The Port Stephens Surf Festival saw a change of pace as the opening rounds of the 2021 NSW SUP Titles kicked off in two-foot conditions at Birubi Beach.
After missing his Open Men’s round one heat, Kai Bates (Mollymook) made up for lost ground as he tackled his requalification heat. Bates executed a chain of fast snaps and carves and finished the requal with a massive 18.17 two-wave heat total.
Blaire Moore (Woonoona) made his presence felt in the Open Men’s division as he claimed an impressive victory in his first heat. Moore mustered up a decent 14.67 two-wave total in the heat to cement himself a spot straight into the semi-final.
Indy Rose (Avalon) sent a warning shot over the heads of his opposition as he notched up a decent 16.17 two-wave heat total in the Junior SUP division. Rose now holds the upper hand going into his second final. Rose also took out the Junior Men’s Title in the Technical Race.
Following on from an Open Women’s victory in the 14km SUP Marathon, Terrene Black (North Entrance) made her mark on the same division in the Open Women’s surfing division at Birubi today. Black managed to post a 16.23 two-wave total in her heat to claim a win in her first of two finals. Black will face off against the same female surfers in her second final.
James Casey (Collaroy) managed to take top honours in the Marathon Race, finishing in a time of one hour, one minute and four seconds. Casey backed up the win with a victory in his first Open Men’s heat in the surfing and will surf again in the semi-finals.
Both Casey and Black took out the Technical Race today in their respective divisions and have cemented their spot into the 2021 Australian SUP Titles.
Over 170 competitors are expected to compete in the six-day Port Stephens Surf Festival, which will see longboards run from 29 April – 1 May and the SUP’s follow from 2 May – 4 May.
The two-state title events will form the Port Stephens Surf Festival and decide the NSW Teams for the upcoming Australian SUP Titles and the Australian Longboard Titles.
2021 will replicate the format from previous years which engages a second chance format across all divisions. However, depending on the number of competitors, some divisions may be reduced to straight knockout.
For the second time, Surfing NSW will be adding a fun-filled tag team event. Each team will be made up of four surfers. The team must be made up of one Junior (male or female) and at least one Over-40 competitor (male or female).
Historically, competitors have come from as far south as Tomakin and as far north as Tweed Heads to enter the event.
The 2021 Port Stephens Surf Festival is proudly supported by Australian Skin Cancer Clinics, Crest Café, Gildan, Port Stephens Council and Surfing NSW.
Marathon Results
Open Men Marathon
1 – James Casey
2 – Nathan Cross
3 – Jeremie Camgrand
4 – Marshall Kane
Open Women Marathon
1 – Terrene Black
2 – Amy Blackmore
Over-40 Men
1 – David Freeman
2 – Robin Heaton
Over-40 Women
1 – Amanda Gregory
Over-50
1 – Mike Hoyes
2 – Chriss Cross
3 – Chris Tihg
4 – Richard Finlay-Jones
5 – Niki Day
Juniors
1 – Indy Rose
Competitors cross-step and weave their way to QS victory and World Longboard Tour wild cards confirmed
Kai Ellice-Flint (Byron Bay) and Tully White (Manly) have claimed victory at the 2023 Manly Longboard Classic presented by Okanui, World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Qualifying Series event (LQS). As the second and...