Snapper Rocks Surfriders Club has taken out both the Open Women’s Shortboard and Salty Girls U12 Mini Shredders divisions at the inaugural Seas the Day women’s surf festival at Kingscliff Beach.
It was another spectacular day despite choppy conditions for the finals of the fun tag team competition.
LEBA Ladybirds scored the best wave in Open Women’s Shortboard but it wasn’t enough to overcome Snapper Rocks SRC 1.
Shaye Leeuwendal from Snapper Rocks SRC said: “I felt more nervous than usual because it was very much based on luck today. Who got the wave that was going to break, or if a wave popped up in front of someone. I just wanted to make my team proud. I hope there are many more events like this. Everyone is just so supportive.”
Teammate, Lucy Tandler said: “It’s just really inspiring seeing so many women getting involved. I didn’t even know that there are surf clubs that are purely women. It’s just really cool seeing all of them coming out and supporting each other.”
Noosa Malibu Club was a standout in the longboard division with 15-year-old Larita Monroe posting the highest single wave score in the final.
Monroe said: “It was tricky out there. Just to get that wave to try and milk it and stay on it was difficult. Everyone was doing so well. It’s all about representing women surfing and how far we’ve come. It’s just so great to surf out there with all the girls and have a good time.”
The U18 Women’s Shortboard division came down to the buzzer with a tight battle between Alley Kittens and LEBA Ladybirds, the latter taking the win.
Seas the Day Head Judge, Glen Elliott said overall the event was a huge success.
Elliott said: “The waves were small but consistent and we even had whales frolicking in the background. The most inspirational division and my personal favourite has been the Under 12 groms. The amazing memories that would have been created between dad and daughter would last a lifetime. The future is looking bright for women’s surfing in Australia.”
Beth Nevill, whose five-year-old daughter Ailish was among those competing, summed it up perfectly.
Nevill said: “Imagine this being your first experience of women’s surf competitions. It has been so special. It wasn’t like this for all of us who surfed growing up. It was a very different culture and it’s so nice to have this. All these boys and families coming down to support the girls. It’s just amazing. That’s what blows me away.”
With more than 200 women and young girls hitting the waves over the two-day event, Seas the Day is the world’s biggest female participation surf event.
About 12,000 people attended the festival with organisers planning to run the event annually making it bigger and better for years to come.
Other highlights of the weekend included an excellent 9.0 ride from Surfing Australia Pathway Coach and 2005 World Champion Chelsea Hedges and a stellar performance from 1993 World Champion Pauline Menczer, who led her team to victory in the Celebrity Surf Challenge against 7x World Champion Layne Beachley, TV celebrities and Gold Coast Suns AFLW players.
SEAS THE DAY – FINALS RESULTS
Open Women’s Shortboard
1. Snapper Rocks SRC 1 (12.17)
2. LEBA Ladybirds (9.77)
3. Kingscliff BRC 2 (8.07)
4. Kingscliff BRC 1 (6.60)
Open Women’s Longboard
1. Noosa Malibu Club (13.67)
2. Salty Girls Surf (9.20)
3. Girls Boardriders Fraternity (7.93)
4. Coastal Abode Lady Loggers (5.63)
U18 Women’s Shortboard
1. LEBA Ladybirds (13.40)
2. Alley Kittens (13.07)
3. Snapper Rocks SRC 2 (7.00)
4. Snapper Rocks SRC 1 (6.06)
Salty Girls U12 Mini Shredders
1. Snapper Rocks SRC 1 (12.74)
2. Coastal Abode Shredders (10.93)
3. Salty Girls Mini Shredders (7.61)
4. Byron Bay BRC – Coral Seas (7.60)
About the event:
Seas the Day aims to encourage women to compete in a pressure-free environment alongside a program filled with females of the surfing industry, great food, live music and entertainment.
There’s more than $50,000 in cash, prizes and giveaways, including $1,000 to winning teams in each division (except U12s who win a Salty Girls five-week surfing clinic).
Seas the Day is proudly supported by funding through the NSW Government’s Regional Events Acceleration Fund, which aims to support the social and economic recovery and prosperity of Regional NSW.
Seas the Day is also proudly supported by Tweed Shire Council, ACCIONA, YETI, Jim Beam, Raww, BC™ Protein Snacks, Sunly Seltzer, Ruffie Rustic Food, FCS, Surfing Mums Australia and media partner Tracks Magazine.
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