The region’s best big-wave surfers hope to compete at Bells Beach this winter in honour of a local champion who died too young.
Surfing Victoria said the field for the Bells Beach 50 Year Storm Invitational would include family and friends of Shaun Brooks who took his own life in 2012 after a battle with depression.
Surfing Victoria made his younger brother, Troy Brooks, number-one on the invitational list.
“Our family is stoked that a bunch of Shaun’s mates have come together to put on not just an awesome memorial surfing event but also driving support for mental health and youth suicide prevention,” said Brooks, a former World Championship Tour competitor.
“Shaun was always at home in big waves and especially loved Bells Beach, so it’s great to have an event where he’d be in his element at big Bells.”
Organisers would call on the event when surf at Bells reached a minimum four metres between 1 June and 31 August, Surfing Victoria said.
“The format for the event is very different to a typical contest. When the event is called on all 18 surfers will paddle out and surf together for four hours with the winner being the surfer judged to have charged the hardest.”
Other surfers among the invited 18 include internationally renowned big-wave surfers Tony Ray and Ross Clarke Jones, alongside other locals Greg Brown, Geoff Sweeney, Nic Muscoft and Adam Roberston.
Brooks was looking forward to the challenge.
“Bells at 12 foot is a serious wave,” he said.
“The wave has so much power at that size that it’ll be a big test for the guys out there. They’ll need some big boards and some big tickers.”
Brooks said he was thrilled with the level of local support for the event in memory of his brother.
“The support from the Surf Coast has been amazing. Loads of locals, businesses and the Surf Coast Shire have donated time and money to the cause.”
Surfing Victoria said the title of the one-day contest was a “cheeky” reference to 1990s movie Point Break, which was partly filmed in the area and which told of legendary 50-year storm surf at Bells.
The event would raise money for charities Headspace and One in Five, Surfing Victoria said.
· Lifeline offers free counselling services on 13 11 14.
