World class Werri…

Todd Prestage

From our perspective - everything was perfect. When you go into an event or project like this ideally on the day you want good waves and sunny skies. We had four foot waves and 35 degree heat so everything worked out.

The Werri Beach Boardriders a very grounded now at running events and our sponsors are excited as we all are.

This really is huge for the region as previously there was nothing here for the kids.

Dean Bowen has come on in leaps and bounds over the last few years - hes only 15 and he made the final - this event was WQS standard. The region really has a wealth of talent and it is great to be able to display that talent.

Event Director Todd Prestage

WITH a near perfect display of surfing, Curl Curls Matt Bemrose has taken home the inaugural Hurley Zink Surf South Coast Open title. On a weekend at Werri Beach where the surf was near perfect for two days of the three-day event, Bemrose blew the other finalists out of contention with some of the best backhand surfing seen on the south coast beach.

A good crowd had gathered under overcast skies as Paul Evans, Nick Riley, Matt Bemrose and Dean Bowen paddled out for the final. Each of the finalists first wave was a throwaway until Matt Bemrose blasted a series lightning quick, beyond vertical snaps to score an average 9.2 ride to take a commanding lead.

" Gerroas Dean Bowen has a bright future ahead of him, with former WCT Surfer Todd Prestage seeing him improve rapidly in the past few years. Bowen is pictured on day two of the South Coast Open at Werri Beach last Saturday. Bowen eventually placed third in the final on Sunday.

Paul Evans picked up the pace with a 7. 3 and rattle Matts cage early on. Some more low scores were collected by Matt and Paul before Matt nailed the coffin shut on the others with the best wave of the final.

Two judges scored perfect 10s and the third gave him a 9.8 and it was game over. Paul answered back with an average 8.7 but it was never enough. Dean came home with a wet sail to take 3rd. Nick, who had been surfing with a sore knee all event, faded to finish 4th. In the end Matt finished with an average score of 19. 0 out of 20 to take out 1st place and $1500.00. Paul was 2nd, Dean 3rd and Nick 4th.

The final expression session was run before the final and it was Owen Wright who took home the prize.

Day one saw the organisers set up camp at the northern end of Werri Beach, with some of the best waves all year on offer as 1-1.5m sets rolled through. From the opening heat Manlys Nick Riley and Alex Chacon of Brazil gave spectator a clear indication of what would be on offer throughout the contest. Other standouts were Jefferson Duarte of Brazil, Tim Wrench of Ulladulla, Scotts Head Paul Evans, locals Tom Salvesen, Dean Bowen, Rhys Bombaci and Cronullas Dylan Hannah.

The highlight on Sunday in the semi finals came courtesy of a 9.0-point ride to eventual finalist Paul Evans.

The Hurley Zink Surf South Coast Open organisers would like to thank Hurley and Zink Surf Kiama for their generous financial contribution to enable this great event to happen. Also, many thanks to Bellacharra Boutique Hotel Gerringong, Odyssey 20/20 Sunglasses, Kiama Council, Kiama Tourism and IGA Gerringong for the generous support. Also many thanks to Tooheys Extra Dry as Championship circuit sponsors, Advanced Concrete Cutting for the power generator and to Andrew Heffernan for donating the P.A system.

Credit goes to the tireless efforts of Werri Beach Boardriders members who gave up three days of their time to set up and pack up the event site, and also to all others who volunteered.

Full event details can be found on the Werri Beach Boardriders and Surfing NSW websites.

EXPRESSION SESSION

" Tully Robinson from Gerringong turns it on during the expression session last Saturday at the Inaugural Hurley Zink Surf South Coast Open at Werri Beach.