The outstanding achievements of WA boardriders were recognised at the Surfing WA 2022 State Champion presentations and WA Surfers of the Year Awards last weekend.
Held at Surfing WA’s new state of the art facility at Trigg Beach, the event honoured the outstanding achievements of all codes and age groups ranging from Under-12’s through to Over-70’s.
Surfing WA paid tribute to the effort, dedication and talent of more than fifty State Champions from Junior Shortboard, Open Shortboard, Longboard, Logger, Bodyboard and Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) divisions.
To be crowned State Champion is something all WA surfers should all be very proud of, as they etched their name alongside many legends of our sport. The event attracted many of WA’s past, present and emerging surfing stars, with a genuine buzz and stoke for wave riding on display.
“We congratulate all of our 2022 State Champions and Surfers of the Year,” said Surfing WA CEO Mark Lane. “We understand the dedication and commitment it takes to reach that level, and I commend them all on their fantastic achievement.”
Lizzie Nunn (Yallingup), Bill Gibson (Margaret River) and Mick Marlin (Dunsborough), were also recognised for their contribution to the sport during the event – honoured with a life membership from Surfing WA.
“It was great to see our life members awarded in front of all those young champions because they have committed their lives to improve surfing in WA for people just like them,” said Mr Lane. “Regardless of their age or achievements, one thing was clear on the weekend – that surfing, happiness and comradery go hand in hand.”
Surfing WA also announced the Western Australian Surfers of the Year based off their performances in 2022.
Named after four of Western Australia’s finest surfers – Ian Cairns, Jodie Cooper, Murray Smith and Mike McAuliffe, the Western Australian Surfers of the Year Awards are the annual recognition of outstanding performances by professional and amateur West Australian surfers over a calendar year.
Margaret River’s Jack Robinson claimed a third consecutive Ian Cairns Male Surfer of the Year Award, after winning back-to-back World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) events in Margaret River and G-Land. Robinson finished the year in third place on the WSL CT ratings and is a legitimate world title threat heading into 2023.
Gracetown’s Bronte Macaulay claimed another Jodie Cooper Female Surfer of the Year Award. WA’s best female surfer currently sits out of qualification on the WSL Challenger Series (CS), and will need to move up two places to get back on the CT in 2023.
Denmark’s Isi Campbell was announced as the Murray Smith Junior Surfer of the Year, after claiming the Under-18 Girls State Championship Title and winning a silver medal as part of Team Australia at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in El Salvador, where she placed 11th in the Under-16 Girls division.
Campbell recently competed in the ‘Lady Birds’ component of Stab High, an aerial surfing event in Indonesia with arguably the best group of 16 & under female surfers on the planet!
Secret Harbour’s Max Devery was awarded the Mike McAuliffe Performance Award for his inspiring efforts to return to the ocean and competition surfing. At just 16, Devery has made a miraculous recovery from a life changing motorbike accident that left him paralysed in 2021.
This year Max became one of WA’s very first athletes to compete at the Australian Para Surfing Titles where he placed third in the PS-Prone 1 Men’s division. In an exciting development it looks like Devery could be off to the ISA World Adaptive Games to represent Australia.
Surfing WA congratulates all our State Champions and award winners for their outstanding achievements during the 2022 competition season and pay tribute to their continued development of our sport within the State of Western Australia.
