To find the answer to this question the festival organising committee is seeking the help of the Australian surfing community.

Driving the quest for the answer is the festival chairperson and professional photographer Debrah Novak.

Ms Novak said: “Our committee’s sudden interest in surfing photography stems from the fact we have included a ‘Soul Surfing’ event in this year’s festival.

“The cultural contribution surfing gives to our community through music, art, graphics and film is huge and we want to acknowledge and honour that by involving and including the surfing fraternity in our community festival.

“Pioneer surf photographer John Witzig and award-winning travel photographer Mike Larder have both accepted our invitation to be our inaugural exhibitors.

“John’s surfing images are world-renowned for capturing the essence of freedom in Australian counter culture’s early days; while Mike’s contemporary digital style lends itself to ethereal reflective imagery.”

Ms Novak’s interest in the origins of surfing photography came when a friend recently showed her an old newspaper clipping of a guy standing on a surfboard at Main Beach Yamba.

“There was nothing overtly special about the surf photo until you noticed the date when it was taken. The photo is named and dated: ‘Tommy Walker 1912–13 season’ and taken by O B Notley at Main Beach Yamba,” she said.

As a press photographer, the first thing Ms Novak thought of when she first looked at the photo was, is this the first surfing photo taken in Australia?

Ms Novak’s investigations began as soon as she was home and looked in a local historical book that placed the photographer, O B Notley, as living in nearby Maclean where he had a professional studio.

The next person she spoke with was the original custodian of the Tommy Walker photo, Manly Surf Life Saving Club life member and historian Ray Moran.

Ms Novak had spoken with Mr Moran at length in his Sydney home and he told her Tommy Walker was the person now accredited with introducing surfboard riding to Australia, five years before the famous visit/tour of Hawaii’s Olympic swimming champion, Duke Kahanamoku.

Mr Moran believes this photo, and a couple of others taken of Mr Walker at Yamba around the same time, could possibly be Australia’s first surfboard riding photos. Tommy Walker was a member of both the (short-lived) Manly Seagulls Surf Club and Yamba Life Saving Brigade at the time.

“As Manly club historian I have had numerous opportunities to look at hundreds of old photos and I can’t find anything that pre-dates this one of Tommy Walker surfing at Main Beach Yamba. However, there is a 1909 photo taken of Tommy Walker at Manly standing alongside his surfboard on the beach – it’s a nice portrait but he’s not surfing. If there is one that is older I would definitely be interested in seeing it,” Mr Moran said.

South Coast surfing historian Geoff Cater also believes these early Yamba photos are possibly Australia’s earliest known surfboard riding photos. Mr Cater last year celebrated Tommy Walker’s achievements with a ‘100 years of Australian Surfboard Riding Exhibition’ at Gerringong.

Mr Cater’s website surfresearch.com.au has extensive information about surfing history and notes that Tommy Walker purchased his board at Waikiki in 1909 for $2, and these images confirm contemporary written accounts of his surfing skills.

Ms Novak did further investigations with the Port of Yamba Historical Society and turned up another two photos that look like they were taken earlier in 1910 and 1911.

The photos were also taken by O B  Notley, but the actual photos don’t identify the location like the one of Tommy Walker at Main Beach Yamba. However, one of them does have a hand-written inscription.

Tommy Walker was a seaman and worked extensively on the SS Kyogle which travelled between Yamba and Sydney regularly. He would spend the winter months in Yamba and in summer head back to Manly.

Meanwhile, professional photographer O B Notley served as a surf instructor and treasurer at the Yamba Surf Life Saving Club (Brigade in 1910) and he would have had numerous opportunities to photograph Mr Walker in the surf.

Ms Novak is hoping to claim the title ‘Yamba is the birthplace of Australia’s surfing photography’ before August for a number of reasons.

“If we can claim that particular cultural sporting crown, it means our committee can start planning to celebrate ‘100 years of Surfing Photography’ and the ‘Tommy Walker Long board Classic’ for next year’s festival,” she said.

