Back to the future for Cronulla surfers

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Words and image by John Veage

Photo caption: Finalists Fletch Hayllar, Jordan Widenstrom, Charlie Chegwidden,- Matt Gall, Jay Brown and Zac McMartin with organiser Dan Larter.

Cronulla Sharks Boardriders club started 46 years ago when surfboards only had one or two fins and leg ropes were a new invention so it was back to the future last weekend when they ran their inaugural Cronulla Retro Competition.

There was only one rule, all surfers had to ride a pre-1985 surfboard.

In 1978 when they first put on a club singlet Australia’s Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew was the men’s world champion and Hawaii’s Lynn Boyer the women’s and the great Mark Richards was just about to go on his three world championship run riding his twin fin.

Unsurprisingly the twin fin featured heavily on the weekend with five of the six finalists choosing to ride one. Fletch Hayllar was the lone single fin surfer riding a M’Coy classic single.

With the help of sponsor RB99 who ran the BBQ and Hairyman Brewery Dan Larter event organiser said $1500 dollars was raised to put surfers through a Mental Health First Aid course.

Event Winner: Jay Brown – Photo: J Veage.

It was an open event but it was two Cronulla club champions who fought it out in the one meter waves at the North Cronulla Alley, with Jay Brown just edging out Jordan Widenstrom for the cash and getting first plaque on the perpetual trophy.

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.

Elouera Masters Victory

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Elouera Boardriders won the Masters Division at the Woodhill Estate Agents SURFTAG on Sunday in pumping 4-5 foot waves at North Curl Curl Beach.

The team beat a star-studded North Narrabeen outfit that included former world champ Damien Hardman and World tour surfers Nathan Webster and Aust O50 champ Brett Bannister.

Captain Luke Palmer said Tag team surfing is all about time management so that’s what they concentrated on.

“We have a big group of older surfers in our club and we had to dig deep to come up with a team and this win shows the depth we have”

Cronulla Girls Boardriders finished in third position behind Long Reef and North Narrabeen which is the clubs best ever SURFTAG result.

Cronulla Sharks Boardriders and Elouera both finished in equal 13th position in the Men’s Division.