The 25th edition of the Lavan Whalebone Longboard Classic concluded in wet, windy and challenging conditions yesterday in Cottesloe, with a record number of competitors taking part in one of the most iconic events on the Surfing Western Australia calendar.
Held over three massive days, competitors had to adapt to varying conditions, with the event reaffirming its status as a beloved celebration of longboarding, with 14 champions crowned at Isolated Reef.
The Whalebone Classic was founded in 1998 after local longboarder Peter Dunn discovered a whale’s rib bone in the surf at Cottesloe. Inspired by the whale’s spirit, he decided to host a competition in its memory. A quarter of a century on, the Lavan Whalebone Longboard Classic continues to bring together multiple generations of surf enthusiasts for an action-packed competition with a festival-style atmosphere.
Competitors ranged in age from 17 to 75, showcasing longboarding’s diversity and sense of community to the thousands of spectators who flocked to the beach from Friday through to Sunday.
Georgia Young (Perth), and Jack Medland (Dunsborough), were the standout surfers of the event, claiming double victories and etching their names once again onto one of Western Australia’s most prestigious trophies, by winning the Open Women’s and Open Men’s Longboard divisions respectively.
Young confirmed her status as the most successful surfer in Whalebone history, claiming an unrivalled eighth Open Women’s victory. Young demonstrated her mastery of the waves, using every inch of her nine-foot-plus longboard to maximise her scoring potential with traditional manoeuvres and graceful footwork highlighting her performance.
Young also won the Open Women’s Logger division and competed in the Old Mal and newly introduced Nose Rider division as well.
“It’s been another amazing event and I’m so proud to see the growth in the female divisions this year,” said Young. “I’ve grown up surfing the waves at Cottesloe and this event has helped to shape the fabric of surfing here in Western Australia so much.”
After missing out on a win in 2023, Jack Medland came into the event with fire in his belly and was determined to hold the iconic whalebone trophy above his head.
The Open Men’s Longboard final saw Medland click into another gear, combining style, grace and flow into every wave he rode. Medland locked in an 8.10 (from a possible 10) and backed it up with a 7.50 to finish on a two wave total of 15.60 (from a possible 20), leaving Anthony Spencer (Trigg), Rahn Goddard (Redfern, NSW) and Mark Matisons (Cottesloe), all chasing an excellent score to change the result.
“We’ve had a little bit of everything this year, so I’m really happy to take the win against such quality surfers,” said Medland. “The Whalebone is a special event and I’d like to thank Dunny and all the boys for a great final.”
Medland added to his achievements by winning the Old Mal final, a division which sees surfers competing on longboards shaped prior to 1967. Medland credited the Cordingly’s board his mate found in the rafters of a home he was renovating for his success.
“It’s just a magic board, I’ve done some restorations on it, but it’s goes as well as it did all those years ago,” said Medland. “The Old Mal is a really important division that pays homage to the surfboard shapers of the past and to see their designs living on through us is really special.”
The Lavan Whalebone Longboard Classic combines a total of 14 divisions, with Bill Gibson (Margaret River), taking his first Whalebone win after competing in almost all of the events. Gibson won the Over-65 Men’s final and reminisced about the first Whalebone back in 1998.
“I think I still have the t-shirt from the very first event,” said Gibson. “I think I’ve only missed a couple of them over the years and I’ve been the bridesmaid a bunch of times so to get a win at my age still means a lot.”
Yallingup’s Evan Ledger (Yallingup) won the first ever Nose Rider final, a division judged purely on the surfers ability to hang five and hang ten.
“I love nose riding and the idea of a division where you’re just judged on doing that is pretty sick,” said Ledger. “Thanks to Jordy Morris for coming up with the idea and for Surfing WA making it happen.”
In other results, Ryan Clark (Dunsborough) won the Open Men’s Logger division with his picturesque style on display. Frank Gray (Mandurah), made a welcome return to competition with a win in the Over-60 Men’s final, Dave Smith (Osborne Park), won his third consecutive Over-50 Men’s Longboard title, while Belinda Le Grice (East Fremantle) won the Over-50 Women’s Longboard division.
James McGhee (Mosman Park), was a popular winner in the Over-50 Men’s Logger division, with Australian Champion Amanda Curley (Margaret River), the best performer in the Over-50 Women’s Logger final.
Jarrah Calder (East Fremantle), took out the Over-40 Men’s Longboard final, with Shae Sheridan (Dunsborough), the Over-40 Women’s Longboard champion.
The Lavan Whalebone Longboard Classic is much more that just a surfing competition, it’s a celebration of longboarding in Cottesloe, with onsite catering, surf market stalls, partner activations, surfboard raffles and much, much more.
“Lavan is very proud to once again sponsor the Lavan Whalebone Longboard Classic, in partnership with Surfing WA. As a leading, independent Western Australian law firm we are committed to making a real difference through our support of local community organisations,” said Lavan’s Managing Partner, Dean Hely.
Event founder Peter Dunn reflected on many of his favourite moments from over the years and recalled the multiple state, national and world champions who have attended and won the Whalebone Longboard Classic in the past.
