EnergyAustralia Surfest.

Indigenous Classic

Newcastle Beach, Newcastle, NSW
30 March 2005

All in the family at the Indiginous Classic

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 30 March 2005: - - Defending champion Joe Haddon trounced the opposition to take out the men’s crown in the Indigenous Classic, the first event in the twelve days of the surfing spectacular that is EnergyAustralia Surfest.

The twenty-year old from Forster on the NSW mid-north coast launched a series of blistering backhand maneuvers in the lumpy 2 metre swell to convincingly defeat 2001 Australian junior title winner Tevita Gukilau from Perth. Sixteen-year-old Otis Carey from Coffs Harbour took third by edging out his fourteen-year-old sibling Jarwin, who was runner up in the 2003 Rip Curl Grom Search.

But the family connections went deeper than third and fourth in the men’s final. In the first semi-final, Joe Haddon came up against sister Lara.

The seventeen-year-old kiosk worker is no stranger to victory in the women’s section of this event, having won it for the past three years. With such a vice-like grip on the main trophy, contest organisers were not all that surprised when not a single entry was put forward from another female competitor, forcing Lara into the men’s competition.

“I thought there would at least be a few here,” Lara said, before jumping at the chance to enter the men’s round.

Lara has deferred entry to University in 2005 to save money. She has been accepted into the Sports Management course offered by Southern Cross University and Surfing Australia and she hopes to be able to forge a career in surfing administration.

“I reckon I would have got a bit of stick from a few mates back home if she would have beaten me,” a beaming Joe Haddon laughed after accepting the winner’s trophy.

“But she is my sister and you know I really want her to do well against anyone else . . . just not me,” the talented natural-footer joked.

This year will be Haddon’s first real attempt at the WQS and with a few sponsors prepared to back his substantial talent, Haddon wants to get to events in the United States.

Haddon hopes to continue his form in the main event, the EnergyAustralia Open, which commences next Monday at Newcastle Beach.

More than 230 competitors from around the globe will descend on Newcastle to do battle in the 4 star WQS event, which will see WCT surfers including Mick Fanning and Luke Egan trying to grab the trophy.

Action continues tomorrow at Newcastle Beach from 7am, when the Wild Surf Billabong Pro Teen gets under way with competitors from Hawaii, South Africa, Japan and the USA.

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For further Information contact
Paul Scott
EnergyAustralia Surfest
Tel: 0405748284

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