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CUT-BACK
KING: More high seas action will be seen at this year’s tri-service surfing
competition at Bendalong Beach.Photo: LAC Euan Grant |
By CPL Damian Shovell
The
Navy Surfriders Association is set to turn the tide on last year’s loss to
Army when the third annual ADF tri-service surfing competition commences at Bendalong
Beach on the southern New South Wales coast from March 27-31.
Spokesman
CMDR Peter Tedman said preparations were well in hand to wrestle back the mantle
that Navy had won during the first year of competition, and said the ranks of
Navy’s surfers had grown to more than 100 since the competition commenced
in 2004 when the team totalled only 35.
“We’ll have a stronger
side than we had last year – we’ll have an equally strong shortboard
side, and improved longboard side – and this year we’ll have a female
team,” he said.
Although late in the season, conditions on the South
Coast promise exciting and challenging surf with a traditional 1.5 to 2 metre
swell, a favourable set and reliable onshore breezes.
After a warm-up on
March 27, the carnival proper starts on the Tuesday with the teams’ events,
while the individual short and longboarders will compete on the Thursday and Friday.
The
inclusion of a Navy female team means that for the first time all three services
will be represented in competition with four female surfers each, and CMDR Tedman
said their welcome inclusion helped to promote the sport to all ages and genders.
“Shortboards
attract the younger surfers and longboards are more popular with older surfers
– the ADF’s best longboarder is well into his 50s and is a terrific
surfer.”
CMDR Tedman said selection for this year’s competition
had already commenced at the association’s monthly competitions, which alternate
between their two talent heartlands at Sydney’s Eloura Beach, near Cronulla,
and HMAS Albatross’s Werri Beach near Gerringong.
“We structure
[competition] so that it doesn’t matter if you’re a really good surfer
or you’re really ordinary – we structure it so you’re surfing against
similar people and everyone has a lot of fun,” CMDR Tedman said.
“We’ve
got some guys who are good enough to go out and make a living out of it, and we’ve
got some people who can barely stand up.”
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CARVING
IT UP: Navy expects to take back the mantle of ADF’s best at this year’s
tri-service surfing competition.
Photo: LAC Euan Grant |
An
additional competition held in February also provided a chance for those who couldn’t
make it to the monthly meets to compete for selection.
Adding to the excitement
of the sport in 2006 is the anticipated announcement by the ADF Sports Council
that surfing will be recognised as an approved ADF sport, following the council’s
direction to complete three test events to prove surfing is a viable sport.
“This
next event at the end of March is the final of those three.”
So
the expectation is at the conclusion of that event we will gain recognition as
a Navy sport.”
This will then allow the ADF to field a team against other
challengers.
“The police and fire brigade have particularly large
teams in New South Wales, and we’ve surfed against them informally, but once
we’re recognised we can go out with the banners and challenge other clubs
– and there are 20 or 30 in Sydney alone.”
CDRE Tedman said in
the future he hopes to see the association spread to all states and territories,
where monthly and interservice competitions can continue.
Any personnel
from across Australia who are interested in joining the association, are strongly
encouraged to contact CDRE Tedman at peter.tedman@defence.gov.au.
