Testing conditions at Club North Haven Shortboard Titles

The 2024 Australian Shortboard Titles got underway at North Haven with Open Men’s heats contested in clean 2-3ft waves just north of the break wall.

New South Welshman Josh Stretton top-scored in round one of the Open Men’s with a heat total of 12.84, winning heat four in the process. Queenslander Ben Lorenston was second best in heat one with a 12.60 total and a 6.43 single wave score.

In the Open Women’s division, Kiera Buckpitt (NSW) was a clear standout in the early rounds, displaying powerful and precise rail work to post a 13.90 heat total that included a 7.17 single wave score for three big turns.

After lunch the Men’s division big guns came out to play with the likes of New South Welshman and ISA champion Dane Henry and Dom Thomas firing warning shots. Henry posted an 8-point ride in his heat whilst Thomas (8.67 points) posted the highest single wave score in heat two in round three.

In the Club North Haven Open Men’s semi finals it was Queenslander Ben Lorenston who impressed, nailing 7.33 on his opening ride in the first minute of semi final one to get out to a lead and nail the win. In the second semi it was again Dane Henry who looked the goods, posting a huge 8.83 single wave score to win through to the final along with Dom Thomas.

Amelie Bourke (NSW) and Ava Holland (VIC) caused the upset of the Women’s semis with heat totals of 11.10 and 8.80 respectively to upset eliminate Kiera Buckpitt and move into the final along with Freya Prumm (NSW) and Kaleisha Launders from Western Australia.

Contest Director Glen Elliott said: “Conditions have settled down quite a bit after one of the biggest east coast swells for many years hit the region this week. Light south-west winds made for great conditions and the level of surfing from the Open Men and Women was outstanding. We are excited to see what tomorrow brings.” 

Club North Haven Open Men’s and Women’s finals:

• Ben Lorenston QLD
• Luke Brumby QLD
• Dane Henry NSW
• Dom Thomas NSW
• Ava Holland NSW
• Freya Prumm NSW
• Kaleisha Launders WA
• Amelie Bourke NSW

SHORTBOARD DAY 2 RESULTS:

Club North Haven Open division and Over 35 division champions were crowned at North Haven as part of the 2024 Hyundai High Performance Centre Australian Surf Championships.

The huge east coast swell had dissipated overnight to create groomed conditions under offshore winds to crown Dane Henry and Freya Prumm as Open Men’s and Women’s Club North Haven Australian Shortboard champions.

World Junior champion Henry proving too good, putting on a display of aerial antics and powerful rail work to finish in front with a 16.90 heat total that included a 9.33 single wave score for a carve into backside rotation combo. 

Freya Prumm produced the clutch performance of the event thus far, nailing an 8-point ride in the last minute of the Club North Haven Open Women’s final to snatch victory. 

The age divisions also got underway with the Club North Haven Over 35’s first up and it was New South Welshman Shane Conwell coming out of the gates firing on all cylinders with a 15.83 heat total, with the highest single wave score of the round, an 8.33 doozy of a ride hander.

By the time the Over 35’s finals rolled around after lunch it was Victorian Joel Reid (12.24) and Talina Wilson (NSW) who emerged victorious. Wilson left it so late to clinch victory she had to wait on the beach after the hooter to hear the result, winning with her final wave to shore.

DAY 2 CHAMPIONS:
Club North Haven Open Men – Dane Henry (NSW)
Club North Haven Open Women – Freya Prumm (NSW)
Club North Haven Over 35 Men – Joel Reid (VIC)
Club North Haven Over 35 Women – Talina Wilson (NSW)

Amelie Bourke on her way to qualifying for the Club North Haven Open Women’s final. Credit: Kurt Polock / Surfing Australia

SHORTBOARD DAY 3 RESULTS:

The older age divisions of the Hyundai High Performance Centre Australian Surf Championships got underway at North Haven, which was affected by a northerly wind change overnight, challenging some of the best the Club North Haven Over 40’s, 45’s, 50’s, 55’s, 60’s from around the country.

