Oliver Shaw steals the show at The Rock Yeppoon Surfing Festival
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 April, 2006 : - - Contest organizers at Surfing Queensland made an early call last Friday to postpone the shortboarding component of The Rock Yeppoon Surfing Festival. The decision was made due to forecasts of dropping swell, and the prospect of only one full day of competitive conditions on the Saturday.
Mother Nature cooperated to deliver clean two foot waves and light winds to Farnborough Beach as champions were crowned in 5 separate longboard divisions throughout the day. In the blue ribbon event; the Open Men Longboard, it was Oliver Shaw (Yeppoon old boy, now living on the Gold Coast) who impressed the judges the most to take victory away from defending champion Chris Nash.
Chris’ gamble to ride an extra large 10ft board in the final almost paid off for the Yeppoon local as he just fell short taking third place. It was Ben Fesselet (Agnes Water) who pushed Shaw the most in the final entertaining the large crowd on the beach.
Fesselet scored the highest wave score of the day in his semi final posting a 9.77 out of a possible 10, however couldn’t continue the form as Shaw ran away with the victory in the final. Mike Corokoft (Yeppoon) also surfed well in the final coming fourth.
Shaw was elated after an intense day of competition, and happy to walk away with the win “Everyone was surfing so well in the heats and the semi finals, anyone could have got won that final, but today was my day. I’m stoked”
There was plenty of interest in Shaw’s form amongst Yeppoon locals, many of whom hadn’t witnessed Shaw surf since he moved to the Gold Coast to pursue his surfing career.
In the Open Women Longboard Michelle Moller of Bargara returned to defend her title and did so in dominating style. A full time surf coach and mother of two, Michelle showed her younger counterparts the way in the 20 minute final. Displaying plenty of competitive experience, Moller waited patiently for the better waves to take the victory away from Renee Shaw (2nd) Alma Shaw (3rd) and Laverne Steedman (4th)
In other divisions Gilles Fesselet (Agnes Water) won the Over 40 Men Longboard, Molly Hall (Yeppoon) won the Under 18 division and Ethan Moller (Bargara) surfed well to win the Micro Grom Under 13 competition.
Surfing Queensland will liaise with SeaQ Boardriders to decide on a date for the shortboard component of The Rock Yeppoon Surfing Festival. The date of competition will be announced shortly.
The Rock Yeppoon Surfing Festival 2006 is proudly supported by The Rock Building Society, Keppel Bay Sailing Club, Rydges Capricorn Resort, Livingstone Shire Council, Sea FM, Sea Q Boardriders and Surfing Queensland.
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