"Stay happy and you'll be perfectly fine" - Jack Norris

Masters Crowned At Qld State Surfing Championships

 

 

Currumbin Waters Chris Brooks tube rides his way to a O/40 men’s state crown at the third and final round.
Currumbin Waters Chris Brooks tube rides his way to a O/40 men’s state crown at the third and final round.

 

Printpoint Queensland Masters Surfing Circuit

November 8-9, North Stradbroke Island.

SURFING’s elder statesmen proved they can still mix it in the wave stakes going toe-to-toe for prestigious state crowns at the third and final stop of the Printpoint Queensland Masters Surfing Circuit at North Stradbroke Island. 

Main Beach provided the ideal backdrop for the one-day tournament with the state’s hottest masters unleashing some big moves in highly contestable 3ft wedgy beach break conditions.  

For a third year running, a 60-strong field made the crossing to battle it out across six separate divisions for elusive state titles. The 17 surfers, who will represent Queensland at the Australian Open Surfmasters in ‘09, were also determined.

In a tightly-contested senior men’s (over 28) final, Currumbin gun Mark ‘Richo’ Richardson out-duelled Sunshine Coast surfer Peter Boyd (Moffat Beach) to claim a hat trick of round wins and a Queensland title.

 

Moffat Beach surfer Peter Boyd shredding Main Beach to pieces en route to winning the over 35 men’s final
Moffat Beach surfer Peter Boyd shredding Main Beach to pieces en route to winning the over 35 men’s final

 

 

In a low-scoring final, Richardson made the most of an early wave score (6.17) to dominate proceedings.

Despite a late charge by Boyd, Richardson held his nerve to net a heat-high 7.67 ride in the final minute of the final.

The perennial master’s champion finishing on a two-wave combined total of 13.84 (out of a possible 20) to Boyd’s 9.97. The Gold Coast pairing of Simon Massey and Michael Betts finishing in third and fourth respectively.

 

Richardson was beaten by Moffat Beach ace Boyd in the over 35 men’s final but still gained enough points to earn the series title.

                                                 

The progressive surfing action continued in the 0/40’s with Currumbin Waters Chris Brooks capping off his 2008 campaign in style, defeating Nick Ryan (Mermaid Beach), Terry Landsberg (Currumundi) and David Masters (Mooloolaba) to seal a prestigious state crown.


Gold Coast surfers continued to feature in the O/45’s with Palm Beach surfer Mark Traucnieks dusting fellow Gold Coaster Andrew Harris (Currumbin), Sunshine Coast surfer Paul Fisher (Buderim) and Stradbroke Island local Criag Frampton to stitch up his second round win of the year as well as a state crown.

 

Despite his fourth placing, Frampton surfed away with Tooheys Extra Dry ‘Wave of the Weekend” for the tournament’s highest individual wave score, a near perfect 9.67 out of a possible 10. 

In the 0/55 men’s final, Gold Coast surfing legend Paul Neilsen (Burleigh) surfed away with winner’s trophy, unleashing a lethal attack of forehand moves. Nielsen was awarded the state title after three consecutive wins. 

Marcoola’s Neville Williams won the 0/50 final as well as the overall state title.

 

The exclusive three-event series continues to set the benchmark for surfers aspiring to a national master’s title. Divisions include senior men (0/28), O/35, O/40, 0/45, O/50 and O/55. 

For more information please check out www.surfingqueensland.com.au or call the Surfing Queensland office on (07) 5520 1165.