Newcastle Bodysurfing Experience
2005 (06) Hydro/BSC Bodysurfing Challenge
Narrabeen Beach, 25th Feb 2006 Conditions: Early 3' offshore high-tide shorebreak Later: N/E onshore messy 3-4' sucking sandbank contest photos herePlayer exits early: Kenny rips the final!
It was a beautiful sunrise this morning and a light offshore wind feathered the 2-3' barreling waves when the first of 8 heats hit the water at 7am for the 2nd Annual Hydro/BSC Bodysurfing Challenge that had been postponed from November last year. 32 of Australia's best Bodysurfers gathered at Narrabeen Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches to display their skills in the fast growing Surf Sport where heats consist of 4 athletes/bodysurfers who have 20 minutes to catch 10 waves and a panel of three judges score each wave. The defending champion and newly crowned 2006 World Bodyboarding Champion, Ben Player from Avalon showed in his heat he wanted his name etched on the trophy for the second consecutive time - pulling off several high scoring 'belly 360' maneuvers but failed to advance through his quarter final that was won by Sean Kenny and saw Bodysurfing Australia Inc founding member, Greg Cogar, finish second pushing Ben to 3rd position and out of the competition. Peter Sperling from Coogee Beach, showed early his recent Hawaiian Pipeline Competition success was no fluke with some serious tube riding at top speed and many controlled 'spinners' going both left and right. Eventual winner Sean Kenny was consistently outstanding with his ability to 'belly 360' and also hit the lip and land flat at speed. Some new faces were also on display with former Ironman, Brett Tyack from Dee Why, tackling his first ever Bodysurfing contest with some radical maneuvers like 'inverted underwater takeoffs' and 'forward rolls' that impressed the judges throughout the day. The ladies contest was won by Kerry Hunter of East Lindfield with Petra Playfair of Avalon very close second, Beena Chaugule from Bondi 3rd and Sybil Walsh the Bodysurfing Granny finishing a credible 4th in very difficult conditions where during their final the tide ran out fast and saw the ladies taking some gutsy drops from the top of some waves that were 8'-10' top to bottom faces. Kerry, also in her first ever Bodysurfing contest showed her fitness and strength catching some of the heat's bigger waves. Three 11yr old boys and 2 U/18 Girls fought out the Junior Division where 13 year old, Alish Sheerin from Avalon, stamped her authority on the group early with a cranking left barrel most men would have been proud of - in a difficult, rippy 20 minutes at the bottom of the tide, that was very testing for the kids. The boys from Maroubra, Alec Mcloughlin and Matt Harper finished 1st and 2nd with 3rd place filled by Avalon's Harry Hagan. All 3 boys worked hard against the rip most of the heat and picked off some fast breaking 'rip-bowl' waves. But - It was the men who worked the hardest all day having to Bodysurf for three twenty minutes heats (quarter and semi) to make it to the final at 1.30pm which meant the fitness level of all 4 finalists was apparent in the windswept conditions with backwash and heavy shorebreak waves dumping hard on the ever draining sandbank. Jason Spence from Manly - another surprise package in his first contest, was sharp and attacked the final with some slow & controlled backslides and spinners. Bret Tyack; who carved the heats, quarters and semis threw his all into the somewhat do or die finals waves, but the top two place getters, Peter Sperling and Sean Kenny were neck and neck through the entire final heat with Sperling's trademark speed and controlled spin and reverse spin and Kenny's high scoring 'belly 360s' - landing several in the larger set waves; an incredibly high degree of difficulty that saw him sneak past the Aussie Pipeline Representative in the last minutes of the final. Results: Open 1st - Sean Kenny - Narrabeen 2nd - Peter Sperling - Coogee 3rd - Brett Tyack - Dee Why 4th - Jason Spence - Manly Women's 1st - Kerry Hunter, East Lindfield 2nd - Petra Playfair, Avalon 3rd - Beena Chaugule, Bondi 4th - Sybil Walsh, Cromer 5th - Kate Reid, Whale Beach Junior Women 1st - Eilish Sheerin, Avalon 2nd - Bronte Stutchbury, Avalon Junior Men 1st - Alec McLoughlin, Chifle 2nd - Matt Harper, Matraville 3rd - Harry Hagan, Avalon Sponsors: BSC / Bodyboarders Surf Co Sperling O'Neill Odyssey 2020 Hydro Circuitry Super Zink Narrabeen SLSC LightsoundsSydney Morning Herald Story
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