden Breed Noserider division is measured on time rather than merit, with seconds being counted for hang fives, that time doubled for completed hang tens. This generated a hive of activity in the judges’ booth, ten individual judges poised with stopwatches to register the times of the five contestants in the water.
As was predicted, local nasal aficionado Harrison Roach lived up to his reputation, very nearly an entire minute of tip time accumulated from his two-wave tally. Roach’s noseriding skills are absolutely staggering, each of his waves peeking the interest of the throng of onlookers lining the First Point shoreline and filling the festival’s beach bar.
Disappointment for the young Japanese contender, Yuta Sezutsu though, unable to collect a substantial score despite some fantastic wave-riding. The rising onshore wind did nothing to improve the feasibility of ideal nosriding conditions and many surfers struggled to exhibit their usually exceptional abilities.
Although Roach was undoubtedly the man of the moment, over 25 seconds clear of his closest rival, there was a plethora of good rides, Trent Dicky and Matt Cuddihy both gaining very healthy times to take them into the next round.
Event major sponsor, Global Surf Industries held its eponymous Global One Design, in which the pre-selected contestants compete on identical boards. Each year, a different model is chosen, this year being the turn of the contradictingly named Modern Old Skool, a traditional shape with single fin.
Rip Curl co-founder and long-standing friend and participant of the Noosa Festival, Doug ‘Claw’ Warbrick paddled out for some fun, not amounting to too much, but a noble effort and a wonderful gesture.
Barry ‘Magoo’ McGuigan is a legend, both in the throwaway Australian sense and in true definition. The 80-plus character doesn’t look a day over 60 and can surf rings around many decades younger than himself. Very worthy of an invite into the event, he did himself proud, coming a very respectable third in his heat, the ruthless Phil Jarratt denying preferential treatment to a man old enough to very nearly be his father.
Rusty Miller, a man who has surfed swells the size of mountains, came a well-earned second and has spent the vast majority of his time in Noosa Heads getting involved in both the contest and the evening’s activities.
The Noosa Festival is all about fun and healthy competition, and this was never more evident than in the third heat. Visiting Jersey surfer and guest commentator, Joe Davies, was out in the waves having an absolute ball, a larrikin of the lineup, matching the expertise of his surfing with the hilarity of his tomfoolery.
The third round of the Sebel Resort Noosa Men’s 40 and Over was owned by one man: Geoff Fanning. Fanning registered a very near perfect score, paddling in a little under 10 minutes clear of his heat-end, very rightly confident in the knowledge that his first place would remain secure. Fanning was already dry and supping a beer when the horn finally sounded.
Tomorrow brings the beginning of the end, semi finals abound for the whole day and a disparity of events crammed in from dawn to dusk.
Results for the day, and the week, are available on the event website, as well as draws for Thursday’s competition.
Visit www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com for further information and images of the daily events.
photos: Geoff Fanning / Noosa Festival Of Surfing
Rusty Miller
NOOSA/QLD (15th March, 2012): The talk of the town today was all about hanging toes, with the eagerly anticipated round two of the Golden Breed Noserider Pro hitting the water around the middle of the day.
But the rainy start was owned by the old boys, with the Over 55, Over 60 and Over 40 divisions all taking place in the growing and groomed waves wrapping around the point into Laguna Bay.
Dates of birth had no baring on abilities, those of a more lengthy lifespan still managing to draw exclamations from the meagre crowd and very healthy scores from the barrage of onlooking judges.
Age is just a number to the young at heart, and Bruce Channon and Eric Walker proved it. Among several excellent performers, these two both amounted a 7.75 single-wave score – something to be proud of for even the youngest and most agile.
Event director Phil Jarratt was swathed in a mist of Deep Heat after exiting the water, but a mid-range score testament to the efforts he threw into his exploits in the third round of the Old Guys Rule Men’s 60 and Over.
The 55s too, sponsored by Smythe’s Inc, drew some spectacular exhibitions. Despite his second place, Bill Tolhurst registered the wave of the third round, the local shaper unable to back up a tremendous wave just shy of the 9-point mark.
With the round two repercharge of the Sebel Resort Noosa Men’s Over 40 out of the way, the ladies took to the water. Waves stuttering and wind prevailing from out to sea, Georgia Young all the way from WA opened her heat with a scorching wave which, despite her inability to find a matching wave, took her into an unchallenged lead. She will definitely be a very strong contender in tomorrow’s semi final.
The Golden Breed Noserider division is measured on time rather than merit, with seconds being counted for hang fives, that time doubled for completed hang tens. This generated a hive of activity in the judges’ booth, ten individual judges poised with stopwatches to register the times of the five contestants in the water.
As was predicted, local nasal aficionado Harrison Roach lived up to his reputation, very nearly an entire minute of tip time accumulated from his two-wave tally. Roach’s noseriding skills are absolutely staggering, each of his waves peeking the interest of the throng of onlookers lining the First Point shoreline and filling the festival’s beach bar.
Disappointment for the young Japanese contender, Yuta Sezutsu though, unable to collect a substantial score despite some fantastic wave-riding. The rising onshore wind did nothing to improve the feasibility of ideal nosriding conditions and many surfers struggled to exhibit their usually exceptional abilities.
Although Roach was undoubtedly the man of the moment, over 25 seconds clear of his closest rival, there was a plethora of good rides, Trent Dicky and Matt Cuddihy both gaining very healthy times to take them into the next round.
Event major sponsor, Global Surf Industries held its eponymous Global One Design, in which the pre-selected contestants compete on identical boards. Each year, a different model is chosen, this year being the turn of the contradictingly named Modern Old Skool, a traditional shape with single fin.
Rip Curl co-founder and long-standing friend and participant of the Noosa Festival, Doug ‘Claw’ Warbrick paddled out for some fun, not amounting to too much, but a noble effort and a wonderful gesture.
Barry ‘Magoo’ McGuigan is a legend, both in the throwaway Australian sense and in true definition. The 80-plus character doesn’t look a day over 60 and can surf rings around many decades younger than himself. Very worthy of an invite into the event, he did himself proud, coming a very respectable third in his heat, the ruthless Phil Jarratt denying preferential treatment to a man old enough to very nearly be his father.
Rusty Miller, a man who has surfed swells the size of mountains, came a well-earned second and has spent the vast majority of his time in Noosa Heads getting involved in both the contest and the evening’s activities.
The Noosa Festival is all about fun and healthy competition, and this was never more evident than in the third heat. Visiting Jersey surfer and guest commentator, Joe Davies, was out in the waves having an absolute ball, a larrikin of the lineup, matching the expertise of his surfing with the hilarity of his tomfoolery.
The third round of the Sebel Resort Noosa Men’s 40 and Over was owned by one man: Geoff Fanning. Fanning registered a very near perfect score, paddling in a little under 10 minutes clear of his heat-end, very rightly confident in the knowledge that his first place would remain secure. Fanning was already dry and supping a beer when the horn finally sounded.
Tomorrow brings the beginning of the end, semi finals abound for the whole day and a disparity of events crammed in from dawn to dusk.
Results for the day, and the week, are available on the event website, as well as draws for Thursday’s competition.
Visit www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com for further information and images of the daily events.
photos: Geoff Fanning / Noosa Festival Of Surfing