“The Whalebone brings the tribes together regardless of the weather,” said Dunn. “I would have never imagined that the event would have grown to what it is today, thanks to everyone who has added to the prestige and history of the event and I can’t wait for the 26th Whalebone Longboard Classic.”
The Lavan Whalebone Longboard Classic, along with the Geraldton Winter Classic and Yallingup Malibu Classic form the Western Australia Longboarding Triple Crown, with the best performing surfers across three events earning their place amongst local longboarding legends.
Final scores and results can be found at www.liveheats.com and for more information on this or any other surfing event in Western Australia head to www.surfingwa.com.au
25th LAVAN WHALEBONE CLASSIC RESULTS:
CARLIN CHIROPRACTIC OVER 65MEN:
1. Bill Gibson (Margaret River) – 10.93
2. Frank Gray (Mandurah) – 10.70
3. Steve Becker (Mandurah) – 10.63
4. Norman Bateman (Karrinyup) – 3.14
WEST COAST SUSPENSIONS OVER 60 MEN:
1. Frank Gray (Mandurah) – 11.20
2. Glenn Solomon (Scarborough) – 10.80
3. Brett Merifield (Dunsborough) – 8.24
4. Rob Thurston (Mount Claremont) – 6.00
HUNT & BREW OVER 50 MEN:
1. Dave Smith (Osborne Park) – 12.84
2. Doug Carruthers (Margaret River) – 10.53
3. Paul Burke (Dunsborough) – 9.44
4. Peter Harvey (City Beach) – 6.30
CLUIB MED OVER 50 WOMEN:
1. Belinda Le Grice (East Fremantle) – 8.84
2. Ari Schipf (Hilton) – 8.70
3. Amanda Curley (Margaret River) – 7.50
4. Melissa Pontre (Subiaco) – 6.10
DOMETIC OVER 50 MEN’S LOGGER
1. James McGhee (Mosman Park) – 11.50
2. Doug Carruthers (Margaret River) – 10.67
3. Glenn Solomon (Scarborough) – 7.93
4. Rob Grace (Mosman Park) – 5.83
FORESTER ESTATE OVER 50 WOMEN LOGGERS:
1. Amanda Curley (Margaret River) – 11.33
2. Ari Schipf (Hilton) – 5.16
3. Belinda Le Grice (East Fremantle) – 4.94
4. Bliss Brosnan (Perth) – 1.00
COFFEY TESTING OVER 40 MEN:
1. Jarrah Calder (East Fremantle) – 12.67
2. Scott Trew (Gabbadah) – 12.43
3. Paul Burke (Dunsborough) – 9.66
4. Matt Inman (Trigg) – 6.04
CEA CEA OVER 40 WOMEN:
1. Shae Sheridan (Dunsborough) – 8.33
2. Chloe Amery (Palmyra) – 5.50
3. Iara Saurez (Beaconsfield) – 3.27
MOONSHINE OPEN MEN LOGGERS:
1. Ryan Clark (Dunsborough) – 13.50
2. Jacob McIvor (Rockingham) – 11.13
3. Finlay Foley (Marybrook) – 8.93
4. Evan Ledger (Yallingup) – 6.67
COTTESLOE GENERAL STORE WOMEN LOGGERS:
1. Georgia Young (Perth, WA) – 15.67
2. Molly Hosken (Surf Beach, VIC) – 10.73
3. Elise Stevens (Padbury) – 8.57
4. Frances Hoyle (Hilton) – 5.63
SPIRAL WETSUITS NOSE RIDER:
1. Evan Ledger (Yallingup) – 7.27
2. Rahn Goddard (Redfern, NSW) – 6.47
3. Mark Matisons (Cottesloe) – 6.00
4. Jordan Morris (Hillarys) – 5.23
LAVAN OPEN MEN’S FINAL
1. Jack Medland (Dunsborough) – 15.60 – $1,000
2. Anthony Spencer (Trigg) – 14.50 – $500
3. Rahn Goddard (Redfern, NSW) – 13.34 – $350
4. Mark Matisons (Cottesloe) – 12.10 – $150
LAVAN PRO WOMEN’S FINAL
1. Georgia Young (Perth) – 10.40 – $1,000
2. Laura Greenwood (Mt Claremont) – 7.30 – $500
3. Elise Stevens (Padbury) – 6.97 $350
4. Maddie Barrett (Cottesloe) – 6.84 $150
GAGE ROADS OLD MAL:
1. Jack Medland (Dunsborough) – 15.16 – $500
2. Evan Ledger (Yallingup) – 14.50 – $250
3. Mark Matisons (Cottesloe) – 9.17 – $150
4. Ryan Clark (Dunsborough) – 8.44 – $100
ABOUT THE WHALEBONE LONGBOARD CLASSIC:
The Whalebone Classic was born in 1998 after local longboarder Peter Dunn, discovered a whale’s rib bone immersed in the surf at Isolated Reef and decided to host a longboarding competition in memory of the whale’s spirit. Two decades later, the competition has grown to become a much-loved tradition within the local longboarding community.
