Local surfers braved towering storm swells at the Bells Beach 50 Year Storm Invitational on Monday.
Competitors rode waves more than three metres high, measured from the rear, equating to about the height of a two-storey building on the face.
Tim Stevenson took out the best surfer despite no sleep after working the night before.
“This is such a special event and I feel honoured to win,” Stevenson said.
“It was really fun, it was a storm and the reason behind the event is no joke.”
Diminutive giant-killing teen surfer Angela Ball won the Johnny Utah award with an epic wave after taking some heavy wipe outs earlier in the heat.
The oldest competitor, Jeff Sweeney, surfed what was considered to be the biggest wave of the day.
The event runs on the best and biggest surf day between June 1 and August 30, with a public voting system to choose the invitees.
The field featured 30 local male and female surfers aged 16 to 56, with 10 surfers competing in each heat for the best wave out of 100 points.
The Bells Beach 50 Year Storm Invitational is held in honour of former world junior and Victorian open champion Shaun Brooks, who took his own life in 2012 after a long battle with mental illness.
“I was bummed that I couldn’t come down to compete in the event,” said Shaun’s younger brother Troy, a former WCT competitor who was unable to attend due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“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 drive support for mental health and youth suicide prevention.”
The event has so far raised $20,000 for mental health organisations and initiatives including 50 Year Storm, One in Five, Headspace and Movember.
For help phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
