Gert De Preez : photo courtesy Surfing Australia
Printpoint Masters Surfing Circuit 2006
Surfing Queensland Round 1 of 4 - Gold Coast 26 March 2006
Masters Take On Cyclonic Swells
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 28 March, 2006 : - - Queensland’s best masters surfers took on the giant swells of Cyclone Watti today when the first round of the Printpoint Masters Surfing Circuit. Over 28, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55 years divisions were surfed, surfers from 28 to 63 years taking on the wild conditions at Lacey’s Lane, Currumbin at the Southern End of Palm Beach.
For the first time a $3,000.00 prize pool is up for grabs as well as places in the Queensland team for the Printpoint Masters Series. It was a battle of the goofy foots in the over 28 years final, Kirra surfer Matt Hurworth taking the honours, when the surf reached its best, so did the level of surfing, and had spectators hooting the high performance surfing on display in the solid waves.
Hurworth, Gert De Preez, Mark Richardson, and the lone natural footer in the final, Danny Muskens, all put on a solid performance, the result in the balance until the final siren. De Preez took the lead early with an 8.00 ride, only to be overtaken by Hurworth, who came out blasting the lip scoring the second highest scoring wave of the day with a 9.73.
Then both Richardson and Muskens stepped up scoring 7 point rides to be in touch with the De Preez and Hurworth. Hurworth then put both hands on the winner’s trophy with another wave including some searing backhand turns to gain a combination lead over all in the heat with the exception of De Preez.
De Preez then grabbed a bomb set with seconds remaining needing to score an 8.60 to grab the win, but could only score a 7.53 leaving Hurworth with the win. Richardson placed 3rd, and Muskens 4th. Although Richardson placed 3rd in the over 28 years division, he did pick up the four cartons of Tooheys Extra Dry for the Tooheys Extra Dry “Wave of the Weekend” scoring a 9.87 for a wave he picked up in his first heat of the day, ripping it to pieces.
The over 35 years again saw a battle between goofy footers; Scott Ker and Dean Lock, Ker scoring a 6.00 and a 7.17 to once again knock another defending Queensland Masters and Printpoint series champion into second place.
The over 40’s saw Noosa Boardriders club President David Cervi dominated proceedings, scoring a 9.40 for his first wave and an 8.67 for his second to take the win from 2005 over 40 years champion James Ellen. Cervi dedicated the win to his father who had only recently passed away, and his surfing was truly inspiring tearing into the long right-handers.
North Stradbroke Island surfer John Truman found the waves and dominated proceedings in the over 45 years division scoring a 5.17, and an 8.50 for two waves in under two minutes to be in an unbeatable position with 5 minutes remaining. Defending over 45 Queensland Champion Peter Pringle picked up second place.
In the over 55 years division, the elder statesmen did not hold back and showed they had the fitness to take on the large waves, the surfing solicitor Mal Chalmers Bagging the win from Ray Helton. The big swells provided testing conditions for young blokes let alone the surfers in this division which varied in ages from 55 to 63 years of age.
The next second in the four-event Printpoint Masters Surfing Circuit is on Sunday May 28th on the Gold Coast, the third on the Sunshine Coast, Sunday June 18th, and the 4th and final round on North Stradbroke Island on November 11th.
RESULTS
Over 28 Years 1st Matt Hurworth (Kirra) 18.26 2nd Gert De Preez 17.67 3rd Mark Richardson (Palm Beach) 15.76 4th Danny Muskens (Coolangatta) 12.84
Over 35 Years 1st Scott Ker (Currumbin Waters) 13.17 2nd Dean Lock (Coolangatta) 10.50 3rd Guilherme Feliberto (Coolangatta) 4th Michael Betts (Mermaid Beach)
Over 40 Years 1st David Cervi (Noosa) 18.07 points 2nd James Ellen (Tallebudgera) 13.84 3rd Nick Heath (Burleigh) 4th Dean Cooper (Helensvale)
Over 45 Years 1st John Truman (Point Lookout) 2nd Peter Pringle (Mudjimba) 3rd Craig Frampton (Point Lookout) 4th Chris Hislop
Over 50 Years 1st Gordon Barnes (Currumbin) 2nd Brian Punch (Currumbin) 3rd Peter Eales (Currumbin) 4th Garry Palmer
Over 55 Years 1st Mal Chalmers (Mermaid Beach) 2nd Ray Helton (Coolangatta) 3rd Joe Barton (Noosa) 4th Eddie Valladares (Currumbin)
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Terry “Tappa” Teece
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