Noosa Cricks Jeep Festival of Surfing fires

Noosa Heads © Noosa Cricks Jeep Festival of Surfing

Noosa Cricks Jeep Festival of Surfing

Noosa Heads, Queensland Australia
10 - 16 March 2013

Sunshine Coast Airport Family Challenge rolls

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 March, 2013 : - - Surfing began in full force today after SUP Super Sunday, the Sunshine Coast Airport Family Challenge starting proceedings in spectacular fashion.
Local knowledge, as well as indomitable skills, saw Matt Cuddihy lead he and father, Win, into round two, two staggeringly good waves giving Matt the undeniable victory.

The multi-generational event was a fantastic exhibition of more traditional logging and performance surfing, interestingly the younger generation being the primary exponents of the older style. Hawaiian Honolua Blomfield was one of the youngest and few female entrants, but brought her Island style to First Point, out-surfing many of her male peers.

The Laguna Bay Longboards Logger Pro took to the water as the tide dropped, conditions getting more challenging and critical, but presenting an exceptional arena for all competitors. The UK’s Joe Davies performed some gravity-defying noserides in heat one to advance to the seeded second round. A wealth of incredible performances were punctuated by rides of not by Zye Norris (QLD), James Parry (UK) and local shapers Mitch Surman (of MS Surfboards, Caloundra) and Thomas Bexon (Thomas Surfboards, Noosa Heads).

Round two of the Sunshine Coast Airport Family Challenge presented surfers with a very tough challenge as the tide drained out over First Point’s sand banks, but Dane Wilson and Matt Cuddihy were standouts, making it look easy with their familiarity of the break.

Pup SUP event © Noosa Cricks Jeep Festival of Surfing

Matt and Dane both lead their team into the semi finals, to be met by the other family duos making first or second place in their respective heats. The Classic Malibu Men’s Open injected a little high performance into the proceedings, and not a moment too soon, as the waves dredged across First Point, lining up for tip time and the odd cover-up. Classic Malibu’s own Nic Jones blasted through the first heat, two stunning waves making him indomitable.

Heat three couldn’t have been closer, the top four contenders all within a few points of each other. And with waves aplenty, heat five saw Nick Farago, scream across Laguna Bay, his mammoth ride put to good use to leapfrog his way from fourth to first.

The gentlemen took to the water for the day’s closing division, but as First Point turned on, there was little respite for the Deus Men’s Over 60 entrants. Particularly of note were the performances of Eric Walker, Stephen O’Donnell and Pacific Longboarder’s John ‘JB’ Brasen, each appearing not a day over 40 in their performances.

But the wave of the day had to go to Barry Davis. A regular face at the Noosa Festival, Barry’s one, solitary wave of the day amounted to just 1.5 points. But what made his appearance so superb was that young Barry has, in the last six months, had not one but two open heart surgeries. A sterling effort by a much loved Noosa character.

Noosa Heads © Noosa Cricks Jeep Festival of Surfing

Ross Clarke-Jones and Tom Carroll were joined on the beach at First Point to present their adrenalin-saturated films Storm Surfers and Night Rider. All three big-wave chargers were on hand to answer questions, join the crowd and present their absolutely breathtaking movies, enjoyed by the entire crowd at the XXXX Beach Bar.

www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com