Knowing the enormity of the day’s results, competitors were looking at taking home one of the most prestigious trophies in NSW surfing folklore; not to mention qualification into the Australian Surf Festival to be held in August this year.

The quality line-up for the Open Men’s final included current WQS competitor Bombaci from Kiama, along with highly rated Australian surfer Sam Lendrum, Cronulla’s Rory Jenkins and Pro Junior surfer Shane Holmes and Gerringong’s Dean Bowen.

With Catherine Hills Bay’s Sam Lendrum going into the final undefeated, taking home the VB slab of the event after a combined wave score of 17.17 (9 and 8.17) and 17-year-old Rory Jenkins knocking out highly acclaimed Bowen in the semi-final, the atmosphere was tense.

Bombaci opened up with a 7.33 and Holmes responded with a series of waves worthy of the crown. Jenkins and Lendrum persisted answering wave after wave but it was Bombaci’s precise wave selection and the knowledge of local conditions that solidified the win and gave him the title.

With two state crowns under her belt, current NSW Open Women’s champion Brittany Nicholl created history as she won her third NSW Open Women’s Surfmasters Title.

Local South Coast surfers Rachel Campbell and Sky Burgess, along with current ASP Junior Women’s world ranked no.18 surfer Phillipa Anderson (Merewether) gave Nicholl a run for her money.

The newest division to be added to the VB NSW Open Surfmasters Titles, was the Open Single Fin. Sydney’s Northern Beaches surfer Rob Hazlewood came out on top, with a combined heat total of 13.50.

In the Over 35 Women’s division it was Cronulla surfer Akemi Oleary whose consistent competition surfing won her the NSW crown.

In other finals Paul Moffatt took out the Over-35s, where Kiama’s Brendan Russell also made the final, John Schmidenburg won the Over-40s, Scott Baxter the Over-45s and Rob Baldwin the Over-50s.

The VB NSW Open Surfmasters Titles is proudly supported by VB, Kiama Municipal Council, Kiama Tourism, Kiama Coast Tourist Parks, Gerringong Bowling Club, Suncorp and Surfing NSW.