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| In the soup By Andrew Stackpool Volume 49, No. 4, March 22, 2007 |
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Twenty waxed-up hopefuls - 12 short-boarders and eight long - turned out for the team selection trials at Catherine Hill Bay, near RAAF Base Williamtown, on February 23. The main event will be held from March 26-30 at Anna Bay or One Mile Beach, north of the base, depending on the prevailing conditions. Air Force will host the event, which promises a spectacle for competitor and spectator alike. One Mile Beach is a renowned spot with good wave shape and size, offshore winds, an offshore set making for better runs, warm waters and protection from the big southerly Tasman swells. This is the fourth championships, following the inaugural competition, brainchild of the Williamtown Surf Riders’ Club, which was held in April 2004. 2005 short-board finalist and team captain CPL Tim Galvin from RAAF Base Williamtown said that 11 of the 20 were repeat performers and that he was asking for more surfers to come forward. “Once again, we’re missing a lot of people due to work commitments,” he said. “However, we do have a couple of first-timers who are very keen to be there and get involved.” “We haven’t finalised the team yet as we are hoping for more starters, particularly female surfers.” OIC FLGOFF Ian Coker said he was hoping to get 24 starters into the surf for the comp. CPL Galvin said that conditions at Catherine Bay [for the trials] were not overly exciting, with offshore winds providing a 2ft (.6m) swell, which, however, made for a “fun, punchy little wave”. “We had a good mix of talent,” he said. SQNLDR Matt Hetherington (long-board) from RAAF Base Richmond got the only barrel of the day and he and CPL Scott MacCallum (short-board) from RAAF Base Williamtown are favourites for the competition. In 2006, during his run in the long-board finals, SQNLDR Hetherington performed a head-stand that had the spectators on their feet, cheering. CPL MacCallum, who was the second place-getter in the short-board finals in 2005, was eliminated in 2006 in the early short-board heats, but competed in the long-board and pulled off a brilliant 360-degree spin on a borrowed eight-foot board. “Overall, CPL Luke Freeman from RAAF Base Williamtown will be the one to watch out for this year,” CPL Galvin said. For more information, contact CPL Tim Galvin on (02) 4964 6323.
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