The Australian Surf Championships Get Underway

The Australian Surf Championships get underway in Port Macquarie today with an opening ceremony to mark the start of the event.

Longboard and Logger divisions will be the first to hot the water tomorrow with the Australian Para Surfing Titles, the Australian Bodyboard Titles and the Australian Shortboard Titles to follow.

Surfing Australia Contest Director, Glen Elliott said: “We’re expecting light northerly winds for the start of the championships. First up are the Open Men’s and Open Women’s Longboard and Logger divisions, followed by the hotly contested Juniors. Conditions are looking small and clean, which is great for the longboarders. We have an action-packed fortnight ahead with plenty of after-surf entertainment at our official venue, the Bonny Hills Beach Hotel and we encourage everyone to come down and mingle after each day’s competition wraps up.”

Landen Smales (Noosa Heads, QLD) made history last year with a perfect heat score in the Under 18 Logger competition.

“Last year I was stoked to surf a perfect heat and get two 10-point rides in my Logger semi final. It’s not something that happens a lot in surfing and it was the first time someone has done it in the event’s history. To do this at Aussie titles was pretty awesome. After surfing my perfect semi final, I went on to take home two Aussie titles in the Under 18 Logger and Longboard,” Smales said.

“I love heading south to Port. It’s always a great opportunity for a road trip and to surf our way down the coast. There are so many different breaks and options for waves at Port and I’m really looking forward to it. Bonny Hills is a sick log wave so hopefully the contest has a day there.”

There’s also $18,000 in prize money up for grabs across the below blue ribbon divisions, with the winner taking all:

Prize money:
Open Mens Shortboard $4,000
Open Womens Shortboard $4,000
035 Mens Shortboard $1,000
035 Womens Surfmasters $1,000
Open Mens Longboard $2,000
Open Womens Longboard $2,000
Open Mens Logger $1,000
Open Womens Logger $1,000
Open Mens Bodyboard $1,000
Open Womens Bodyboard $1,000

Australian Surf Championships – Port Macquarie, NSW (Aug 4 – 21)

• Opening Ceremony: August 4
• Australian Longboard Titles: August 5 – 12
• Australian Para Surfing Titles: August 13
• Australian Bodyboard Titles: August 14 – 16
• Australian Shortboard Titles: August 17 – 21

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

The Australian Surf Championships are proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW as well as Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Le Tan, Stroud Homes, Bonny Hills Beach Hotel, Jim Beam, Stoddart Group, One Agency North Haven and Surfing NSW.