“We will also have a framed triptych of the Tommy Walker’s historic collection on display during the festival in August so we can auction it to raise funds for next year’s event.

“However, what is really exciting for our committee is a living relative of the Father of Australian Surfboard Riding Tommy Walker has agreed to open our very first ‘Soul Surfing’ exhibition.

“She has accepted our invitation to open the exhibition and in doing so remarked ‘this family member was always regarded as the black sheep of the family because he liked to surf and travel’.

“Well, it appears some things never change!”

The two other historic Tommy Walker photos can be viewed on line at www.weloveyamba.com

And for those who are interested in surf photography here is your chance to be part of surfing history. On Sunday morning 22nd August at Main Beach Yamba a photograph will be taken by Debrah Novak on the steps of the Yamba Surf Club of anyone who is part of the local surfing community.

The intention of this photograph is to capture the Lower Clarence surfing community of 2010, surfboards and all! The photo will be then framed and a copy will also be sent to the Australian National Archives.

If you have any Australian stand-up surf board riding photos pre-dating 1911, please contact Debrah Novak (0266461174) or Ray Moran (0299776667), they would love to hear from you.

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Those words came from Shorty’s dad Cyril at the opening of the Ron ‘Shorty’ Connors Memorial Stairs at Lennox Point on Saturday.

The stairs’ construction was a collaborative effort by the Department of Lands, Ballina Shire Council and the Lennox National Surfing Reserve Association.

They were named in memory of a legendary surfer whose life was cut short by a brain tumour. Shorty, born in 1950, died in 1976.

“Unfortunately Ron’s life was cut short,” Cyril told a crowd of about 150.

“It is now more than 30 years since he passed away. I feel very proud and honoured that his mates, together with Lennox Head-Ballina (Le-Ba) Boardriders, wish to still remember him by naming this stairway in his memory.

“Shorty got his first surfboard not at a surf shop, but at a sports store where they sold more cricket bats and tennis racquets than surfboards.

“I think it was paid off on time-payment – there were no credit cards in those days.”

Surfing Reserve Association chairman Phil Myers remembered Shorty as being a surfer who everyone aspired to be like.

He said Shorty ‘was the life-blood of surfing around the Ballina – Lennox Head area in the 1960s and 1970s’.

He was born in Lismore on March 4, 1950, and attended school at Marist Brothers in Lismore before moving to Ballina.

Cyril Connors made special mention of the time and effort put into organising the opening by Phil Myers, and thanked the Department of Lands, Ballina Shire Council and council employee James Brideson.

Among the guests attending were other members of Shorty’s family – siblings Greg Connors, Sandra Hancock, Carolyn Ellison, Pamela Aboody and Louise Pursey and their partners, and his wife Debbie (nee Reardon, now Pearce) – as well as Ballina Shire Mayor Phillip Silver and representatives from the Department of Lands – Warwick Watkins, Graham Harding and Dave McPherson.

Shorty’s nephew Marcus Aboody, who is a champion surfer with the Le-Ba Boardriders, joined with his grandfather, Cr Silver and Mr Watkins to cut a legrope to officially open the stairs.

The Connors family donated a large framed photo of Shorty, taken at the Point, to Le-Ba and it will be a perpetual trophy. 

PICTURES: At the opening ceremony are (from left) Marcus Aboody, Mayor Phillip Silver, Cyril Connors and Warwick Watkins from the Department of Lands.

Ron ‘Shorty’ Connors.

Marcus Aboody and Le-Ba president Rod Steeles with the trophy donated to Le-Ba by the Connors family.

Friends of Shorty Connors gathered to honour their surfing mate.

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Twenty-year-old Kennedy is on his first serious year as an ASP World Qualifying Series competitor and the former Australasian Pro Junior Champion of 2008 could not have dreamed of such a win so early in his season.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to win an event like this in waves that have been so good – it won’t sink in for some time but I feel amazing right now,” said Kennedy.

