2007 EVANS HEAD LONGBOARD INVITATIONAL
Friday September 28 – Monday October 4
A step ahead and a step up – Local longboarders cross step their way to the tip of success.
The count down has already begun for the start of the first heat of the 2007 Evans Head Longboard Invitational. The October long weekend seems to come around faster every year and this year is no different. We’ve had an exceptional run of surf during the winter and into the spring and the Evans Head Over 8’s Malibu Club is hoping that the same excellent surfing conditions will coincide with this year’s event, which is promising to be better than ever.
It seems that the little event that started so modestly nearly 20 years ago with about 80 or 90 surfers is continuing to grow and prosper. Ever more popular among competitors and well supported by a myriad of interested sponsors it has progressed with the times and looks set to once again break all records for attendance and surfboard give-aways and hopefully raise a healthy sum for charity.
The sponsors are as much a part of the event as the competitors, since without their support and encouragement there would perhaps be something to celebrate, but little to celebrate with. The Over8’s Malibu Club has again received unqualified support from the Evans Head Bowling Club and this year, the Richmond Valley Council has assisted with an events grant as well. Notable major sponsors like Bic Sport Surfboards and the Honolua Surf Co. have assisted with the event’s development over the last couple of years and also still right behind the 2007 Evans Head Longboard Invitational. Other new sponsors like Island Haze are coming on board each year; however, it is all the support of the many local business houses which is the cord that binds it all together.
2007 will see the Evans Head Longboard Invitational expand to a 4-day format, with the new section of the event, the Honolua Retro Single Fin Classic. This curtain raising, half day, mini-event will be run entirely on Friday September 28 with a presentation at the Evans Head Bowling Club in the evening. It will see 24 surfers test their skills on surfboards primarily from the 1970’s. The pre-thruster (3-fin) surfboards are now around 30 years old and their incorporation into the overall ‘Invitational’ will an exciting dimension to the weekends surfing and highlight a unique era in the history of surfing.
2006 saw competitor numbers up around the 130 mark with 150 competitor places, after being expanded over the weekend to cope with the significant demand of those who turned up hopeful of a start, many after travelling long distances. In 2007 competitor places have been notably expanded to a total of 187 places, after the inclusion of the Honolua Retro Single Fin Classic. However, despite the increase in places, this year’s demand has easily kept pace and three weeks out from that first heat, the event is virtually full and will undoubtedly start with all divisions completely filled.
Over the three days of the main event surfers will compete in a wide range of age divisions from Under 18 Girls and Boys events, through the Open Men’s and Ladies’ divisions to the Over 35’s; Over 45’s; and Over 55’s. Other speciality divisions include the Bic Open, with $500 prize money, where all surfers ride the same types of boards and the division that started off the surfing craze of the 1960’s, the Old Mals – all pre ’67 vintage specials.
Not only has competitor involvement increased, but the action and entertainment around the 2007 Evans Head Longboard Invitational is also branching out. The weekend’s program will include the official whale naming and welcoming ceremony for the Richmond Valley Council areas newly adopted whale, Jumigum. The Jumigum Welcoming ceremony will take place in front of the Evans Head/Casino SLSC on Sunday September 30 at 11:00am. All residents and visitors are invited to take part in the welcoming and find out more about Jumigum and the Humpback ICON Project that has brought the idea to fruition.
The Labour Day Public Holiday on Monday October 1 will not only feature the finals of all the longboard divisions, but will also involve a demonstration of the latest surfing discipline going the rounds – Stand Up Paddle surfing, in the Honolua Stand-Up Paddle “Expression Session”. For S.U.P., the rider stands astride their board (about 11-12 feet long, though sometimes slightly smaller) and using a single long paddle must paddle the board canoe stroke out through surf and then paddle into the waves, where the paddle is used as a sweep oar to assist in turning the board. Amazingly, the best can ride monster waves and pull into tubes, mostly though they are used in smaller conditions and were commonplace at Waikiki, in Hawaii a century ago, so they’re nothing new. We probably won’t have Tahiti in the back yard but the riders from the Honolua Surf Co. and Byron Bay Longboards will provide the first organised display of SUP surfing in the NSW.
