PARK BEACH, COFFS HARBOUR (SUNDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2022): Cooper Davies (Noosa Heads) and Local Rosie Smart (Sawtell) have taken out the first qualifying event of the Australian Open of Surfing Tour – The Bonsoy Coffs Harbour Open, presented by Gage Roads – today following a giant day of action in picturesque 2 – 3 foot Park Beach conditions.
Davies (Noosa) took down Lennix Smith (Barrack Point) in the final, securing the win with a 7.17. Davies had a great campaign across the entire two days posting great scores in each of his 6 heats. Davies came up against Smith earlier in the quarter finals where Smith took the win posting an excellent 8.0 ride. The pair met again in the final and it was Davies who took the win. Smith surfed great throughout the event however just fell short of the victory today at Park Beach. Davies entered the event as the top seed in the open men and was stoked to be surfing great waves again. He mentioned in the final presentation, “It’s good to back down in Coffs Harbour, Love this place. See you at the next stop of the AOS in Coolum”. Davies walks away with $2,000 and top qualifying points heading into the second stop on the Australian Open of Surfing Tour Presented By Volkswagen.
In the Open women it was local Rosie Smart who kept control of the competition and dominated the event. Smart was a stand out over the two days as she rose to the conditions on offer. The conditions in the final slowed for the open women however Smart stayed busy catching 6 waves in total. It was her 6th and final wave that got her the lead and the overall win posting a 7.33. Rosie thanked her friends and family for supporting her journey and making their way down to the event. The local was stoked to take out the event and aims to sharpen her skills heading into the Bondi Grand Final. Raya Campbell (Coolangatta) finished the event runner up to Smart and showed a lot of great surfing ability throughout the competition. Campbell will still walk away from the event with $1,500 prize-money.
The prime location for the Coffs Harbour Open was Park Beach with backup locations of Macauleys, Diggers, Gallows and Sawtell beaches.
The entire Australian Open of Surfing Tour will feature three events. Having kicked off in Coffs Harbour this weekend, next weekend Surfing Queensland will host the second qualifier event – The Sunshine Coast Open – with the Tour coming down to the top 16 competitors battling it out at the Bondi Grand Final Open.
The prize pool for the AOS Tour is $50,000, a significant amount incentivising our future champions taking part in the Tour. It includes $10,000 equal prize money for the men’s and women’s winners at each qualifier and then $15,000 equal prize money for the men’s and women’s winners at the Bondi Grand Final.
In addition to a larger prize purse, thanks to Mad Mex, all events on the Australian Open of Surfing Tour will be webcast live through Youtube and the Surfing NSW Facebook.
The 2022 Australian Open of Surfing Tour, presented by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is proudly supported by Bonsoy, Gage Roads, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Mad Mex, Coffs Harbour Council, Coopers Surf, Waverley Council, Tracks Magazine and Oakberry
RESULTS:
Open Men
1 – Cooper Davies (Noosa Heads)
2 – Lennix Smith (Barrack Point)
3 – Dane Henry (Fingal Head)
4 – Jamie Thompson (North Narrabeen)
Open Women
1 – Rosie Smart (Sawtell)
2 – Raya Campbell (Coolangatta)
3 – Sasha Baker (Mudjimba)
4 – Kyla Whitfield (Warriewood)
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Australian Open of Surfing Tour, presented by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Qualifier One
Bonsoy Coffs Harbour Open, presented by Gage Roads – Complete
Qualifier Two
Sunshine Coast Open, 1-2 October 2022
Register via https://surfingqueensland.com.au/events/
Prize Money Breakdown: Equal Men and Women
1st Place $2,000.00
2nd Place $1,500.00
3rd Place $1,000.00
4th Place $500.00
Grand Final
Bondi Grand Final Open, 15 October 2022
Prize Money Breakdown: Equal Men and Women
1st Place $10,000.00
2nd Place $1,000.00
3rd Place $750.00
4th Place $500.00
$250 for all Grand Final competitors who do not place
