The Inaugural
NEWCASTLE BODYSURFING CHALLENGE
presented by
BODYSURFING AUSTRALIA Inc.
7th August 2005

RESULTS AND WRAP.

BODYSURFING AUSTRALIA Inc. made it's way to Newcastle on Sunday the 7th of August 2005 for The Inaugural NEWCASTLE BODYSURFING CHALLENGE that saw 40 of Australia's best Bodysurfers take to the cool winter waters to compete for this new contest's perpetual trophy.

The conditions were solid 3 foot swell from the south with light offshore winds all day giving the Bodysurfers clean lines and open tubes to show their skills on both lefts and right hand breaking waves at both ends of the contest area. The water was 17 degrees and the sun shone all day.

Several local Newcastle Bodysurfers were competing for the first time including Sydney Olympics Swimming Bronze Medalist, Justin Norris - who went on to eventually win the final.

Justin scraped through his heat earlier but showed his incredible fitness and honed his skills from watching some of the more experienced surfers, progressing through to the quarter finals, semis and eventually the final.

Stand outs for the day were the best TUBE RIDE by Alex Deura of Wollongong, who picked up a winding left hander in the very first heat of the day, disappearing for 5 seconds before coming out cleanly - and the BEST WAVE went to local Newcastle Bodysurfer, Garth McGregor.

Two Ladies competed amongst the fellas and Jemma Burtonwood from Newcastle Surf Club used her local knowledge to force a place in the quarter finals. Also newly discovered Bodysurfing Superstar and Grandmother, Sybil Walsh, from Cromer on Sydney's Northern Beaches made the men fight hard to advance from her heat taking off on some of the day's bigger set waves.

Several Newcastle Bodysurfing and Surfing Legends competed namely Greg Mayers who was unlucky in his heat and Stratis Cristofis, who wowed the crowed with his incredible wave riding skills without using any equipment - no flippers!

After the dust settled, the final six Bodysurfers were Justin Norris, Peter Sperling, Matthew Kent, David Walker, Jimmy Leayr and Bodysurfing Australia Inc President, Don McCredie.

The half hour final was possibly the best heat of the day and saw Coogee Bodysurfer, Peter Sperling and Justin Norris fight out who could stay the furthest south just inside the contest area to pick off several of the larger right hand breaking lines that started pouring through as the tide got lower.

Matt Kent from Redhead also showed his wave selection skills as he started the final at the very north end of the area and made his way south to sit amongst the right handers. Jimmy Leayr from Newcastle and David Walker from Munmorah sat inside where the bulk of the set waves were easier to pick off. But it was the superior fitness of Justin Norris that gave him the vital edge to get to the bigger sets that broke for a longer distance and made room for more maneuvers that got the nod from the judges. Peter Sperling pipped Don McCredie on a count back for 2nd.

The Inaugural
NEWCASTLE BODYSURFING CHALLENGE 2005

Big thanks to our judges and support staff and volunteers.

And many thanks to Newcastle SLSC who provided exceptional hospitality and food.

A huge thanks you to our sponsors for this event whom without them we could not have had such a great day.

ODYSSEY 20/20 SUNGLASSES
SOLID BODYBOARD
INKQUIP
SO WICKED BOOKSHOP
QUIZNOS SUB
BRITZ N PIECES - WAHU
HUNTER VALLEY CHIROPRACTIC CENTRE
EGO SUN SENSE
HYDRO