“The waves really suited me and every heat I’d simply say to myself to forget about competing and just go out and surf these great waves which is what I did.

“When I scored that 9.5 ride early in the final I became really nervous knowing I was in such a winning situation and then I just opened up and surfed that next wave and I felt on top of the world when I heard the 8.5 score.”

Kennedy’s two-wave final total of 18 out of a possible 20 was the highest of the event and he won the final emphatically, with Brazilian Wigolly Dantas a distant second on 12.57.

Kennedy now goes to Bells Beach having been allocated a sponsor wild card for the ASP World Tour event which begins on Tuesday and runs right through Easter.

“I’ll go to Bells full of confidence and it’s a chance of a life-time to take on the very best surfers in the world,” he said.

Wigolly Dantas had been in superb form all week but in the final today simply couldn’t find the right waves to match with the in-form and confident Kennedy.

“It’s been a fantastic week here in Tasmania and I’m very pleased with the result today – Stuart surfed a great final today and he deserved to win for sure,” said Dantas.

Equal third placed surfers today were Chris Davidson (Sydney ) who went down to Wigolly Dantas in his semi-final  and Marco Giorgi (Uraguay) who was eliminated by Kennedy.

Kennedy received $US20 000 for his win today along with valuable rating points on the ASP World Qualifying Series and he now leads the ratings in the chase for the $50,000 prize pool allocated to the Cold Water Classic Series for the season.

The O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series of events  is a series of five events each year running as part of the ASP World Qualifying Series beginning here in Tasmania and followed by events in Scotland, South Africa, Canada and USA.

PICTURE: Stuart Kennedy raises the trophy after winning the O’Neill Cold Water Classic in Tasmania (Photo: ASP/Robertson)

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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.

Marcus said he filmed the surfers over the past 12 years as they made their journeys to the pro ranks.

He said he also filmed the Billabong Pro at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa last year, and included in the footage is Byron Bay star Danny Wills.

Marcus has made seven movies of the past seven years under the banner of his production company, On Rail Video productions.

The screening of the hour-long movie starts at 7.30. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children and $10 for a family.

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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!

Heats then rolled out like Balinesse ‘rubber time’, with exceptional hand jives, cheetah fives and countless cockroaches on each and every wave.

In the absence of defending surf format champion ‘Des-Troy’ Brooks, it was Brains Aboody who mesMOrised the crowd with this year’s only 100-point ride (only the second ever in the gathering’s history), diving off his board mid-wave into a school of trevally and landing the catch of the day!

Early calls went out for this to be automatic seeding into the finals but speculation surrounded the authenticity of Brains’s MO!

The Movember Gift (50m nude sprint) was again won by 3 x Gift champion Mo-Lester, and as usual was closely watched by all the Mo Sistas lining the Beach.

Best Mo from the gathering went to Morning of the Mo regular Moses (MOllumbimby), for his perfectly groomed and styled number.

Event history was made in the first-ever Mo Sista’s expression session, held MOments before the final.

Full-piece 70s cheetah costumes, terry towelling and crocheted bikinis filled the line-up for half an hour, showing the hairy lipped onlookers that beauty does exist hair-free in the ocean!

With very little separating all Mo Sistas, it was Burleigh Heads’ Notorious Jazz Widow taking out the inaugural win.

By this time the large crowd had secured their vantage position on the rocks lining the Shellywatu point, hilarities from the commentary of Nuggee’s DJ Eddie filled the air as the six finalists stood looking out, awaiting their individual song from the twin MOshall amps to signal the start of the final.

Three locals – Eddie Would Mo, Frosty the Mo Man, Evil Monevil – and 3 Mo-Ins – Hans Hedermo (Burleigh Heads), Moe Goreng (Bali) and Peter Mownend (Gold Coast) from the Monzed Aussies made up the final.

