Harrison Roach excelled in the near perfect conditions to easily move into the Open Men's Quarter Finals
Current World Longboard Champion Josh Constable
Ray Lawrence picking up a nice set wave
Freya Hogath traveled from Tasmania
Bryce Young showed no fear
Josh Constable put on a stellar performance with a series of committed forehand manoeuvres
2006 AUSTRALIAN LONGBOARD TITLES - DAY THREE
Thursday, 19 October 2006
Yallingup Western Australia
Conditions: 8-10ft Offshore early. Onshore at about 9.30 am. 15-20 knots.
Finally some great waves for the Open Division surfers, pity it didn't stay
that way for the rest. By time the girls hit the water up came the wind.
The Open Mens put in a great show on some big clean faces, still bumpy in
the odd place, just enough to cause problems as they set their lines up. It
would have to be a howling offshore wind here to make it ruler edge I
reckon. The swell here comes in three different angles, so you are bound to
cop a beating no matter were you sit. Rob Emslie coped a bit of a hiding,
creased his board then hit the bottom and ended his chances with a 4th. It's
hard to come back from a beating out there. Some people found it better to
go a right then get straight up on the reef and head for the normal jump off
spot, rather than risk being caught in no man’s land. Ray Lawrence
came up against GT and Josh Constable but managed to hold off GT for a 2nd
(that sent GT into a rep which he later won), Josh ripped it up and caught 3
waves before the rest of them even had a go. Harrison Roach won his with
some nice big waves and Jared Neale picked up a 2nd to keep himself away
from a rep heat.
In the Over 35s Women, Judy Dann got dusted and may have been hit on the
head by her board, she was rushed off to the doctors for a check up (will
report her condition tomorrow). And Sean Dry in the 35's managed to rip most
of the fins out of his 2 boards in the one heat? Go Sean, well not any more
with a 4th (free surf time).
By this afternoon Yallingup was looking like a washing machine again, Gordon
Fuz (Over 55s) luckily redeemed himself in his rep with a 2nd but said he
was feeling the toll on his body (guess First Point Noosa is a little
mellower). Tomorrow is due to be the same height and maybe offshore a little
longer. Again more boards were broken and it'll be good to see the tally at
the end. Shapers back home should start mowing foam now!
- Adam Albertini
www.surfcds.com
Australian Longboard Titles - Big Performances The Order Of The Day At Yallingup
(Surfing
Australia)
Light offshore winds and a clean lined up swell had competitors itching to
hit the water on day three of the 21st Annual Longboard National Titles at
Yallingup Beach. Along with the near on perfect 1.8 to 2.2 metre waves
gracing the lineup contestants also mingled with a pod of Yallingup locals.
As surfers caught waves in their heats, dolphins eagerly waited their turn
to join them, but were content just to be near their human counter parts
while they waited for waves.
In round two of the open mens division it was the east coast contingent that
dominated round two winning five of the six heats with Michael Corbett from
WA the lone West Australian to win a heat. Spectators eagerly waited in
anticipation for the appearance of current world champion Josh Constable QLD
to appear in his round two heat. Constable did not disappoint and put on a
stellar performance with a series of committed forehand manoeuvres on one of
Yallingups infamous right handers. Constable had a strangle hold on the heat
right up to the dying five minutes when New South Welshman Ray Lawrence
answered constables challenge picking up a nice set wave that looked as if
he may have piped the world champ from his lead. As the scores came through
Lawrence had not done enough and Constable remained victorious by just 0.95
of a point. “There were some good ones out there, but you had to wait for
them. With the judges only looking at two of your best scoring rides I
decided to just site and wait and in the end it paid off. It is just such a
perfect setting here at Yallingup, I just love the place,” said Constable.
Those to progress through today to the quarter finals included Jackson Close
QLD, Hayden Emery NSW, Jake Mills NSW, Jason Belcher WA, Josh Lee NSW,
Harrison Roach QLD, Shane Baker NSW, Jarryd Foster WA, Michael Corbett WA,
Jared Neal NSW, Brett Mason WA, Christian Pimm NSW, Rahn Goddard WA, Grant
Thomas QLD and Josh Constable QLD.
Peter Barley from SA kept up the broken board count. He has broken a total
of three boards in the three days of the event including a borrowed board,
while his father Adam, has broken one. The expense is climbing for the
family and to make things worse both were eliminated from the open division
today.
In the Funs Back over 50 division Peter Dunn WA had his revenge on the
Yallingup Reef progressing from the requalifying rounds through to round two
of the main event along with Gary Tucker (WA), George Micalef WA, Bruce
Hogarth (TAS), Chris Collings WA, Ralph Bock SA and Rob Nedwich NSW.
The semi finals of round two of the over 35 womens division was run late in
the day, but not without drama. West Australian Judy Dann was taken to
Dunsborough medical centre after being struck on the head by her board. The
medical officer at the event stabilised Dann with a neck brace and fearing
she may have received concussion arranged to have her transported for a
thorough examination.
Renown for her big wave capabilities former national title holder and local
Yallingup girl, Arlene Nagtzaam (WA) held her own in the rising late
afternoon swell. Small in stature the same can not be said for her courage
as she consistently waited for the bigger of the sets for a win into the
final. Not to be out done fellow team mate Samantha Vanderford (WA) also
picked off the bigger wave of the sets to win her heat and advance through
to Sundays final along with Sharon Jackson (QLD) and Kirsty Webster (NSW).
Thursday will see the swell pick up and jaws drop as Yallingup will show why
she is queen of the coast.
