The contest got off and running today some 2 hours later than advertised. Andy Mc Murray was up first in the prelims for the mens open. He surfed a solid 15 min heat which saw him pull and land a big re-entry and we had him in 1st place right up to the last min or so when he was overtaken by an Australian paddler. Then it was up to the other end of the beach to see Shalene paddle in the womens open. The conditions up at the north site were much bigger than the south and it was tough going. After riding a wave through to the inside the close out picked her up and slammed her out in front and blew the spraydeck. After getting the boat emptyied and launched again she just couldnt find the 2nd wave that would have made the difference in the heat and Shalene finished in 3rd place and thats the end of the open individuals for her.
The Junior IC was next up for our lads, all 3 were on the north site and in back to back heats. A great series of results here with Andy, Corin and Jake all taking 1st position in their heats. Corin was on fire posting one of the highest wave scores of the whole day with a super clean barrel roll off a closeout.
Matt had the toughest heat of all our paddlers today drawing two very big names with 35 odd years of compedative experience between them. Id also have to say that i wouldnt have fancied a heat in the conditions that he got, huge heavy beach break waves that would drag you right to the inside and then you were faced with a continious wall of whitewater on the way back out. Matt finished 3rd in his heat and bows out of the contest at this stage.
The running order will be posted again tonight at 6 and hopefully the rest of us will have a heat somewhere in the procedings tomorrow.