Queensland has achieved a clean sweep of the Longboard and Logger divisions on the first day of finals action at the Australian Surf Championships. Landen Smales (Noosa Heads, QLD) won the Open Men’s Logger and U18 Junior Men’s Logger divisions, making Australian history on the way.
Surfing Australia Contest Director, Glen Elliott said: “No one has ever made four Australian finals in one event and to win two out of the four and finish runner up in the other two is unprecedented.”
Clinton Guest (Bokarina, QLD) got the highest heat score of the day, 15.07, clinching victory in the Open Men’s Longboard final with a skilful combination of noserides and smooth, flowing turns.
“It just all went my way. The right waves came to me,” Guest said.
“I love coming down here and surfing at such a professionally run event and to do it in front of my family and my daughter is very special. To win at Bonny Hills is pretty cool too, my daughter’s name is Bonnie.”
Guest dedicated his win to Alex Malibu club as well as his former coach and mentor, Mark McNamara who died of a heart attack in the surf in 2015.
“Ten years ago we shared a final around the corner at North Haven. Ten years on, to do it is just a tribute to him. I’m pumped he instilled all this knowledge in longboarding for me.”
Guest also wins a place in the Irukandjis Team alongside Kirra Molnar (Noosa Heads, QLD) who claimed two titles today.
Molnar said: “It feels amazing to win an Aussie title for Queensland. Last year I got the Open Women Logger Title so managed to defend that this year and also finally got the Open Longboard. I felt confident in my surfing all event and so was happy to get the results.
“It was really nice to have the support of my mum and her partner Ian on the beach as well as the rest of the Noosa Malibu Club members. It means a lot to be part of such a great longboarding community back home and also see the others surfing so well too. Amazing to see Surfing Queensland performing to take out all Logger and Longboard Junior and Open titles this weekend! Cmon Queensland.”
14-year-old Lennix Currie (Tewantin, QLD) was crowned U18 Junior Men’s champion.
“It feels surreal something that I have always wanted to achieve but I am so damn excited. I have been training hard on points and opens back home in Noosa trying to master my performance of my new Thomas board.”
15-year-old Mia White (Noosa Heads, QLD) took out both the U18 Junior Women’s Longboard and U18 Junior Women’s Logger titles.
“The final was intense, the heat was filled with outstanding surfing from start to finish, the conditions were tricky, but nothing I couldn’t handle. It feels like an out of body experience, this is my first win and to win two Australian finals is a dream that came true.”
The championships have been held at Bonny Hills Beach, in clean 2-3ft conditions providing surfers with long right-hand walls over the first three days of competition.
West Australia’s Jack Medland (Dunsborough) was the best of the WA competitors finishing second in the Open’s Logger final, with close friend Mark Matisons (Cottesloe), placing third in the Open Men’s Longboard final.
Longboard Results
U18 Junior Men Longboard
1. Lennix Currie (Tewantin, QLD) 12.93
2. Landen Smales (Noosa Heads, QLD) 12.83
3. Jimmy James Tualima (Manly East, NSW) 10.00
4. Thomas Fahey (Balnarring, VIC) 7.16
U18 Junior Women Longboard
1. Mia Waite (Noosa Heads, QLD) 12.43
2. Jasmin Howarth (Avalon Beach, NSW) 11.67
3. Ramona Haddrell (Warana, QLD) 7.60
4. Layla Deighton (Emerald Beach, NSW) 4.03
Open Men Longboard
1. Clinton Guest (Bokarina, QLD) 15.07
2. Landen Smales (Noosa Heads, QLD) 11.60
3. Mark Matisons (Cottesloe, WA) 10.56
4. Tasman Dunton (McCrae, VIC) 10.50
Open Women Longboard
1. Kirra Molnar (Noosa Heads, QLD) 13.00
2. Emma Webb (Jan Juc, VIC) 9.37
3. Bea Conroy (Point Lonsdale, VIC) 9.14
4. Mia Waite (Noosa Heads, QLD) 5.83
Logger Results
Open Men Logger
1. Landen Smales (Noosa Heads, QLD) 13.00
2. Jack Medland (Dunsborough, WA) 11.96
3. Clinton Guest (Bokarina, QLD) 11.60
4. Tom Bennett (Pambula, NSW) 9.53
Open Women Logger
1. Kirra Molnar (Noosa Heads, QLD) 11.60
2. Lucy Small (Clovelly, NSW) 7.97
3. Mia Waite (Noosa Heads, QLD) 7.60
4. Bea Conroy (Point Lonsdale, VIC) 5.67
U18 Junior Men Logger
1. Landen Smales (Noosa Heads, QLD) 14.94
2. Lennix Currie (Tewantin, QLD) 11.27
3. Jimmy James Tualima (Manly East, NSW) 11.17
4. Ted Conroy (Point Lonsdale, VIC) 5.07
U18 Junior Women Logger
1. Mia Waite (Noosa Heads, QLD) 11.67
2. Ramona Haddrell (Warana, QLD) 11.23
3. Jasmin Howarth (Avalon Beach, NSW) 9.36
4. Layla Deighton (Emerald Beach, NSW) 8.57
Please see the website for a full list of winners.
Australian Surf Championships – Port Macquarie, NSW (Aug 4 – 21)
- Opening Ceremony: August 4
- Australian Longboard Titles: August 5 – 12
- Australian Para Surfing Titles: August 13
- Australian Bodyboard Titles: August 14 – 16
- Australian Shortboard Titles: August 17 – 21
More details on website HERE.
Stay up to date with event info and daily confirmation of event locations by joining the Australian Surf Championships 2023 WhatsApp community HERE.
Entry to the Australian Titles is by state qualification or invitation.
The Australian Surf Championships are proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW as well as Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Le Tan, Stroud Homes, Bonny Hills Beach Hotel, Jim Beam, Stoddart Group, One Agency North Haven and Surfing NSW.
