Marcus Baker’s new surf movie to premiere at Ballina RSL Club
December 8, 2009
A premiere showing of Marcus Baker’s new surf movie, Nowhere Going Somewhere, at the Ballina RSL Club on Saturday night, December 12, chronicles the rise of three young Lennox Head surfers who are chasing careers on the world professional circuit.
It will be a fundraiser for the Lennox National Surfing Reserve Association, which in turn donates any money it raises to groups such as Australian Seabird Rescue and landcare and dunecare groups.
The featured surfers are Adam Melling, Stuart Kennedy and James Wood.
Gerry Mopez reports on this year’s fourth annual Morning of the Mo …
November 28, 2009
Shellywatu, Ballina, November 21st, 2009. – Despite previous years’ crowd favourites such as Bunker Freckles (Bali) and Steven Radical (Austria) unable to attend this year’s gathering, the bar was still raised to new found levels of fun and participation.
The draw of 110 surfers from as far south as Victoria’s West Coast to the hot North of Noosa Heads rocked out in the sun to 70s whaling guitar riffs, riding pre-80s surfboards and proudly wearing their groomed moustaches, all in a bid for the most sought-after piece of iconic surfing meMOrabilia, the 2009 ‘STYLEMOSTER’ modallion.
From the 7am meet at Lighthouse carpark, Ballina, where prizes are awarded for the best arrival, it was on!
Starting with Moses and his 10 comMOndments, loudly interrupted by the 4-mo strong Mo Mads (Bikey Gang) muscling their way through the crowded carpark hurling eggs and abuse to the onlooking surfers, Evil Monevil soon stunt-rolled his way through the carpark after rolling in from the top of the hill on a kids bike that stopped traffic and resulted in a fire-extinguishing.
Mobi Wan Kenobi used the force of his 62 EJ Holden riding in on the roof, cape flowing and lightsaber drawn.
Rollerbladers wearing G-Strings and carrying single fins also put in an entry but it was Mo-Joe Hudson’s literally back-scrapping entry into the carpark covered in blood after an unsuccessful attempt at bombing the hill on his skatey that took it out!
Stuart Kennedy dominates day two of Pro Junior
September 30, 2009
A return to form from past champion Stuart Kennedy headlined day two of the Billabong Pro Junior Bells Beach on the blustery Victorian Surf Coast today.
With a change of location to Jan Juc, due to a dissipating swell and strong off-shore winds, the best junior surfers in Australasia were out to cement spots in the prestigious Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.
2008 ASP Australasian Pro Junior champion Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Head, NSW) was a man on a mission this morning, posting the highest single wave and total heat score with an 8.25 (out of a possible 10) and 15.25 (out of a possible 20) respectively.
“It was really testing conditions today,” Kennedy admitted.
Scholarship makes dreams a reality for Moacir
September 9, 2009
When 15-year-old Moacir Palacios (pictured) fled Nicaragua five years ago to escape a home life of violence and poverty, he could never have imagined the path his life would take.
Stopped by Mexican immigration authorities on his way to America, Moacir, who will today be awarded an Innis Foundation Scholarship to study at Southern Cross University’s Riverside campus in Tweed Heads, was taken with his brother to Mision Mexico – an orphanage for abused and neglected children founded by an Australian couple in Tapachula, in southern Mexico.
Regional junior surfing teams announced
June 29, 2009
The third and final round of the Fantastic Noodles Far North Coast Regional Junior Surfing Titles went off at Cabarita last weekend, with the Far North Coast team decided for the Arnette NSW Junior Titles.
With precious places at the Arnette NSW Junior Titles up for grabs, the region’s best junior stars were on tenterhooks before the opening heat at Cabarita, all wanting to the opportunity to represent their region at Forster in July.
Greeted with excellent two to three foot peaks, light offshore winds and a handful of tomorrow’s stars, the action that transpired was of the highest order.
When the smoke cleared it was Michael Wright (Lennox Head, NSW), Tommy Boucault (Ocean Shores, NSW) and Mitchell James (Kingscliff, NSW) who were left standing on the dais.