In a see-sawing battle it was 3 x Finalist, first-time winner Peter Mownend (James Lewis) who after years of falling a whisker short, deservedly felt the cold sensation of the modallions’ steely make swing proudly below his mo.

The mood was now set with a day spent with toes in the sand, salt water and air providing natural wax to all the mos and sauce-drenched snags from the legends at Coles lining the bellies, it was time to board the bus to Byron and party.

DJ Eddie rocked the party the only way he knows how, Loud and Proud, dropping dance-floor classics for all who filled the newly renovated Buddha Bar.

Prizes were flung into the crowd for best-dressed Mo Bro’s and Sista’s and the largely contended dance comp as usual didn’t disappoint, and all who considered themselves in contention for the ‘STYLEMOSTER’ were taking it to the extreme.

Once the low haze liquid from the smoke machine had settled, it was defending champion Bob Moley, newly named for the 2009 gathering Mobi Wan Kenobi (Bobby Reynolds, Rose Bay) who took out the hotly contest field to walk away with his second back-to-back ‘STYLEMOSTER’ Modallion and perpetual Prostate Brown Jacket.

Through a combination of participation, holding character throughout all the gathering’s events and raising well over $1000 in personal donations, earning himself a place in the record books and a 5’10” beautifully polished Morning Star, Tom Carroll Model Single Fin Surfboard, especially made for the event by 2 x World Surfing Champion Tom Carroll and Brett Warner.

We thank all who attended the day to help celebrate men’s health and awareness and the effort that went into recreating the 70s vibe on the beach, and the supporting sponsors who helped make it happen, Quiksilver, Coles, Cool Ridge, Billabong, Le Specs and Coastal Watch.

Through your support and participation we were able to donate over $7000 to Movember’s beneficiary partners – The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Beyondblue.

See you for the 5th next year.

PICTURES (from top): Eddie Would Mo, winner Peter Mownend, the Mo Sistas, best arrival, 100-point ride, dance comp.

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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.

Granted two of the biggest and best waves of the day, Kennedy took his opportunity with both hands, highlighting to all his amazing talent.

“I was lucky with the waves I was gifted today. It was definitely about luck out there,” he said.

“I knew I had to make the most of the opportunity that presented itself.”

Having been the hottest property in the junior surfing sphere in 2008, Kennedy has struggled to adjust to life on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), but is back for the final event of his Pro Junior career.

“Last year the fire inside burnt so intensely and I wanted it so bad, but this year has been a learning curve on the WQS,” he said.

“I have had a lot of time to focus and work on my surfing, but it has been hard work.

“This is my last event, so I want to go out with a win, or at least a good performance to carry me into next year.”

Another competitor bowing out of the ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series after this event is Josh Johnson-Baxter (Ocean Grove, VIC) who joined Kennedy in the winner’s list today at Jan Juc.

With Owen Wright (Lennox Head, NSW) holding the only guaranteed spot at the ASP Billabong World Junior Championships, the race for the final four spots is coming down to the wire.

Seeing top-rated seeds Dean Bowen (Gerroa, NSW), Garrett Parkes (Byron Bay, NSW), Christopher Friend (Alexandra Headland, QLD) and Noah Lane (Rainbow Beach, QLD) all securing a place in the round of 32 today, tension is mounting amongst the top ten as the competition flies into the business end.

PICTURE: Stuart Kennedy (courtesy of Surfing Australia).

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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.

“When they told us we had to go to a refuge we tried to refuse, but they took us anyway,” said Moacir.

“Little did we know how much the orphanage would change our lives. It’s like a big family with about 50 other children and young people there who have grown to be like my brothers and sisters, and the owners have become like my parents.

“They look out for opportunities for the kids, and two years ago I visited the Sunshine Coast after a support group raised funds to sponsor three of us to come over for four months.

