THE 40th Annual Logger Heads Malibu Classic has been hailed a resounding success after three near perfect days of longboard surfing at Scotts Head from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July.
Celebrating its 40th year, the iconic event attracted almost 200 longboard surfers ranging in age from 9 to 80, with competitors travelling from across Australia and overseas.
A record 22 families competed for the prestigious Family Achievement Honour Board, highlighting the strong family tradition that continues to make the Logger Heads Malibu Classic one of Australia’s most popular longboarding events.
This year’s Family Achievement Award was won by Nate and Grant Ferguson.
Competition spanned 15 divisions, beginning with the Under 14 Cadets through to the Over 75 Men’s and Over 50 Ladies events.
Perfect winter weather, with sunshine, light breezes and a consistent swell, ensured every competitor enjoyed quality waves across the three-day competition.
Scotts Head’s renowned sand-bottom point break once again lived up to its reputation, providing ideal conditions for classic longboard surfing.
One of the highlights of the event was the popular Old Malibu division, where competitors rode original pre-1965 longboards that are significantly heavier than modern boards.
The continued growth of women’s longboarding was again evident, with expanded female divisions attracting strong fields following increased participation in recent years.
The Lions Club of Nambucca Heads once again kept competitors and spectators well fed throughout the weekend with its popular food van, while raising valuable funds for local community projects and providing practical job training for a ShoreTrack participant.
Logger Heads Malibu Club President Barry Jagoe was delighted with the milestone event.
“We had our fingers crossed that weather and surf conditions would be good for this year’s milestone classic and we were not let down as mother nature turned on her best for the three days at Scotts Head,” he told News Of The Area.
“The attendance, the conditions and the support of a number of wonderful sponsors made the 40th Classic one to remember and we were all moved by the level of sportsmanship shown by competitors, especially our lady surfers.”
Division winners included Lyn Adlawan (Club Scotts Open Ladies and Coastal Curves Surf Shop Over 35 Ladies), Mike Pimm (Local Liquor Over 70 Men’s), Merc Fuller (Barry Bennett Surfboards Over 65 Men’s), Jack Norton (Galeria CC Open Logs, Time Open Logs and Golden Sands Old Malibu), Danny Bond (Valla Beach Tavern Over 75 Men’s), Justin Bevan (Alofa Sands Surf Club Café Over 50 Logs and Reflections Holiday Park Over 50 Men’s), Owen Carter (Surf N Raks Cadets), Lindsey Athorn (Adrenalin Surf Over 40 Men’s), Kristy Quirk (Tradition Surfboards Over 50 Ladies), Paul Coombs (Munro Surfboards Over 60 Men’s), Dean Stanley (Smorgasboarder Magazine Mystery Event) and Grant Ferguson (Burford Blanks 9 Foot Open).
The Sportsmanship Award was presented to Kanary in recognition of her encouragement of fellow competitors and her outstanding efforts with in-water photography throughout the event.
Local resident Jen Crimsons, of Scotts Head, won the major charity raffle, while fellow local Joel Parkhouse won the competitors’ raffle.
Full results from the 40th Annual Logger Heads Malibu Classic are available on the Logger Heads Malibu Club Facebook page.
The milestone event once again demonstrated why the Logger Heads Malibu Classic remains one of the sports most respected and enduring longboard surfing competitions, combining world-class surfing and family tradition on the Mid North Coast.
By Mick BIRTLES
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