By Luke Voogt
Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula surfers have dominated the Victorian titles in a year of competition shortened by COVID-19.
Local grommets won in all six junior divisions while Jan Juc’s Todd Rosewall won the open men’s title and Jan Juc junior Mia Huppatz came second in the open women’s.
Huppatz also won the under 16s while her younger sister Isla placed equal first in the under 14s.
Surfing Victoria ran two events for the junior and open shortboard series due to COVID-19 restrictions, and one longboard event that extreme weather cut short.
Due to the inability to complete a full round of the longboard competition, Surfing Victoria crowned no state champions in 2020.
The Victorian Bodyboard Titles also had a shortened season due to the pandemic, with two events completed.
Kneeboard Surfing Victoria was unable to crown state champions in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Torquay’s Noah Bateup was among this year’s winners at the World Kneeboard Championships in February at Dunedin, New Zealand.
Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdowns also prevented the state’s stand up paddle board championships from running in 2020.
“On behalf of Surfing Victoria, I would like to congratulate all state champions in 2020,” Surfing Victoria chief executive officer Adam Robertson said.
“It was one of the most challenging years on record and we look forward to having a more normal 2021.”
2020 Victorian State Titles:
Victorian Open Series
Open Women
1st Sophie Fletcher (Phillip Island)
2nd Mia Huppatz (Jan Juc)
Open Men
1st Todd Rosewall (Jan Juc)
2nd Harry de Roth (Phillip Island)
Victorian Junior Surfing Titles
Under 18 Girls
1st Lucy Naylor (Pt Lonsdale)
2nd Poppy Corbett (Phillip Island)
Under 18 Boys
1st Charlie Farrer (Barwon Heads)
2nd Codie Jeffery (Phillip Island)
Under 16 Girls
1st Mia Huppatz (Jan Juc)
2nd Sarsha Pancic (Blairgowrie)
Under 16 Boys
1st Willis Droomer (Jan Juc)
2nd Lucas Hickson (Rye)
Under 14 Girls
Equal 1st Isla Huppatz (Jan Juc)
Equal 1st Sara Hickson (Rye)
Under 14 Boys
1st Jay Phipps (Point Lonsdale)
2nd Harry Farrer (Barwon Heads)
