Finalists decided in challenging conditions at the Australian Longboard Titles

 Finalists have been decided in the Over 40 Women, Over 65 Men, Over 50 Women and Over 45 Men divisions at the 2024 Australian Longboard Titles.

Event Manager Rohan Fell said it was a challenging day for almost every division: “Athletes faced larger conditions today with a new swell arriving overnight. We welcomed some of the top seeds back into the draw for Round 3 heats. The four-to-six-foot sets pushing competitors to battle it out and really put their skills to the test. The wind slightly backed off throughout the day, resulting in some epic rides and dramatic finishes.”

In Over 60 Men, Tony Rae (Hastings Point, NSW) used his local knowledge to his advantage, posting the highest single wave score of the day with an excellent 8.50.

In Over 40 Men, Ben Williams (Biggera Waters , QLD) delivered a standout performance, finding two solid waves in the testing conditions. He posted an early 6.00, then backed it up with an 8.17, securing the highest heat total of the day with 14.17 to take the win. Three-time world champion Josh Constable (Noosa Heads , QLD) also put in a strong display of quality longboarding to finish second and progress to the semis.

Andrea Bohn (Freshwater, NSW), the oldest female competitor at age 66, said: “It was thrilling to win and get through to the final but it was also awesome to surf with three other women who were all over 65 from different states in such big and difficult conditions.

“We’ve never had this many women competing. Five years ago, there were only two divisions—Over 35 or Open. I think this is a great step for the future. Most of us are trying to encourage other women to get back into competitive surfing. We still have that joy. We all come from different paths—whether shortboarding or taking up surfing later in life. Once they get hooked, they love it.”

Semifinals will continue tomorrow for the Over 70 Men, Over 40 Men, Over 55 Men, Over 50 Men and Over 60 Men ahead of the finals.

Conditions are expected to ease slightly overnight, with the final day of competition scheduled to start at 7am.

Australian Longboard Titles – Finals matchups:

O65 Men – Final
Bruce Dunne (Coolum Beach, QLD)
Tony Abood (Kingscliff, NSW)
Jonathon Lavers (Cronulla, NSW)
Brian Kuit (Torquay, VIC)

O50 Women – Final
Kate Perry (Yandina Creek, QLD)
Judy Dann (Two Rocks, WA)
Juanita Read (Wakerley, QLD)
Sue McComb (Caves Beach, NSW)

O45 Men – Final
Liam McCafferty (McCrae, VIC)
Mark Miccoli (Patterson Lakes, VIC)
Paul Burke (Dunsborough, WA)
Michael Paxton (Dodges Ferry, TAS)

O60 Women – Final
Kate Perry (Yandina Creek, QLD)
Anne Duncan (Bungawalbyn, NSW)
Andrea Bohm (Freshwater, NSW)
Sian Adnam (Cape Woolamai, VIC)

O40 Women – Final
Honey Bec (Moffat Beach, QLD)
Trista Vallentine (Tallebudgera, QLD)
Eglantine Balland (Carrum, VIC)
Wendy Stevenson (Banora Point, NSW)

About the 2024 Australian Surf Championships:
The longboard divisions of the 2024 Australian Surf Championships are being held as a stand-alone event on Bundjalung Country, along the stunning Tweed Coast in northern New South Wales.

As the longest-running event on the Australian surfing calendar, with athletes representing all six surfing states, this year’s competition promises to be thrilling. The six-day event will take place at some of the region’s most renowned surf spots, including Cabarita Beach, Kingscliff Beach, Fingal Beach, and Duranbah Beach.

Winners of the Open Men’s and Women’s divisions will earn a spot in the Australian surfing team, the Irukandjis, for next year’s International Surfing Association (ISA) World Longboard Championship. Additionally, all division winners will receive a longboard-specific coaching experience at the Hyundai Surfing Australia HPC.

Australian Longboard Titles – divisions:
Under 18 Junior Men
Under 18 Junior Women
Open Men
Open Women
Grand Masters Women O40
Grand Masters Men O40
Kahunas Men O45
Grand Kahunas Men O50
Women O50
Dukes Men O55
Grand Dukes O60
O60 Women
Legends Men O65
Grand Legends Men O70
O70 Women

Please refer to the 2024 Surfing Australia Rule Book for the most up-to-date longboard criteria.

Schedule:

• Opening Ceremony:
  Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024
• Competition Windows:
  WINDOW 1: Friday, September 13, 2024 – Saturday, September 14, 2024
  Divisions: Open Men & Women, U18 Junior Men & Women
  Presentation: To be held after competition on Saturday, September 14, 2024
  WINDOW 2: Saturday, September 14, 2024 – Tuesday, September 17, 2024
  Divisions: Over 40 Men & Women, Over 45 Men & Over 50 Men & Women, Over 55 Men, Over 60 Men & Women, Over 65 Men & Over 70 Men & Women
  Presentation: To be held after the competition on Tuesday, September 17, 2024

For more information, please visit australiansurfchampionships.com/longboard.

Entry to the Australian Titles is by state qualification or invitation as a wildcard.

The Australian Titles are supported by the Hyundai Surfing Australian High Performance Centre (HPC), Jim Beam and Surfers for Climate.

Honey Bec from Moffat Beach, QLD in action at the 2024 Australian Longboard Titles. Credit: Hannah Jessup / Surfing Australia