Victorian State Titles in both Shortboard Masters and SUP Surfing divisions have been wrapped up on the Surf Coast with the Victorian Masters and SUP Surfing Titles running at Point Impossible and Jan Juc.
Surfing in the inaugural Over 30s Open Shortboard Division, Jarvis Cininas (Phillip Island) was in top form making the most of the head high clean conditions at Jan Juc.
Cininas finished the heat with a heat total of 14.67 (out of a possible 20), beating locals Tim Birnie and Cahill Bell-Warren who finished in second and third respectively. Luke Breeling (Dromana) and Ross Dart (Torquay) finished in third and fourth respectively.
Tiffany Riggs (Torquay) went back to back in the Over 40 Women’s Division and was in control for the majority of the final. With the clock counting down it was Clair Eldridge (Portland) who put in a late charge locking in a 7.00 ride in the final five minutes. However it wasn’t enough, leaving Riggs in top place and with the State Title.
Other champions across the day included Johnny Hawken (O40 Open, Jan Juc), Andrew Hyde (O50 Open, McCrae), Craig Lloyd (O55 Open, Armstrong Creek), Michelle Fincher (O55 Women, Phillip Island), Rowan Sapwell (O60 Open, Torquay) and Kim Shannon (O65 Open, Melbourne).
On the Saturday, the best SUP Surfers from across the state competed in perfect reeling waves at Point Impossible.
Taking out his 5th Open Men SUP Surfing Titles in a row, Matt Takle (Torquay) was unstoppable.
Locking in an excellent 9.50 ride on his first wave, Takle dominated the final finishing on a heat total of 16.33. Finishing in second was Sandy Ryan (Phillip Island) who returned to competition after a multi year break. Rick Pettifer and Steve Toy finished in third and fourth respectively.
In an exciting element to the weekend, the first Under 18 Girls heat was run since 2018. Finishing in first place was Willa Webb (Torquay) on 12.33 heat total with Tulleah Close (Jan Juc) finishing in second on a 6.17 heat total.
Other event champions on Saturday included Sandy Ryan (O40 Open, Phillip Island), Lucy Bell (O40 Women, Sandringham), Brendan Ryan (O50 Open, Port Campbell), John Takle (O60 Open & 9ft O60 Open, Torquay), Gwen Carbone (O60 Women, Ocean Grove), Liam McCafferty (9ft Open & 9ft O50 Open, McCrae) and Emma Webb (9ft Open Women, Torquay).