To round out a great day at Main Beach, there will be special Beachside Markets for locals and visitors alike, at the southern end of the beach carpark towards the skatepark. Adding to the carnival atmosphere of the 2007 Evans Head Longboard Invitational information stalls representing groups like the Cancer Council, the Disabled Surfers Association, environment groups and a number of sponsors will be present throughout the weekend.
Main Beach is certainly where all the action is going to be every day over this October long weekend and the Evans Head Bowling Club is where all the night festivities will be celebrated, so make sure you get out and enjoy the fun of it all as we bust out of winter and dive headlong into summer. Watch the surfing, talk to the visitors, enjoy the Fleas and Ants ((kids under 12) mini comp, join in the Jumigum welcome, have something from the BBQ, buy a raffle ticket, check out the markets – come along and be part of the 2007 Evans Head Longboard Invitational.
Longboarders in the Limelight
Here’s a quick guide to some of the more high profile surfers in each division, the ones with the pedigree for a podium finish. Never the less, because Mother Nature plays a hand in delivering the waves, anything can and does happen and with a field of almost 200, from an expanding sport, there are bound to be plenty of dark horses.
Bic Open:
A strong field will take to the water, but the experience of the World Longboard Tour surfers – Defending champ, Jarred Neal (Coffs Harbour); former Australian Junior Champion, Paul Scholten (Emerald Beach); and local pro, Ruben Roxburgh would be hard to topple. 2006 Bic Open finalist Bryce Young has now also begun the move towards the pro ranks and will lead the charge to dismount them. Keep an eye on multiple Australian champion ‘Sput’ Keevers in this one too.
Open Men:
Again it would be hard to go past the pros, but you sure can’t count out locals like Jay Mulherin and Keenan Roxburgh (current Over 8’s club champion) or the hot young guns on their way up like Sunshine Coasters Josh Cooper and Mitch Surman and Angourie’s Bryce Young. Don’t miss this final.
Open Women:
This presents a good chance for former local women’s pro surfer Sarra Robertson to snare another ‘Invitational’ crown, with strong competition from Tweed duo Lisa Nicholson and Sally Paxton as they try to stay ahead of the younger girls coming through.
Junior Girls:
Ballina’s Kara Nobbs and Byron Bay’s Jessica Wyatt should start favourites but the junior events always seem to uncover a new star or two.
Junior Boys:
A hot filed here and no doubt a future national champ or two. Cooper, Surman and Young are the movers and shakers here, but with a national field and that same dark horse situation, the only sure bet will be tight tussle for the finish.
Over 35’s:
Some old faces and some new ones is the rule for the Over 35’s. Ballina’s Darren Nobbs, 2006 finalist Scott Seymour (Lennox), along with long- time ‘Invitational’ competitor, Damon Young (Ocean Shores) and Evans Head locals, Over 8’s President, Joel Mercer and Mick Furtchman are the known factors, but more than half the field could make the final.
Over 45:
No easy heats in this one either, it is the biggest division and was one of the first to fill. A heap of top level regular finalists are in the mix, including Mike Pimm (Casuarina), Ian Pearson (Banora Point), Tony Abood (Kingscliff), Ric Chalmers (Pottsville), Peter Vlug (Long Reef), Peter Hall (Bangalow), Steve Crisp (Byron) and locals Greg Hobbins and Ross Cribb.
Over 55’s:
You might be forgiven for thinking that these guys are more in the twilight of their limelight, but this is a division littered with tough old salts that know thing or two about contests and surfing in general and they are inspiring. The gang includes Australian champions like Ballina’s Eric Walker and Tweed’s Jeff Arnold, along with the Gold Coast’s Neville Smith and Over 8’s founding president, Harry Hann.
Old Mal:
A special breed with catlike feet and stylish weight shifts. The aficionados include Ian Williams (Byron Bay), Guy Walker (Burleigh Heads), and one of the original competitors from day one of the ‘Invitational’, Mark ‘Merc’ Fuller. Merc is always an event favourite and he has probably made more finals appearances here than anyone else.
Honolua Retro Single Fin:
The pros will again be good, but with the vintage Retro boards a little like the Old Mals of short boards, there will room for the older surfers and the Retro specialists to cause some upsets as they reach for the prize of becoming inaugural winner.