“That led to me meeting Norm Innis and learning about his scholarship foundation, which eventually led me to where I am now.

“It’s amazing – I never thought I would be travelling, speaking another language or studying at university in Australia.”

Moacir is undertaking studies in Sports Management (Surfing Studies) thanks to a $12,500 scholarship from the N J Innis Charitable Foundation, a support program set up by former Quiksilver International general manager and Surfing Australia chairman, Norm Innis.

The Innis Scholarship is part of Southern Cross University’s Rising Stars Scholarships program which currently benefits 100 students, with the University Foundation committed to raising $5 million for more scholarships over the next four years.

“I have had a wonderful career in the surfing industry, which is why I set up the scholarship to give disadvantaged young people the opportunity to do the surfing course at SCU,” said Norm.

“The scholarship has not previously been opened up to people from overseas, but I was impressed by Moacir’s passion for surfing and his easy-going personality despite everything he has been through.

“You could almost say surfing has been his saviour, so for me he was the obvious and logical candidate for this year’s scholarship.”

Moacir said his dream was to put his studies into practice by using the power of surfing to help young people from his home town in Mexico to turn their lives around.

“The orphanage runs a surfing program where all the children travel half an hour to the nearest beach once a week to learn water safety and surfing,” said Moacir.

“Like a lot of the other kids, I had never heard of surfing before, but once we tried it, it was like an escape for us because it was a time when we could forget everything and be free from our past.

“I’d like to use what I learn here to open a surf shop and a surf school over there. By introducing surfing to the community I hope to reach out to kids and help them get off the streets and avoid drugs.

“I’ve seen it work before and I have received so much – I’d like to give something back.”

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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.

Wright, Boucault and James were in a league of their own as they individually dominated their respective divisions, en-route to cementing spots in the Surfing Far North Coast team.

Due to variable conditions and a lack of time, the girls divisions were not surfed as the make-up of the female junior team was decided after the second round of competition.

Headlined by ASP Australasian Pro Junior starlet Tyler Wright (Lennox Head, NSW) and Codie Klein (Kingscliff, NSW) the girls’ side of the regional team is full of teenage sensations, all ready to make their mark against the state’s best.

In the boy’s segment Sam Clift (Banora Point, NSW), Jake Cumberland (Tweed Heads, NSW), Soli Bailey (Suffolk Park, NSW) and Wright comprise a quality line-up of junior stars.

Having recently announced the support of junior surfing throughout the State and the nation, the Fantastic Noodles State Junior Surfing Titles covers 10 events in South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, 14 Regional Junior Surfing Title events in NSW, plus an ASP Pro Junior event in South Australia in July.

The Arnette NSW Junior Titles will be held at Forster from 29 July–2 August 2009.
 
For more information be sure to log onto www.surfingnsw.com.au

PICTURE: 14 boys finalists, Michael Wright, James Young, Chris Zaffis and Zac Wightman. Photo credit: Surfing Far North Coast.

Fantastic Noodles Far North Coast Junior Surfing Titles – Round 3 Results

14 boys
1st – Michael Wright
2nd – James Young
3rd – Chris Zaffis
4th – Zac Wightman

16 boys
1st – Tommy Boucaut
2nd – Henry Phillips
3rd – Mackie Walker
4th – Samuel Rahmate

18 boys
1st – Mitchell James
2nd – Asher Wales
3rd – Joel Ford
4th – Niki Hoskins

The Surfing Far North Coast Junior Regional Team (in seeded order)

18 Boys
1. Sam Clift
2. Mitchell James
3. Regan Fredericks
4. Asher Wales
5. Niki Hoskins
6. Joel Ford
7. Tian van den Burg
8. Kurt Dorrough

16 Boys
1. Jake Cumberland
2. Tommy Boucaut,
3. Soli Bailey,
4. Henry Phillips
5. Samuel Rahmate
6. Mackie Walker
7. Tom Snellgrove,
8. Ty Noughton

14 Boys
1. Michael Wright
2. James Young
3. Chris Zaffis

18 Girls
1. Tyler Wright
2. Codie Klein
3. Lyla Wright
4. Taylor Telling

16 Girls
1. Kirsten Ogden
2. Stephanie Single
3. Letarcia Hurt

14 Girls
1. Alyssa Lock

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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.

