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SEA
SPRAY: AB Daniel Williamson throws off some spray as he
executes a tricky cut back during the NSW Tri-Service Surfing
Championships.
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DROP
ZONE: AB Jordan Dank takes on a wave at Bendalong Beach.
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BIG
BOARD : LCDR Al Brown on his way to a second place finish
in the longboard competition.
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Photos:
LAC/W Euan Grant
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Two
out of three titles wasn’t bad for the Navy during the recent
NSW Tri-Service Surfing Championships at Bendalong Beach, NSW.
AB Jordan Dank, of 723 Squadron, pulled off some spectacular manoeuvres
to win the shortboard competition, while LCDR Steve Johnson took
out the longboard title.
However, in the team event, Army managed to hang on to score an
unlikely victory over Navy in second place and Air Force third.
The quality of surfing displayed throughout the competition was
outstanding with a noticeable improvement in standard from last
year’s inaugural event.
For the shortboarders, aerial manoeuvres including 360’s and chop
hops were the flavour while the long boarders carved through bottom
turns and cut-backs.
The event was held in near perfect conditions at Bendalong Beach
with pumping 4-6 ft waves and light offshore breeze greeting the
competitors on day one. During breaks between heats, many competitors
took on chunkier, barrelling waves further down the beach.
Some scored smoking tubes, much to the cheer of the crowd. Others
were flogged on the sandbank after a trip over the falls, with
the occasional snapped board, and even bigger cheers from the
crowd. Navy surfers took three out of the top four places in the
shortboard competition with Mitchell Warner third and Daniel Williamson
fourth behind AB Dank.
In the longboard division the two outstanding (and oldest) surfers
of the competition, LCDRs Johnson and Al Brown, took out the first
two places.
While the Navy may not have won the competition this time, few
who attended would argue that there is a better or louder cheer
squad (officials) anywhere in
the ADF.
In the wake of the competition, the Navy Surfing Association is
looking for more members, both male and female, at all experience
levels.
Club events are held monthly at locations varying between Sydney
and Nowra.
If you are interested in joining, please contact CMDR Peter Tedman
at peter.tedman@defence.gov.au
or LCDR Stephen Penny at stephen.penny@defence.gov.au
to find out more.
