Photo: John Veage

Old surfers stand up

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Caption: Surfing Sutherland Shire Director Ian Spencer was dominant in the first O45 heat of the day in good waves at the Alley. Picture John Veage

The Volkswagen Cronulla Surf Masters Event was back in a big way this year, surfing at North Cronulla Beach for a day of action and activities.

Although the weather held its part of the bargain the competitors faced challenging conditions as the wind progressively picked up heat after heat until the final buzzer went off.

Conditions sat around the 3 ft mark early with the occasional good peak rolling through for competitors patiently sitting in the right spot at the right time.

The annual Volkswagen Surf Masters event continues to provide men and women aged 28 years and above with a competitive event against mates, and this year, the event held six divisions from O28 men and women, through to over 65 year old’s, reminding spectators that age is just a number.

In the 28’s Cronulla Boardriders champion Jordan Widenstrom kept the locals flag flying taking first in heat one with a total combination score of 11.00, and beating his own score in the final with a 14.00.

Widenstrom the defending champion said as the wind picked up it was hard to catch a decent wave and his local knowledge kept him going right and not catching the harder to score lefts.

In the O65’s Colum O’Leary might have finished third but he guessed how many chocolates Matt Callaghan Property had in a jar and took home a Mick Fanning soft board.

In the over 55 men, David Hammond dominated heats’ one and two before being dubbed champion whilst stand out over 28 women’s champion Talina Wilson took out her final against competitor Anna Martin.

Older surfers get on board

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Words and Image: John Veage:

The Volkswagen Surfmasters Cronulla is back on the Bate Bay beaches this October 21, supported by Cronulla RSL for an epic day of competition.

The one-day event will see over 70 of NSW’s best shortboarders aged over 28 compete.

The annual event showcases the states talent-pool of masters surfers and is highly regarded by former professionals to local grassroots legends who are drawn to the Sutherland Shire to compete each year. Although, the surfing is just the beginning! With on-site activations and giveaways occurring throughout the day, the Volkswagen Cronulla Surf Masters is an event for everyone.

First held in 2010 to foster the passion and healthy lifestyle associated with surfing for over 28-year-olds, the partnership between Volkswagon and Surfing NSW has remained strong.
The event will see five age divisions being contested with the O-28 Men and Women, O-35 Men, O-45 Men and Women and O-55 and 65 Men competing.

Kash is King

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Cronulla Boardriders Club junior champion Kash Brown has been crowned the U16 winner at finals day of the 2023 Rip Curl Search at Merewether Beach, Newcastle on Sunday.

Brown was the only Surfing Sutherland Shire finalist but his clubmates Grace Gosby and Sonny Leong both made the semi finals of the prestigious junior event in their age divisions.

In the U16 girls NSW champion Gosby had the top score of a 7 but fell short by .03 and only needed a 3.43 to actually win.

A busy Brown dominated his final scoring two 8 plus rides and comboing the entire finals field.

The Rip Curl GromSearch series began as a single day event in 1999 and has developed into a world-wide series providing groms with the opportunity to surf and test their skills against the best junior talent in their country.

National Final competitors will be selected from the 2023 GromSearch events, with the top three competitors from each location guaranteed automatic entry.

Grace under pressure

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(by: John Veage)

Cronulla Boardriders champion surfer Grace Gosby has won the 2023 Woolworths Junior NSW State Title at Corrimal Beach.

Winners were crowned in four divisions with 15 year old Grace taking her first Under 16 women’s crown.

Grace, who also surfs In the Cronulla Girls Boardrider’s club, was almost lost for words as she took out the title, dominating with a score of 7.0 and a 6.5.

The Cronulla High School student performed well all competition but it was in the final where she gave it everything and her highest scoring individual wave of the competition and her highest heat total of 13.5 saw her finish in top spot and chaired up the beach.

Grace said it was so good to get her first big win and be the U16 girls NSW state champion.

“The conditions were tough leading up to finals day but on finals day the waves were pretty fun.

“The girls pushed me to go harder and I couldn’t have done it without the competition. I now qualify for the Australian titles to represent NSW at the end of the year at Phillip Island so my short term goals now are to surf and train as much as possible so I can give it a good shot and surf my best at the Australian Titles in December,” she said.

“My long term goal is to keep progressing with my surfing, do a few more pro junior comps next year and perhaps one day surf on the CT surfing tour so I can travel the world with my surfboard.”

Grace’s Cronulla High School team made the the NSW Junior Girls School final but met an in form Byron Bay team, finishing second.

Cronulla Point surfers ‘helping a mate’

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When Cronulla Point Boardriders Life Member Mark Rogers  was diagnosed with Stage 3 Esophageal Cancer on July 13 this year his world turned upside down in every way.

Most often, esophageal cancer is a treatable disease but not a curable one and the overall survival rate is low because patients tend to develop symptoms and signs late in their disease when the cancer has already spread.

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