The same story is true of the under 14 and 16 girls divisions with Alyssa Lock and Kirsten Ogden owning the top billings after two exceptional performances at Lennox Head and Broken Head.

However, all eyes will be in the under 14 boys and under 18 girls divisions, with the first two rounds seeing two separate winners and two amazing exhibitions.

With Michael Wright and James Young splitting the first two events and Tyler Wright and Codie Klein sharing the honours in the under 18 girls, the final showdown should be an enthralling affair.

Having recently announced the support of junior surfing throughout the State and the nation, the Fantastic Noodles State Junior Surfing Titles covers 10 events in South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, 14 Regional Junior Surfing Title events in NSW, plus an ASP Pro Junior event in South Australia in July.

The third and final round of the Fantastic Noodles Far North Coast Regional Junior Surfing Titles will be held at Cabarita on Saturday, 20 June 2009.
 
For more information, log on to www.surfingnsw.com.au

PICTURE: Codie Klein is one surfer looking to cement her name in the Arnette NSW Junior Titles. After taking out the honours at the previous round, Klein will be up against some stiff competition this weekend at Cabarita. Photo credit: Darren Simondson/Surfin Snapps

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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.

The final had everything, with both surfers forcing each other to new heights, combining superb power surfing with new age aerial moves.

The final scores saw Owen Wright on 19.23 out of a possible 20 to Pat Gudauskas (USA) on 18.93.

Wright’s second ride in the final of 9.83 was decisive, pulling two major aerial manoeuvres along with a series of fully powered on-face vertical turns.

While that wave opened up a serious lead, Gudauskas challenged hard on his second ride, driving through a series of powerful top to bottom turns but just fractionally mistimed his final floating re-entry and fell.

The wave was still awarded an outstanding 8.94. Many believed that had he landed that final turn, it would have been his second perfect 10-point ride for the event.

Wright capitalised mid-final with another outstanding 9.4 ride, again inclusive of aerial moves, and Gudauskas suddenly found himself in an unlikely combination of scores required situation.

Gudauskas, who earlier in this event had scored a perfect ten-point ride utilizing the new age rodeo clown move, refused to concede the final and began to focus on going for another perfect 10 by attempting some massive rodeo clowns (aerial 540 degree reverse flips), which he went perilously close to landing.

Inside the final five minutes, Gudauskas found his final excellent wave, unleashed three incredible top to bottom powered turns, lined up the final section, launched and landed another amazing aerial flip to take a perfect 10 points.

Still in second place and requiring a 9.24 to win, time ran out for Gudauskas and Wright was the deserving winner of this epic battle.
 
“That was the best final I have ever experienced “ said Wright after his win.

“I knew Pat was capable of scoring 9 to 10 point rides and before the final I knew I’d have to pull multiple aerials to win – my strategy was at least two serious aerials on the waves and a lot of powerful surfing in between the aerials and that’s exactly how it played out.”

Owen Wright is now number one rated surfer on the ASP World Qualifying Series and the exciting 19 year old has already reassessed his goals for the season.

“At the start of the year I was focusing on winning the Pro Junior season in Australia and doing a few WQS events to get the experience but now I’m definitely looking to win the WQS and qualify for the ASP World Tour,” he said.

Equal 3rd placed surfers were Brazilian 19 year old Jadson Andre and USA’s Austin Ware.

PICTURE: Winner of the SriLankan Airlines Pro, Australia’s Owen Wright gets the champagne spray from an equally delighted Pat Gudauskas (USA).  Photo Dara Ahmed/ASP Australasia 

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