By MICHELLE HERBISON
TORQUAY Boardriders Club has triumphed in an inaugural Victorian round of a surfing competition at Cape Woolamai on Phillip Island.
The Be the Influence Australian Boardriders Battle offered sure success for the region’s surfers, with Torquay and 13th Beach clubs both qualifying for Cronulla’s national final on 25-26 January.
With a strong 1.5m to 2m swell and light onshore wind, Cape Woolamai dished up some tough conditions for all competitors throughout the day.
“It was pretty tough out there – about five foot on the outside banks with some strong rips,” Torquay’s Troy Brooks said.
Torquay trailed for much of the day thanks to a strong showing from former World Tour surfer Glyndyn Ringrose, of Phillip Island, and 13th Beach’s Josh Johnson-Baxter in the Skins division.
But Cahill Bell-Warren and Zoe Clarke kept Torquay alive, taking out the pairs final against 13th Beach’s Simon Collier and Jemima Hutchins.
Torquay dominated the teams division with five of its six scoring rides hitting the good to excellent range.
Torquay team manager Cahill Bell-Warren said the team was stoked with the win and looking forward to the Cronulla final.
“I couldn’t be happier. Especially going into the teams division and being behind 13th Beach on the rankings it was good to get ahead of them on the final division,” he said.
Bell-Warren praised Be the Influence – Tackling Binge Drinking for sponsoring the event.
“It’s great to see the Australian Government has got on board and taken alcohol out of the sport,” he said.
“There are so many juniors in each club and it’s always good to set the right example from the beginning.”