2022 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE CHAMPIONS & WA SURFERS OF THE YEAR WINNERS
SUNSMART WA BODYBOARD TITLES:
OPEN MEN: KAI DE LEGH (Padbury)
OPEN WOMEN: EBONY SCHELL (Mindarie)
DROP KNEE: MARK BOEHM (Doubleview)
UNDER 18 JUNIOR BOYS: ELIJAH MEDLING (Albany)
UNDER 16 CADET BOYS: STIRLING STILLWELL (Cottesloe)
OVER 35 MASTERS: TYLER BROWN (Mindarie)
OVER 45 GRAND MASTERS: GLENN SCHELL (Mindarie)
WEST COAST SUSPENSIONS WA LONGBOARD & LOGGER TITLES:
OPEN MEN: RYAN CLARK (Dunsborough)
OPEN WOMEN: SASHA JANE LOWERSON (Mandurah)
OPEN MEN LOGGER: RYAN CLARK (Dunsborough)
OPEN WOMEN LOGGER: SASHA JANE LOWERSON (Mandurah)
OVER 40 MEN: SCOTT TREW (Gabbadah)
OVER 40 MEN LOGGER: KEVIN ANDERSON (North Fremantle)
OVER 40 WOMEN: SAMANTHA VANDERFORD (Green Head)
OVER 40 WOMEN LOGGER: AMANDA CURLEY (North Beach)
OVER 45 MEN: BRENDAN COLLINS (Mandurah)
OVER 50 MEN: KEVIN ANDERSON (North Fremantle)
OVER 50 WOMEN: SAMANTHA VANDERFORD (Green Head)
OVER 55 MEN: KEVIN ANDERSON (North Fremantle)
OVER 60 MEN: BARRIE MACKINNON (Dunsborough)
OVER 65 MEN: BOB MONKMAN (Dunsborough)
OVER 70 MEN: BOB MONKMAN (Dunsborough)
NORTH FREMANTLE STAND UP SURF SHOP WA SUP TITLES:
OPEN MEN: RICK JAKOVICH (Gracetown)
OPEN WOMEN: SUSANAH WILSON (Cottesloe)
UNDER 18 JUNIOR BOYS: RYDER VENON (Yallingup)
10FT OPEN MEN: CRAWFORD OLNEY (Spearwood)
10FT OPEN WOMEN: SUSANNAH WILSON (Cottesloe)
10FT OVER 50 MEN: CRAWFORD OLNEY (Spearwood)
OVER 40 WOMEN: SILVIA DE ARAUJO (Scarborough)
OVER 40 MEN: RICK JAKOVICH (Gracetown)
OVER 50 MEN: CRAWFORD OLNEY (Spearwood)
OVER 60 MEN: RICHARD WAIN (Yallingup)
WEST COAST SUSPENSIONS WA SURF MASTERS TITLES:
OPEN MEN: Alex McGuffin (Margaret River)
OPEN WOMEN: FELICITY PALMATEER (Yanchep)
UNDER 21 PRO JUNIOR: JACK MITCHELL (Margaret River)
OVER 35 MEN: RICHARD SILLS (Dunsborough)
OVER 35 WOMEN: SAMANTHA VANDERFORD (Green Head)
OVER 40 MEN: IAN MACPHERSON (City Beach)
OVER 45 MEN: PAUL PATERSON (City Beach)
OVER 50 MEN: PAUL PATERSON (City Beach)
OVER 50 WOMEN: SAMANTHA VANDERFORD (Green Head)
OVER 55 MEN: CHRIS TWOMEY (Karrinyup)
OVER 60 MEN: BRENT MOSS (Esperance)
OVER 65 MEN: MICK MOLLOY (Geraldton)
WOOLWORTHS WA JUNIOR SURFING TITLES:
UNDER 18 JUNIOR BOYS: JESSE SIEDMIOGRODZKI (City Beach)
UNDER 18 JUNIOR GIRLS: ISI CAMPBELL (Denmark)
UNDER 16 CADET BOYS: MAVERICK WILSON (Dunsborough)
UNDER 16 CADET GIRLS: RUBY BERRY (Augusta)
UNDER 14 GROM BOYS: ACE FLYNN (Cowaramup)
UNDER 14 GROM GIRLS: OLIVE HARDY (Margaret River)
UNDER 12 MICRO GROMS: CRUZ MACDONALD (Geraldton)
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN SURFERS OF THE YEAR AWARDS:
IAN CAIRNS MALE SURFER OF THE YEAR: JACK ROBINSON (Margaret River)
JODIE COOPER FEMALE SURFER OF THE YEAR: BRONTE MACAULAY (Gracetown)
MURRAY SMITH JUNIOR SURFER OF THE YEAR: ISI CAMPBELL (Denmark)
MIKE MCAULIFFE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: MAX DEVERY (Secret Harbour)
