Whompers from all over Australia congregated in picturesque Avalon for the second leg of the IBSA Australasian Qualifying Series events. The morning dawned beautifully – another cloudless blue sky in our Australian paradise, and the host nation of the 2025 IBSA World Tour Finals.
Local First-Nations whomper Jarrod Bridges opened the event with a traditional aboriginal smoking ceremony – a small fire made from indigenous tree leaves. Competitors then walked approached the fire, inhaling the smoke, ‘washing’ away any negative feelings and bringing happiness for the event.
Surfers were indeed blessed with off-shore conditions and a 0.8m swell all day, in fact the best conditions appeared fur the semis and finals when the tide was perfect for the competition bank. In all, almost 50 competitors participated.
The women’s final was a mostly new affair with three first-time finalists joining Hawaiian BWT Finals Competitor Sherie Tracy in the battle for the title. Competitors relished the clean walls and each one of them led the final at some point. As the final progressed, it came down to a battle between the two youngest competitors, Ann-Lei Petit and Pippy Cathcart. A final 7.5 ride by Anna-Lei eventually bagged the title, with Pippi finished closely behind, followed by another first-time finalist in Caroline Cotton and Sherie.
It was necessary to run 6 complete rounds to determine the men’s winner, such was the popularity of the event. Some familiar faces were in the final, three competitors that also made last’s years final again represented – Josh Kirkman (last year’s winner), Jack Lewis and Henry Sheridan whilst Jacob Marr was backing up from his Wedge QS finals performance. Again, a battle in two eventuated, with Henry holding the lead for most of the final with his butterry flow and the title looked his. But of course, Australasian Team Captain Jack Lewis did what Jack does and with his final wave gained the highest score of the final – a near 8 point ride - and the crown. Henry claimed the runner-up position followed by Jacob and Josh.
OPEN MEN
1. Jack Lewis (Australia) 1000
2. Henry Sheridan (Australia) 860
3. Jacob Marr (Australia) 730
4. Josh Kirkman (Australia) 670
5. Jack Macrae (Australia) 610
5. Zac Duryea (Australia) 610
7. Glen Murphy (Australia) 555
7. Trent Mitchell (Australia) 555
9. Thomas Sewell (Australia) 500
9. Sam Hall (Australia) 500
9. Patrick McNally (Australia) 500
9. Flynn Worner (Australia) 500
13. Jerome Petit (Australia) 450
13. Craig Mellick (Australia) 450
13. Mark Lyddiard (Australia) 450
13. Chris Baker (Australia) 450
13. Jack Vitnal (Australia) 450
13. Jarrod Bridges (Australia) 450
13. Jeremy Winer (Australia) 450
19. Marvin Smith (Australia) 390
21. Patrick Smithers (Australia) 380
21. Simon Loone (Australia) 380
21. John Cathcart (Australia) 380
24. Nick Griffin (Australia) 365
24. Magnus McManamey (Australia) 365
OPEN WOMEN
1. Anna-Lei Petit (Australia) 1000
2. Pipi Cathcart (Australia) 860
3. Caroline Cotton (Australia) 730
5. Sherie Tracey (Australia) 610
5. Bridget Kruger (Australia) 610
6. Eloise Davison (Australia) 583
7. Lynda Franklin (Australia) 555
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