Airini Mason : photo Surfing Queensland

Mermaid Sister Femme Fest

Gold Coast Queensland
Anzac Day Weekend
23 - 24 April 2005 

GIRLS FROM 5 TO 18 YEARS RIP INTO THE WAVES AS 15-YEAR-OLD AIRINI MASON GRABS A DOUBLE WIN IN THE MERMAID SISTER JUNIOR FEMME FEST

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 April, 2005 : - - 85 girls aged from 5 to 18 competed in the Mermaid Sister Femme Fest, a celebration of young women’s surfing. Surfers from Noosa to Coffs Harbour competed in the metre plus beach-breaks at Bilinga on Queensland’s Gold Coast. New arrival to Australia from New Zealand, Airini Mason of Tugun was the standout, the 15 year old winning both the 18 years and under and 16 years and under division. With power and style, the young kiwi dominated her rivals scoring also the best wave of the weekend, scoring a perfect 10 from the judges, and a Mermaid Sister surfboard in the 16 years and under final. 

Mason was pushed all the way by Cabarita surfer Ashleigh Smith in the 16 and under final and Sunshine Beach surfer Brianna Lenton in the 18 years and under final. Mason will not be short of clothes to wear, as the winner of each division in the Mermaid Sister Femme Fest received $1,000.00 of Mermaid Sister clothing for their win. 

The 14 years and under final was an all Sunshine Coast affair, Dimity Stoyle taking the win, the Maroochydore pocket rocket surfing on edge with some radical moves to take the final  from another Maroochydore surfer, Georgie Roach who picked up 2nd place. 

The 12 years and under final was won by Coolangatta surfer Amiya Doyle, the 11 year old pipping 10 year old Sarah Mason (Sister of Airini) into 2nd place, Amiya’s twin sister Brodie picking up 3rd place. Amiya was stoked to grab a win and finally get the wood over her twin sister Brodie, who had beaten her on the last 3 occasions they surfed against each other. 

Ashleigh Smith Cabarita : photo Surfing Queensland

The mini-me’s of the event, the 10 years and under division was watched by all those on the beach, Charlie Roach (Maroochydore) grabbing the win, Stephanie Single (Lennox Head) 2nd, and the Enwright sisters of Tweed Heads grabbing the minor places, 7 year old Iluka 3rd, and 5 year old Kobie placing 4th. The little ones put on a great display, 5 year old Kobie Enwright even grabbing a wave from out the back. 

The girls showed they were masters of all types of craft with Ashleigh Smith winning the 18 years and under longboard final from Kelly Winter of Sunshine Beach. Kelly Winter also scored a sponsorship from Mermaid Sister for the highest placed unsponsored surfer. Bridey and Dana McNeven of Tugun shared the encouragement award of a new Mermaid Sister surfboard. 

The weekend was a celebration of women’s surfing, the young up and coming surfer-girls just a sign of an ever-increasing population of women in the line-up at local breaks right across Australia. There was fun, games and giveaways over the weekend, and all those present had a great weekend. 

Results

18 years and under
1st Airini Mason (Tugun)
2nd Brianna Lenton (Sunshine Beach)
3rd Izzy Chilcott (Currumbin)
4th Ava Benny-Morrison (Coolangatta)

16 Years and under
1st Airini Mason
2nd Ashleigh Smith (Cabarita)
3rd Amy Hart (Elanora)
4th Britanni Nichol (Cabarita)

14 years and under
1st Dimity Stoyle (Maroochydore)
2nd Georgie Roach (Maroochydore)
3rd Naomi Stevic (Castaway Beach)
4th Kelly Kerr (Maroochydore)

12 years and under
1st Amiya Doyle (Coolangatta)
2nd Sarah Mason (Tugun)
3rd Brodie Doyle (Coolangatta)
4th Kelsey Knights (Sunshine Coast)

10 years and under
1st Charlie Roach (Maroochydore)
2nd Stephanie Single (Lennox Head)
3rd Iluka Enwright (Tweed Heads)
4th Kobie Enwright (Tweed Heads)

18 years and under Longboard
1st Ashleigh Smith (Cabarita)
2nd Kelly Winter (Sunshine Beach)
3rd Courtney Bell (Elanora)
4th Izzy Chilcott (Currumbin)

Highest Scoring Wave
Airini Mason (Perfect 10)

Encouragement Award
Bridey & Dana McNeven

Highest Placed Unsponsored Surfer
Kelly Winter (Sunshine Beach)

www.mermaidsister.com 
www.goldcoastgirlsboardriders.com,

More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts

For more information:

Terry “Tappa” Teece
tappa@bigpond.com

Event Details
Julie Redmon
Gold Coast Girls Boardriders
0411 860 673
julie@goldcoastgirlsboardriders.com
www.goldcoastgirlsboardriders.com

Scott Hargreaves
Surfing Queensland Events Manager
Mobile – 0428-743-113
scott@surfingqueensland.com.au

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