Suzuki Pro 1R

Competitors at the opening leg of the Suzuki Pro Longboard Tour were treated to excellent 3ft plus waves at McCauley’s Beach, Coffs Harbour. With an international field of surfers competing over the weekend, spectators were treated to a complete display of longboard surfing.

Contesting the final against 3 world ranked surfers Harley Ingleby used every inch of his board to snatch a narrow victory scoring 17.96 points out of a possible 20, from Dave Simons, 17.3, while Jye Byrnes 3^rd with 17.16 and Josh Constable 16.96 had a mighty tussle as they contested the minor placings.

In earlier rounds of the 5A rated Surfing Australia ALC, Suzuki Pro, International competitors found the going tough. Phil Morris (NZ), Mike de Temple (Florida), and Dudley Elliot, (Wales) were all eliminated in the opening rounds while round two saw Lee Ryan (UK) and Darren Ledingham (California), the remaining international surfers failing to progress. Also eliminated in round 2 was defending ALC champion Jackson Close, former top 5 world rated competitor, Josh Ferris and former Australian champion Hayden Swan.

NSW surfers Dave Simons, and Jye Byrne showed their international experience to out maneuver and out score Qld surfers Craig Harvey and Heith Norrish. Harvey and Norrish could only find 1 good scoring wave each and failed to progress to the final. Local surfer Harley Ingleby made the most of his local knowledge to take out the second semi final from current Australian amateur champion Josh Constable. Failing to make the final with a score only .5 of a point behind Constable was fellow Sunshine Coaster, Grant Thomas while Steve Mills was a further 1.6 points behind Thomas.

Rockhampton surfer Oliver Shaw showed a clean pair of heels all weekend to win the $1,000 on offer in the Noserider Division.

16 yr old Cameron Hiscox caused a minor sensation by winning both the World Surfaris/Sa’Moana Resort 9ft Amateurs and the Under 18’s. Hiscox used a full repertoire of moves as he walked up and down the board at every opportunity to keep Wollongong surfer Jayce Pioli in 2^nd with WA’s Rahn Goddard placing 3^rd. A 360 helicopter maneuver and some great longboarding by14 yr old Bryce Young saw him capture2nd place behind an extremely talented Hiscox in the Under 18 final.

Cath Perry (Port Macquarie) had the waves come her way in the Women’s division to win from Santa Barbara’s Amie Zelcer. Melissa Combo (Ballina) surfed her way into 3^rd while Tessa Davidson (Ballina) recovered from a nasty gash when her board hit her in the face on the Saturday, to finish 4^th.

Results

Suzuki Pro

1st Harley Ingleby (Emerald Beach)

2^nd Dave Simons (Crescent Head)

3rd Jye Byrnes (Newcastle)

4th Josh Constable (Noosa)

Noserider

1st Oliver Shaw (Rockhampton)

2nd Jesse Jerems (Noosa)

3rd Mitch Sheehy (Walliby Point)

4th Jared Neal (Coffs Harbour)

World Surfaris/Sa’Moana Resort 9ft