Western Australia’s best big board surfers are set to converge on WA’s south coast next week for the 2023 West Coast Suspensions WA Longboard and Logger Championship presented by Think Mental Health.
Surfing Western Australia last hosted this event in Denmark in 2021 and the location as attracted a wide range of competitors from right across WA, with the surf-rich destination a favourite amongst the longboard community.
With a total of 18 separate divisions on offer, the WA Longboard and Logger Championship has attracted a strong field of local contestants, plus those travelling from Perth, the South-West, Mid-West and Great Southern regions to compete.
Many past State and National Champions have signed up to compete, with surfers out to secure prestigious state titles, as well as the opportunity to represent WA at the Australian Surfing Championships scheduled to run in Port Macquarie, NSW in August.
The event has attracted some surfing stalwarts, as well a host of first time competitors who are excited about the friendly and all-embracing nature of the longboard community. Providing a festival style atmosphere, the three-day competition will bring together surfers from Under-18 through to Over-70 age divisions.
Jack Medland (Yallingup) will spearhead an exciting Open Men’s division with plenty of experienced campaigners set to lock horns at one of WA best longboard locations.
“Denmark is one of my favourite places to travel to and compete,” said Medland. “It really mimics the conditions we can expect to see in NSW for the Australian Titles and the waves allow you to display a full repertoire of longboard manoeuvres and use the full length of your board.”
Medland will face stiff opposition for the likes of Evan Ledger (Yallingup), Ryan Clark (Dunsborough), Mark Matisons (Cottesloe) and Jock Bahen (Cowaramup), who are all out to claim the State Title in Denmark.
The Open Women’s divisions will see Georgia Young (Perth), take on a field of new faces when competition gets underway next Friday. While, Samantha Vanderford (Green Head) is the current Over-40 Women’s and Over-50 Women’s National Champion and she’ll start her road to defend her titles in Denmark.
The long range forecast for the event is looking positive, with a good groundswell and favourable winds set to make for an exciting three days of competition surfing. Heats will commence on Friday morning with finals set to take place over the weekend.
Denmark is one of the longest road trips on the Surfing WA events calendar and the West Coast Suspensions WA Longboard and Logger Championship falls within National Road Safety Week (14 – 21 May). Surfing WA urges all competitors and travelling surfers to pledge to drive so others survive, whilst reminding the WA surfing community of the dangers of sending a text message or using a mobile phone while behind the wheel – Ditch the distraction and remember #NoTxtNoWrecks.
The West Coast Suspensions WA Surf Masters Championship will be live streamed via www.streamer.com.au allowing people anywhere in the world to tune in and watch the action as it happens.
You can keep up to date with all the action by following Surfing WA’s social media platforms or by checking out www.surfingwa.com.au
About West Coast Suspensions:
West Coast Suspension formally commenced trading as Jenkins Springs Pty Ltd in Adelaide Terrace, Perth, Western Australia in 1924. The West Coast Suspensions name was registered in 1990 to further reflect the company’s progression as a specialist suspension supplier to road transport, mining, recreational 4×4 and off road vehicles. More information: www.westcoastsuspension.com.au