Tasmania’s Dustin Hollick sent a warning to his fellow competitors in the Over 40’s and Over 45’s, top scoring in both divisions to win straight through to round three.

Hollick posted 12.77 and 13.57 heat totals respectively including a 7.67 single turn on his backhand.

“I was just trying to have fun out there, it was nice and clean early on before that northerly kicked in. The standard of surfing is really high in all the divisions so everyone’s pushing each other. You’ve got to be smart with waves selection and strategy out there,” Hollick said.

In the Club North Haven Over 50’s divisions, it was Scott Shindler (NSW) top scoring with a 15.23 heat total and a huge single wave score of 8.83. Greta Francis (NSW) top scored in the Women’s side of the Over 50’s with a 4.67 single wave score.

Another huge day of competition is expected with elder age divisions tomorrow. The forecast looks promising with a southerly change predicted to come through overnight.

Scott Lawrence looking good at North Haven. Credit: Kurt Polock / Surfing Australia

SHORTBOARD DAY 4 RESULTS:

The predicted southerly change came through overnight to greet competitors at North Haven with clean conditions. 

Wave quality was again not an issue with 2ft plus waves on offer for the Over 40’s and older divisions to show off their skills, and there was plenty of shredding to see. 

It was New South Welshman Paul Snow (13.57) along with Tasmanian Dustin Hollick (13.53) top scoring in the Club North Haven Over 45 Men’s division whilst Susan Levett (NSW) posted a 6.83 single wave score to take an early lead in the Club North Haven Over 60’s aggregate finals. The second and deciding final will decide the national champion.

In the Club North Haven Over 40 Men’s division it was again evergreen Tasmanian Hollick who was firing on all cylinders, displaying the classic speed, power, flow and placement elements to post an impressive 16-point heat total to move into the semi finals with Mitch Dawkins (NSW), Queensland’s Matt Clark and West Australian Andrew Sheridan.

Declan Lee Smith slicing and dicing his way to a good score at North Haven. Credit: Kurt Polock / Surfing Australia

SHORTBOARD DAY 5 RESULTS:

On another picture perfect day at North Haven, seven new Australian Champions were crowned from Over 40’s Men through to Over 60’s Women. 

The conditions were nearly identical to yesterday, with that lovely light offshore wind grooming the faces of waves breaking on three sepereate peaks for competitors at head height on the sets. 

There were so many amazing performances today it’s hard to pick just a few to highlight. Scott Schindler’s (NSW) buzzer beater in the Over 50 Men’s final was one moment to remember. Schindler needing a mid-range score with seconds to go took off on a wave on the inside peak and completed two strong turns to get the job done. He lay in the sand soaking up the moment as the score was read out. 

Belinda Koorey left her best performance until last in the Over 50’s Women’s final, lifting the level of surfing in the Final to rarely seen standards. The New South Wales shredder posted a huge 16.27 points including an 8.50 point single wave backhand banger. 

Then there was the little bloke from Tasmania Dustin Hollick. After setting the pace all event in both the Over 40 and 45 Men, Hollick didn’t have his best heat in the 40’s Final, finishing third before recovering in style to win the Over 45’s with a 15.66 point total. Hollick is Tasmania’s first shortboard Champion since 90’s Junior prodigy Dara Penfold. 

DAY 5 CHAMPIONS:
Over 40 Men – Shane Conwell (NSW)
Over 45 Men – Dustin Hollick (TAS)
Over 50 Men – Scott Schindler (NSW)
Over 50 Women – Belinda Koorey (NSW)
Over 55 Men – Ged Cook (NSW)
Over 60 Men – Rod Baldwin (NSW)
Over 60 Women – Susan Levett (NSW)

Scott Schindler won his Australian Title on the buzzer at North Haven. Credit: Kurt Polock / Surfing Australia 

For full results, please visit LiveHeats.