Ash Bolt
The Woorrangalook Victorian Koori Surf Titles were held over the weekend at Urquhart Bluff at Aireys Inlet, celebrating surfing and Indigenous culture.
More than 50 surfers from across the state gathered to celebrate the 24th annual event, which brings together Indigenous communities for a weekend of surfing and indigenous culture.
Numbers were down on previous years due the current impact of the COVID-19 pandemic facing Victoria, however smiles were aplenty with strong representation from Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast, as well as visitors from further afield like Phillip Island, Ballarat, Melbourne and Warrnambool and south-west Victoria.
The event was opened on Saturday by Wadawurrung elder Corrina Eccles and cleansed with a traditional smoking and mixing of the waters ceremony.
Competition followed and participants were greeted with small surf and onshore winds.
With the assistance of surf coaches and volunteers in the water, the junior competitive divisions were held first.
Young Geelong region surfers had some wins on the day, with Geelong’s Millie Hughes and Grace Tournier taking out the under-eight mixed and under-13 girls’ competitions respectively.
Armstrong Creek’s Arlee Livesey also claimed a win in the surf, taking out the under-10 boys’ competition.
Competitions were held in under-16 and under-18 levels as well, followed by the women’s open and masters.
Torquay’s Linley Hurrell proved too strong in the open competition, while fellow Torquay surfer Corrina Eccles was victorious in the masters.
The tag team event rounded out the day with Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative taking first place from Wadawurrung, CFMEU and Surfing Victoria.
Tricky conditions met competitors on Sunday for the men’s open and masters.
Rhys Collins from Red Hill had a strong day on the board and was victorious in both divisions, clean sweeping the day.
Both Collins and Hurrell will now go onto represent the Victorian Indigenous community on the larger stage, after gaining a wildcard into the 2022 Rip Curl Pro Trials at Bells Beach.
The Surfing Victoria encouragement award of a surfboard was awarded to Armstrong Creek’s Ruby Boagers and Geelong’s Aiden Tournier.
The determination award was taken out by Ballarat’s Hunter Sisic.
