Margaret River Boardriders president Tom Innes has taken out the opening event of the season held at Surfers Point on Saturday.
Innes, who was installed as the club’s boss only a fortnight ago, held off gallant challengers Andrew Sheridan, Brodie Hawker and Brett Hardy to win the open division of the season – opening Autumn Classic.
The surfers contested two heats and totalled their scores from each to determine who would compete in the final.
Innes said Brett Hardy, despite winning a spot in the final, suffered an embarrassing defeat to brother Ryan, who is rated as one of Australia’s all-time great body boarders, in the second heat.
Innes took advantage of powerful six-foot waves in the final, which he said provided a powerful ground swell and long periods perfect for a variety of moves to claim the win.
Ella Massie took out the women’s open event ahead of Sandra Tugwood and her mother Phillipa Massie and Andrew Sheridan triumphed in the men’s over 35s event.
2012 Autumn Classic Mash Up
2012 Autumn Classic UnCut
Best surfer in the open division in the Margaret River Autumn Classic without a wetty sponsor wins a new west lotus chest zip!
Divisions for this weekend are U16 Boys, U16 Girls, U21 Men, Open Men, Open Women, Over 35 Men & Over 50 Men.
Format: Everyone surfs 2 heats over the day and the highest aggregate total wins.
Hards & TI have put together something special for the winners so get to Gnarabar at 6:30pm to see the prizes handed out.
Highest rated surfers in the Open and U21 divisions at the end of the year will be selected for the teams events.
Paddle Race (No foamies or mals, max 9ft board) & Expression Session – maybe jet-ski assist if conditions are good.
Join the club or renew MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES
Surfing contest, BBQ and tunes on the beach, drinks and good times at Gnarabar afterwards. Meet at Surfers Point at 7am on Sat 28th April for a location call. Divisions U16, U21, Open, Over35, Over 50 and Womens The event is MOBILE! Sign up here or on the day.
Creating History
In its first year on the Margaret River Boardriders Club calendar the Autumn Classic is a new surfing event in Western Australia. It has been designed to generate club membership, create local club support and positive interaction throughout the community, and attract spectators and competitors from around Australia – in particular WA and the South-West region.
Celebrating Autumn
The Autumn Classic is a celebration for the town of Margaret River. Autumn is the best time of year for waves in the South West and the event is designed for contestants to surf an event in credible waves and for spectators to see Margaret Rivers best surfers compete in world class waves at an ideal location. This offers fantastic promotional opportunities and chances for both companies and individuals to get involved with this year’s event, which is set to be a memorable one.
Mobile Venue
The Autumn Classic is set to be a mobile event and has the option of a number of world-class surfing venues. Surfers Point, Grunters or Gas Bay have been highlighted as the three key locations with Big Rock in Gracetown available if the swell does not show or Southpont if there is a prevailing storm and the ocean is out of control. These locations offer fantastic natural arenas where spectators have premiere views of the competition as it takes place, as well as amazing views of the surrounding environment.
Contenders
The event is expected to attract Margaret Rivers best young and old surfers who are keen to take vistory in the first ever Autumn Classic. Local legends such as Dave McCaulay, Matt Manners, Jake Jakovich, Andrew Sheridan, Tom Innes,
Creed McTaggart, Brett Hardy, Matt Baldock, and Jerome Forrest are expected to compete. Not to mention the plethora of underground talent looking to take down some of the high profile names.
Brand West has agreed to partner with the MARGS Boardriders Club for 2012.
Sign up as a member at the first event of 2012 – the Autumn Classic on the 28th April = 25% off West Products through Keith @ Margaret River Surf Shop and Helen @ Beachlife Surfshop.
The lates Margaret River Boardriders installments “Classic”
Classic Sneak peek
Classic Sneak peek – Brett Hardy vs Jethro Hedstrom
The MARGARET RIVER CLASSIC Video
Jacob Willcox won the U18 Junior men & U16 Cadet Boys divisions of the Chill WA Junior Surfing Titles on the weekend.
In the what was the match up of the event, the U18 Junior final was an all Margaret River shoot out. Willcox would take on Josh Burke, Shaun Manners and Jack Robinson who had impressive semi final heats. An opening 7.17 ride (from a possible 10) was enough to set Wilcox on his course and he never looked back. Building a solid total of 15.70 total (from a possible 20) when he locked in a heat winning 8.53 which included two of his signature backside arial reverse’s. Despite local knowledge, the intensity of the heat saw some surfers unable to recreate their earlier form and could not match Willcox’s lightening backhand attack. Josh Burke’s consistency was rewarded with a runner finish, his 6.33 and 5.93 were good but couldn’t match the scores of Willcox. Jack Robinson and Shaun Manners showed glimpses of their brilliance but finished third and fourth respectively.
Willcox was elated with the win and commented on the performance of others and his excitement on returning to National Titles.
“It was pretty tricky out there but still fun. I knew that the boys could we going for airs with the wind light onshore, so that’s what I went for too.”
“I think WA will have a really strong team this year and its always good to surf against the other states so its good to get off to a start here”.
Willcox kept his momentum rolling and backed up his efforts in the U16 Cadet Boys final, posting a 7.83 and a 7.40 to finish with a 15.23 total (from a possible 20). Willcox was challenged by a vastly improved Boston Kavanagh (Yallingup) who finished second. A 6.33 and 6.17 just fell short of the scores he needed, however Kavanagh did enough to beat Kael Walsh (Yallingup) in third head of Jake Edwards (Cottesloe) who battled hard in fourth.
The Australian Quiksilver King of the Groms final will be held during the Quiksilver Pro, and will feature Margaret River locals groms Jacob Willcox @ Jack Robinson. The winner of the Australian final will travel to France in September to contest the international KOTG final. Good luck lads!!
World Championship Tour contender Yadin Nicol will be competing with his club Margaret River at the National Finals of the Jim Beam Surftag today in Ballina.
120 of Australia’s best surfers contesting the opening round of the 2012 Jim Beam Surftag Australian Championships. Twenty four teams have qualified to the series decider with Boardriding Clubs from all over the country heading to Ballina to claim the title of Australia’s number 1 club.
Held outside of Sydney for the first time since the series began in 2001, the move north has been well received due to the high quality of beach breaks in the Ballina region. Local knowledge is sure to play a big part with Le-Ba (Lennox Ballina), Byron Bay, DBah, Kirra and Snapper Rocks relishing the opportunity to compete on home turf.
Good luck boys!
Margs boys are ready to rip it up on the Gold Coast
The Kirra Teams Challenge is the world’s largest interclub surfing teams event, and each year over 36 of Australia’s most elite boardriding clubs from all around Australia travel to the golden sands of Kirra to lay claim to the prestigious title and bragging rights of being named ‘Australia’s Best Boardriding Club’.
The event first started in the late ‘60s as an open event called the ‘Kirra Pro Am’ but in 1985 the format was changed to a teams event. Since that time it has lured the best amateur and professional talent in the nation who throw everything into doing their home team proud.
Creed McTaggart finished equal 5th at the Australian Open Of Surfing Pro Junior on the weekend.
Matt Banting (Port Macquarie, NSW/AUS) survived a close heat against Creed McTaggart. Banting won by a mere 0.85 of a point, and is thrilled to be through to the Semifinals.
