By
Andrew Stackpool
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Longboard
champion Corporal Murray Stabler carves up the surf.
Photo by LAC Euan Grant
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Another
hard day at the office for “board” members of
the Air Force team at the NSW inter-service surf-riding
carnival, at which the team finished second.
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Leading
Aircraftman Euan Grant with “toes on the nose”
on his way to sixth place in the shortboard competition.
Photo by AB Helen Frank
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CORPORAL
Murray Stabler, of 2OCU, is the ADF’s longboard supremo after
taking the title at the inaugural NSW inter-service surf-riding
carnival.
Twenty-four Air Force personnel were among 72 ADF surfers who
turned out at One Mile Beach, Port Stephens, and Barubi Beach,
Stockton, from April 21-23.
Air Force Team Manager and President of the Williamtown Surf Riders
Club Corporal Grant Robinson said the contest went “unbelievably
well”.
“We had fantastic weather and conditions, with the first
two days providing a 4-5ft swell and challenging surf,” he
said. “Our team performed extremely well, although the Navy
were just a little stronger and experienced. They took home the
team’s trophy but we pushed them all the way.”
On the first day of the competition the swell was up. The big
waves had everyone’s careful attention and produced some
explosive surfing. The next day, One Mile was unsurfable with
no waves, so the event was moved to Barubi.
The team challenge took up the afternoon and Navy and Air Force
continually swapped the lead until the third heat of the longboard.
CPL Stabler’s win in the longboard final and an encouragement
award to Leading Aircraftman Justin Davey, of 3SQN, were the stand-outs
in the Air Force team. Other Air Force notables were Wing Commander
Steve Richards, of RAAF Base Glenbrook, and Leading Aircraftman
Mal Biscoe, of 381ECSS, who finished 5th and 6th respectively
in the longboard division. In the shortboard contest, civilian
Tim Galvin, of FACDU, finished fourth to become the Air Force
team’s highest placed shortboard rider, and Leading Aircraftman
Euan Grant, of 81WG, finished 6th.
Other notable performers were Corporal Trent Tscheuschler, of
3SQN, Luke Moore, of 77SQN, and Corporal Andrew Hogg, of 2OCU,
in the shortboard division.
“In the longboards, Leading Aircraftman Brad Spencer from
3SQN performed extremely well. He and Tim Gavin did even better
than the results show, given it was not their most favoured event,”
CPL Robinson said.
“I’d like to congratulate all our team for a great job
and also the other guys. Hopefully, we’ll all be back next
year, maybe with even more riders.”
