Back to the Point 2013

Back to the Point 2013

Port Campbell was shaken awake by a mountainous swell crashing into the cliffs on the morning of March 16, 2013. An unfavourable northerly wind greeted early risers. The air was rent with two stroke fumes like a re-enactment of the tow surfing era. The wind swung and the clouds condensed, the stage was set, the atmosphere slack, Back to the Point 26 was upon us.

With conditions looking borderline-dangerous the decision of whether to run the contest or not was destined to be a conflict between those young and dumb enough to surf and those with more wisdom and a better understanding of public liability. The first shortboard heat ran with minimum concern. All who surfed were keen for the contest to run on, but perhaps it was a case of ‘we did it, now you have to’. Those on the cliff were constantly pelted with scuds of rain. The stiff southerly stiffened. With all mal heats on-hold the grandmaster Kirby paddle out resiliently; unfased by or unaware of the break in proceedings we’re still unsure. Shortboard heat number two saw some incredible surfing from Mr Sheep and Jesse, despite the poor and worsening conditions

Disaster struck when a mal heat was sent into the boiling pot that was the Point. Two experienced watermen became entangled when they were struck by a rogue wide set; a third lost his board to the cave. Ricky was deemed winner by ‘last man standing’, but the damage was done. It was now obvious to all but the most reckless that, for safety’s sake, surfing was over for the day. Sunday competition would revert to the ‘all-in-brawl’ format first seen in 2012.

Saturday night was a memorable night; it’s a pity there are so few memories of it. 12 Rocks was epic with PK’s footage and photos on the TV and live music cranking from the corner. Your scribe tried his best to fill himself with the delightful Prickly Moses, several times over. As a direct result he didn’t make an appearance at the now-legendary after-party. Recollections are hazy and reports based on anecdotal evidence but suffice to say the evening was full of loud music, bicycle helmets and one very curious caged specimen.

Sore heads and more rain were the order of Sunday morning. A surf check revealed that the swell had mercifully dropped overnight, but the line-up had been torn to shreds by the howling wind. Typical. A schedule was decided upon; 12 o’clock start for Back to the Bay.

The skills of the next-gen PCB were truly an inspiration on a day when many needed inspiring. Despite an excess of kelp every grommet in Back to the Bay showed great ability in the water. There were some stylish cutbacks, chic run-overs and heaps of froth on display. So good to see; the future is bright for surfing in Port Campbell.

The rules for the ‘all-in-brawl’ format are as follows; everyone willing and eligible may compete. End of rules.  This leads to chaos, a near-impossible judging situation and more back-to-back finalists than you can point a single-fin at.

The longboarders were sent out the Point first and it quickly became apparent to everyone involved that the swell hadn’t actually dropped very much at all in the previous 24 hours. Competitors paddled until they were a safe distance out to sea, but also out of earshot of the hooter. Corey was a standout but the eventual winner was probably, for the first fifteen minutes, the only surfer in the water aware that the final had actually started.

No such issues were existent in the under 16s. The hard-charging trio of Darcy, Tim and Kane traded waves from start to finish with the young Smurthwaite emerging victorious in a close affair. The under 16s is historically the most competitive event and the most highly sought-after title. Good stuff Tim.

The ladies used their knowledge of the point to outfox the horrid mix of wind, rain and chop that the point was throwing at them. Georgia and Olivia were making things hard for themselves on pre-PCB-era surfboards while Kerry snuck a few sneaky insiders on her slightly more sensible craft. Marg and Marion paddled out to show the youngsters how it’s done, as has become their annual custom; if you thought it was hard to get out on a surfboard, try paddling a surf mat against that rip! Despite the self-imposed-retro-handicap Olivia Haig took out the final in stylish style to make it back-to-back victories in ’12 and ’13.

A highlight of the weekend was the Ross Jones Memorial Single-Fin Session, run between the ladies and the gents on Sunday in memory of our late, great mate Jonesy. There were some classic old boards in use, a few modern takes on the single-fin style, and one or two boards that were clearly not seaworthy. A few of the old boys paddled confidently into the line-up, more experienced on a single-fin than most are the Lace Curtains Boys (LCB), but there was no stopping the grace and flair of James ‘Barrelking’ Bourke. Mate, the kid rips on whatever you put under his feet, and a more fitting winner of the Jonesy you could not find.

You know the prize for open mens shortboard champion is highly sort after when the point is packed to capacity on such a calamitous Sunday. Standouts from the crowd included the Hyett trio, Micky D, Spike and Will. But, as the art of surfer-identification has yet to be perfected, the standouts may have actually been different surfers altogether. Despite the bedlam there were two clear cuts above in Marcus Hyett and Matt Younis. Matt took home the trophy for the second year running; his obvious favour of the crowded conditions takes nothing away from the awesome surfing he was laying down.

Ryno surfed in every event on Sunday and all he won was the raffle. Nick Moysey picked up the Purroitchihoorrong Award for dedication to the environment. Dave got a new legrope. One of the most heartfelt moments in Back to the Point history was the presentation of the Ross Jones Memorial Trophy to James by Ross’s Mum. Not a dry eye in the house. Legends, the lot of ya’s. Seeya next year.

E.P.

Results:

Under 16s

1.      Tim Smurthwaite

2.      Kane Spokes

3.      Darcy Tribe

Mals

1.      Pat O’Shea

2.      Corey Andrews

3.      Dave Smurthwaite, Rock Stone

Ladies Shortboard

1.      Oliva Haig

2.      Georgia Bourke

3.      Kerry O’Shea

Mens Shortboard

1.      Matt Younis

2.      Marcus Hyett

3.      Tristan Hyett, Mick Deppeler, Pat O’Shea, Sheepy Thompson

Ross Jones Memorial Single Fin

1.      James Bourke