High scores for Day 2 of the 2007 Na Papa Queensland State Longboard Titles
Sunday, 6th May 2007
Despite small fun waves at Marcoola Beach, Sunshine Coast, for Day Two of the Na Papa Queensland Longboard State Titles, high scores were the order of the day. One of the youngest competitors in the event, 14 year old Clinton Guest formerly of Noosa, now residing at Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast almost upstaged the field with a super impressive 9.5 in round two of the u/18’s, to easily win the heat and progress into tomorrow’s u/18 boys final. "I am so stoked to win," said the new rookie who names Currumbin's Jackson Close a former Queensland and Australian Champion as his inspiration. Close had to forfeit competing in the Queensland Longboard Titles as he is competing in the World Professional Longboard Titles in France and is on a World Title mission after reaching the quarter-finals where he has drawn Hawaiin Bonga Perkins. By qualifying for the U/18 Boy's Final Clinton Guest will now represent Queensland for the first time at the national level in the Australian Longboard Titles to be held at Port Macquarie in October. Sponsored by Na Papa Surfboards, Guest was holding down the single highest scoring wave of the event which collects a $500.00 cash prize from coastalwatch.com.au but was eventually overtaken two heats later by local seasoned campaigner Damian Coulter (Mountain Creek).
Competing in both the opens and O/35’s Coulter rose to the occasion in round two of the O/35’s posting a pair of 8.5’s and with 4 minutes to go scored a 9.8 with a critical hang ten and solid maneuvers to progress into the final and be the man to beat for the $500.00 best wave of the event.
“I was having so much fun out there,”said the veteran Sunshine Coaster who has represented Queensland many times at the National level,” It’s great to score so highly but these young guys are so good and they can beat that score easily. The Coulter Family are a well known Sunshine Coast surfing dynasty and Damian will now face his younger brother Drew in the O/35 Men’s Final tomorrow.
In the Open Men’s, Mudjimba’s Ben Fesselet was right at home at his local beach break to keep his wining run alive progressing into the open finals where he will face fellow local surfers Mitch Surman (Buderim) and Trent Dickey (Noosaville). Mitch Surman scored an 8.5 to win his semi from Trent Dickey. Gold Coast’s Mark “Macca’ McNamara (Currumbin) will be the lone Gold Coaster in the open mens after creating an upset to finish second behind Fesselet and eliminate fellow Gold Coaster Matt Aldridge in the open semi’s. A Surfing Queensland coach and Na Pa team rider, MacNamara has qualified for both the opens and 0/40 men's finals
Reigning O/35 Women's Australian Longboard Champion, Sharon Jackson (Alexandra Headland) has continued her unbeaten run in the open women’s to progress into the final with Selby Riddle (Rainbow bay, Gold Coast). Jackson was a 5 times runner-up in the Australian short board open women’s titles in the late seventies placing second to Pam Burridge. The Sunshine Coast surfing super mum is on target to win a State Title and represent Queensland in the Nationals.
Other favorites for tomorrow’s finals include multi National Champion and Queensland surfing legend Robye Deane (Coolangatta) in the 0/55’s and another surfing legend better know as the co-owner of Rip Curl, Doug”Claw” Warbrick is in the finals of the O/60.
Tomorrow’s program will start with the 0/60’s men’s at 8am with 11 finals to be surfed up to the blue ribbon final open means at 11am. The contest is mobile between Alexander Headland and Coolum already using Coolum and Marcoola. Organisers are hopeful of an increase in swell and light southerly change which could favour Maroochydore.
To check on the daily contest venue, call the Contest Hotline number 07 30306388 after 6.30am. For more info contact Andrew McKinnon on 0424745363