Regional Junior Surfing Titles come to a close this weekend
June 17, 2009
The third and final and eagerly anticipated round of the Fantastic Noodles Far North Coast Regional Junior Surfing Titles comes to Cabarita this weekend.
With precious places at the Arnette NSW Junior Titles up for grabs, the region’s best junior stars will be ready to shine.
Having seen clear skies, offshore winds and a clean 1-1.5 metre swell for the last round, this weekend is looking equally as enticing, with a fresh south swell marching up the east coast – providing the perfect backdrop for some exciting action.
With Sam Cliff and Jake Cumberland having all but sealed their positions in the Arnette NSW Junior Titles with two consecutive victories in the previous two rounds, taking out the under 18 and 16 divisions respectively, the likes of Mitchell James, Regan Fredericks and Joel Ford, in the under 18s, and Tommy Boucaut, Soli Bailey and Tom Snellgrove, in the under 16s, will all be looking to secure solid results.
Australia’s Owen Wright wins Sri Lankan Airlines Pro in the Maldives
June 15, 2009
Owen Wright (Australia/NSW/Lennox Head) has won the 10th annual Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) six-star PRIME rated World Qualifying Series (WQS) Sri Lankan Airlines Pro in the Maldives.
It was a monumental high-scoring final, described by numerous ASP officials at this event as the greatest final they have ever seen, held in outstanding 4 to 5 feet (1.5m) surf at Pasta Point.
NSW team for the 2009 Australian School Surfing Titles
June 5, 2009
Coolum Beach Qld. 28th November–5th December
U/16 Girls: Kirsten Ogden (Byron Bay High)& Ellie-Jean Coffey (Southern Cross K-12)
U/16 Boys: Cooper Chapman(Narrabeen Sports) & Zac Scott (Kiama High)
U/19 Girls: Rachael Campbell (South Coast Christian College) & Phillipa Anderson (St Phillips Christian College, Newcastle)
U/19 Boys: Alex Maniatis (Woolgoolga High) & Tom Myers (St Paul’s, Manly)
U/16 Boys MR Team Melville High (Phoenix Graham and Dylon Hunt)
U/19 Boys MR Team Woolgoolga High (Alex Maniatis and Justin Turk)
U/19 Girls MR Team St Joseph’s, Central Coast ( Lulu Han and Alicia Bain)
NSW School Surfing Association 2009 State School Surfing Championships Results
Perfect conditions for Far North Coast junior surfing titles
May 18, 2009
Round two of the prestigious Fantastic Noodles Far North Coast Regional Junior Surfing Titles proved to be fantastic at Broken Head on Sunday, with perfect conditions for the region’s best.
After some amazing surfing in round one, which saw Sam Cliff (Tweed Heads, NSW) and Tyler Wright (Lennox Head, NSW) stamp their class and dominance upon a tough field to claim respective U/18 Boys and Girls division, round two was equally as enticing.
Greeted with clear skies, offshore winds and a clean 1-1.5 metre swell, on a great contest bank at Broken Head, the second round of the gave competitors and spectators alike the chance to experience the North Coast at its best.
The blue ribbon division (Under 18 Boys) saw first round winner Sam Cliff taking out a close-fought final from Mitchell James, Regan Fredericks and Joel Ford.
Adam Melling wins in chilly Scottish surf
May 6, 2009
Lennox Head surfer Adam Melling clinched the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Prime O’Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland by Swatch today, finishing on top of another 23-heat marathon-day after defeating Queenslander and finalist Luke Munro (AUS) in solid five to six foot (1.5 to 2 meter) waves at Thurso East.
Melling, 24, who was surfing his second consecutive final at Thurso, grabs valuable 3500 ratings points to keep his ASP World Tour qualification campaign going, leaving the Highlands ranked No 1 on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS).
Melling also rises as a serious contender towards the first ever O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series Champion title.
Melling, who bested Munro in a last 35-minute encounter after getting through four rounds and delivering an ultimate assault, eventually made it to the highest rank of the event, dominating proceedings on the final day with several impressive results including a 16.50-point tally in Round 4 before netting the event’s highest score of 17.50 points (both out of a possible 20) in the quarter-finals.
