PRESIDENT of the Byron Bay Boardriders Club Neil Cameron hailed the success of last weekend’s Ben King Classic saying it was a fitting way to pay tribute to club stalwart the late Ben King.
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and it was a great way to honour BK,” he said.
“The competitions reputation is spreading and there were heaps of gun surfers from all over the East Coast competing over the weekend.
“The surf was pumping with six foot of solid swell on Saturday.
“People were getting barrels left, right and centre, it was like a really pumping day on an Indonesian reef break, there were so many superb rides.
“The rain and wind then came up on Sunday and Monday to make for really testing conditions.”
Mr Cameron singled out fifteen-year-old Gold Coast surfer, Piper Harrison who won the Women’s 16 years, 18 years and Open Division Competitions.
“To be able to surf that well against older contestants, especially in those conditions was amazing,”said Mr Cameron.
“You really knew you were out there in it on Sunday and Monday.”
The competition was founded by Mick Cosmic Birch and Digger Morrow in the days of the Rib Cage Burger Bar and renamed in honour of Ben King in 2006.
There was more than $25,000 worth of prizes on offer across 15 divisions ranging from parent assisted push-ins right through to the over 60’s.
Kawana surfer Dale Lovelock took out the hotly contested Men’s Open Competition winning $5,000. Second was Jack Murray from Lennox Head, third was Elliot Paerata-Reid and fourth was Bryce Cameron from Byron Bay
At Monday night’s presentation at the Rails Hotel in Byron Bay many contestants singled out the “ladies in the kitchen” for thanks.
“Yes it was big thanks for the catering, it was superb, especially those fish tacos, they really went down a treat on the cold winters days, so thanks to Freckle from Byron Bay Seafood as well,” said Mr Cameron.
“I really want to thank all the sponsors, especially the Rails for being our major sponsor and for hosting the presentation on Monday night and Trip-a-Deal for supplying the major prize of a trip to Hawaii.
“Big thanks also go to Surf Dive and Ski, Quiksilver, Skull Candy, JS Surfboards, On Board Industries, Toots Surf Equipment and Atlanta Building.”
Source article:
Christian Morrow