Day Seven: Saturday Aug 23, 2008-08-23

A crazy wild day for the finals. Almost no waves at daybreak, almost maxed out North Haven by the last final. And throughout that time a relentless sou’west wind that had to be blowing at 50 knots. At times it was impossible to paddle down the face, and surfers who succeeded then had large up-face chops to deal with.

It was a massive test for all who took it on. In the Open Mens, Josh Constable took the lead early and was never headed … a 9.75 and an 8.75 were almost impossible scores to better in the conditions … one of Josh’s waves just kept building for him the whole way to shore. In the Womens, it was Chelsea Williams all the way, while young Beau Nixon took out the Juniors. Over 35 Mens winner was a very deserving Matt Rawson, 40s was Richard Smith, 45s Sput Keevers, 50s Ric Chalmers, 55s Phil Baggs.

Day Six: Friday Aug 22, 2008-08-22

Back to Grants Beach, North Haven. On the drive from Port Macquarie the swell looked to be totally gone, expectations were that it would be a small shorebreak on offer. But, pulling into the North Haven carpark, out off the groyne shoulder-high waves were still rolling through!With the takeoff spot even tighter than previous days, finding waves, and staying out of trouble on interference calls, was again going to be tough.

Age divisions semi-finals to start, and favoured surfers started to be eliminated … Mark Ingleby gone from the 50s, and defending 55s champion, Alan Atkins, also gone. (Some bandit came through from fourth to first in the last two minutes of his semi!)

In the afternoon, the swell stopped hitting the outside bank, and three finals were held on a small righthander, tucked up against the groyne. The Over 60 Mens first, and Dave Pimm , after three years as bridesmaid to Danny Bond finally had his win. Then the Over 35 Womens, and Lisa Nicholson shone through for a great win. The final event was the Under 18 Girls, and the level was way above previous years. Rachel Pinsak looked like she would have the win, but Sunshine Coaster Georgie Roach triumphed in the end.

Day Five: Thursday Aug 21, 2008

Back to North Haven again. The swell a little down on yesterday, but still plenty of waves on the outer bank. Getting through to the inner bank was an easy call for added points from the judges, staying out of trouble on interference calls a tougher mission.
All quarterfinals were completed today, and Friday sees a full program of semis.

In the Opens, there are six surfers left standing, with one missing out on progressing to the final from each semi. Surprisingly, there are two Victorians, two Queenslanders, and two from NSW. Sam Dunton and Jordie Brown from way down south, Josh Constable and Mitch Surman from up north, while Harley Ingleby and Paul Scholten held up the local end of things.

Day Four: Wednesday Aug 20, 2008

Big drop in swell size finally forces the move to North Haven. Nothing much on the inner bank, but good waves way out beyond the tip of the groyne. Only problem was a rising tide that made breaking waves inconsistent. Open Womens first, then Open Mens and some Mens age divisions.

Almost some high drama, with Josh Constable catching a wave in dramatic fashion in the last 40 seconds to prevent elimination from the event. Paul Scholten also left it until very late in his heat for second wave. It was one of those days where you really needed Huey to be on your side.

Day Three: Tuesday Aug 19, 2008

Quite a drop in swell size on Day Three, but still enough to have us back on Town Beach. The sandbank out behind the rock outcrop keeps getting better, despite the swell abating … in fact it looks almost Crescent Head-like at times.

The heats all day were requalifiers, that is, anyone who didn’t progress through in round one had a second chance. Nothing too exciting to report, with the all results available at : http://live.coastalwatch.com/08_livecam_audio.aspx?eid=15315&qryL=english
Or click through to this page from www.australiansurffestival.com

Day Two: Monday Aug 18, 2008

The second day for the 2008 Oxbow Australian Titles was blessed by great surf. The short, mostly closing-out rides of Day One were replaced by longer rides which competitors in the Over 50s, 55s, 60s, Juniors, and Over 35 Womens found ideal.Current Australian Over 55s champion Alan Atkins was a standout today, with a two-wave score of 16.35, only surpassed in the contest so far by Junior ripper Beau Nixon, who clocked up a 16.55, which averages out at better than two 8.25 rides!
After offshores all morning, an unseasonal nor’east seabreeze ruffled the wave surfaces for the afternoon heats, and the swell backed off a little too. All these divisions have a second-chance requalifier round, so no-one has been sent home disappointed yet.
The swell forecast is for a slow abatement in size, with a lift coming again by next weekend.
You can check all the action via live scores at: http://live.coastalwatch.com/08_livecam_audio.aspx?eid=15315&qryL=english
Or click through to this page from www.australiansurffestival.com

Day One: Sunday Aug 17, 2008
The 2008 Oxbow Australian Titles began in good conditions at Port Macquarie’s Town Beach. Headhigh righthanders broke out just beyond the middle rock outcrop, with a solid left peeling Indo-like in from the outer break known as Middles. While there were some amazing barrels to be seen on the latter, scoring two good ones in the allotted 20-minutes proved an impossible task for the few goofyfooters that took it on. The rights, though quite short, and ending in a closeout, were the money option.
In the Open Mens, no surprises, with the field looking at chasing Harley Ingleby and Josh Constable once again, with Dane Pioli hot on their heels.
In the Womens, Chelsea Williams is again the favourite, and began with a 14.15 two-wave score in her heat, way ahead of the others.

Day Four photo of Jackson Close at North Haven, and Day Six photo of Under 18 Girls winner Georgie Roach and friends, by surfinfo.com.au