Sports
Riding high and low
By Andrew Stackpool

Edition 4907, May 3, 2007
 
SUPER SWIRL: LAC Matt Browning from 2OCU competing in a shortboard heat during the NSW inter-Service surfing competition at Birubi Point near Newcastle.
Photo by LACW Sonja Inderwisch
 
Inset: CPL Benjamin Mawby does a headstand on his board during the team event.
Photo by LACW Veronica McKenna
 
Near perfect conditions, the local knowledge of some of its team members and LAC Matt Browning’s best barrel win were not enough for Air Force in the recent inter-Service surfing championships.

Despite some outstanding individual performances, the laurels went to Navy with 210 points from Army with 180 and Air Force with 156.

ATV Jordan Dank from HMAS Albatross won the shortboard finals, while Army’s GNR Jeremy White and CPL Rebecca White took the longboard and women’s events respectively.

However, the two Services did not have it all their own way as Air Force took fifth in the longboard and 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th in the shortboard.

Team captain CPL Tim Galvin from RAAF Base Williamtown said the result was good as it was the most number of finalists Air Force has had in the event.

Hosted by Air Force, more than 76 waxed-up ADF surfers turned out for the competition, which was held at One Mile Beach and then Birubi Beach, north of Newcastle, NSW, from March 26-30.

CPL Galvin said the conditions over the period were almost perfect, although they did produce some challenges.

“On Tuesday we had 3-4ft [waves], with cross-shore winds and it was overcast,” he said.

“Then on Wednesday we had near perfect conditions with 4-6ft waves, sunny and with offshore winds.

“On Thursday we had great conditions with good waves, [back to] 3-4ft, sunny and with offshore winds.

“We had a couple of broken boards and on Wednesday some of the competitors struggled to get their minimum three waves because of the size of the swell.

“We got lots of barrels for the comp, though,” he said.

Despite Air Force being relegated to minor place-getters, CPL Gal vin said he was pleased with the outcome.

“I was very impressed with the level of surfing that has represented Air Force this year in both longboard and shortboard divisions,” he said.

“The NSW tri-Service surfing comp has continued to grow in popularity since its inception in April 2004 with over 76 competitors this year.”

Navy will be hosting the 2008 competition, so surfers who could not make this year’s event have plenty of time to get into competition shape.