Surfing Western Australia held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 2021 State Champion presentations over the weekend at Scarborough Beach, recognising the outstanding achievements of all boardriding codes and age groups ranging from Under-12’s through to Over-70’s.
Despite some challenges faced throughout the year, clearly there was also a lot to celebrate in 2021, as Surfing WA paid tribute to the effort, dedication and talent of 52 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.
“It was great to bring all of our champions together in the same room with plenty of support from family and friends,” said Surfing WA CEO Mark Lane. “We understand the high level of commitment it takes to win a State Championship, and I congratulate them all on their fantastic achievements during this completion season.”
Surfing WA also announced the Western Australian Surfers of the Year based off their performances in 2021. These awards pay tribute to WA’s rich history of surfing achievement as current outstanding performances are recognised, in the endeavour of encouraging the next generation of West Australian surfers.
Named in the honour of 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 second consecutive Ian Cairns Male Surfer of the Year Award, after winning his maiden World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) event in Mexico. Robinson finished 12th on the WSL CT ratings and was the only non Brazilian event winner in 2021. Robinson’s result was the best from a WA male since Taj Burrow (Yallingup) finished 2014 in 14th position.
Gracetown’s Bronte Macaulay claimed another Jodie Cooper Female Surfer of the Year Award, after finishing the 2021 WSL Championship Tour ratings in 11th. Macaulay captured a career best result, with a 3rd place finish at this year’s Margaret River Pro, a result that came whilst managing unbelievable heart break and loss, with the sudden passing of her younger brother Jack.
Gracetown’s George Simpson was announced as the Murray Smith Junior Surfer of the Year, after claiming a trifecta of State Championship Titles, including the Under-18 Junior Boys, Under-21 Pro Junior and Open Men’s, which is an amazing achievement.
While, Margaret River’s Willow Hardy was awarded the Mike McAuliffe Performance Award, capping off an outstanding year of results for the 15 year old. Some highlights included becoming the youngest wildcard into the WSL Margaret River Pro, after winning the Drug Aware WA Trials, she also claimed multiple State ChampionshipTitles in the Under-16 and Under-18 Girls divisions, and recently won the Under-16 Girls division of the Yeti Australian Junior Online Surfing Championships.
Surfing WA congratulates all our State Champions and award winners for their outstanding achievements during the 2021 competition season. We pay tribute to their efforts, dedication, and talent in continuing the development of our sport within the State of Western Australia.
2021 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE CHAMPIONS & WA SURFERS OF THE YEAR WINNERS
SUNSMART WA BODYBOARD TITLES:
OPEN MEN: JOSH DE LEGH (Padbury)
OPEN WOMEN: EBONY SCHELL (Mindarie)
DROP KNEE: MARK BOEHM (Marangaroo)
UNDER 18 JUNIOR BOYS: MAX MCGREGOR (Margaret River)
UNDER 16 CADET BOYS: Joe Savage (Kalamunda)
OVER 35 MASTERS: JAMES DE PLESSIS (Doubleview)
OVER 45 GRAND MASTERS: GLENN SCHELL (Mindarie)
VOLTE WETSUITS WA LONGBOARD & LOGGER TITLES:
OPEN MEN: EVAN LEDGER (Cottesloe)
OPEN WOMEN: EMILY GIBBS (Dunsborough)
OPEN MEN LOGGER: MARK MATISONS (Cottesloe)
OPEN WOMEN LOGGER: GEORGIA YOUNG (Perth)
UNDER 18 JUNIOR GIRLS: INDIGO MACKENZIE (Secret Harbour)
OVER 40 MEN: KARL LEAVY (Yallingup)
OVER 40 MEN LOGGER: DOUG CARRUTHERS (Margaret River)
OVER 40 WOMEN: SAMANTHA VANDERFORD (Lancelin)
OVER 40 WOMEN LOGGER: AMANDA CURLEY (North Beach)
OVER 45 MEN: PAUL BURKE (Dunsborough)
OVER 50 MEN: PAUL BURKE (Dunsborough)
OVER 50 WOMEN: SAMANTHA VANDERFORD (Lancelin)
OVER 55 MEN: RICHARD WAIN (Yallingup)
OVER 60 MEN: RICHARD WAIN (Yallingup)
OVER 65 MEN: BILL GIBSON (Margaret River)
OVER 70 MEN: MICK MARLIN (Dunsborough)
NORTH FREMANTLE STAND UP SURF SHOP WA SUP TITLES:
OPEN MEN: CHRIS TWOMEY (Karrinyup)
OPEN WOMEN: MONICA MCNAB (Karrinyup)
UNDER 18 JUNIOR BOYS: ISAAC NETTLEBECK (Karridale)
10FT OPEN MEN: JAMIE RALSTON (Bicton)
10FT OPEN WOMEN: SUSANNAH WILSON (Cottesloe)
10FT OVER 50 MEN: JAMIE RALSTON (Bicton)
OVER 40 WOMEN: MONICA MCNAB (Karrinyup)
OVER 40 MEN: DARRON MCNAB (Karrinyup)
OVER 50 MEN: CRAWFORD OLNEY (SPEARWOOD)
OVER 60 MEN: RICHARD WAIN (Yallingup)
VOLTE WETSUITS WA SURF MASTERS TITLES:
OPEN MEN: GEORGE SIMPSON (Gracetown)
OPEN WOMEN: FELICITY PALMATEER (Margaret River)
UNDER 21 PRO JUNIOR: GEORGE SIMPSON (Gracetown)
OVER 35 MEN: LUKE HAYTER (Scarborough)
OVER 35 WOMEN: SAMANTHA VANDERFORD (Lancelin)
OVER 40 MEN: IAN MACPHERSON (City Beach)
OVER 45 MEN: PAUL PATERSON (City Beach)
OVER 50 MEN: PAUL DUPUY (Albany)
OVER 50 WOMEN: SAMANTHA VANDERFORD (Lancelin)
OVER 55 MEN: BRAD COWAN (Margaret River)
OVER 60 MEN: BRENT MOSS (Esperance)
OVER 65 MEN: MAL HARDY (Gracetown)
WOOLWORTHS WA JUNIOR SURFING TITLES:
UNDER 18 JUNIOR BOYS: GEORGE SIMPSON (Gracetown)
UNDER 18 JUNIOR GIRLS: WILLOW HARDY (Margaret River)
UNDER 16 CADET BOYS: OTIS NORTH (Yallingup)
UNDER 16 CADET GIRLS: WILLOW HARDY (Margaret River)
UNDER 14 GROM BOYS: MAVERICK WILSON (Dunsborough)
UNDER 14 GROM GIRLS: OLIVE HARDY (Margaret River)
UNDER 12 MICRO GROMS: CRUZ UROS (Dunsborough)
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: GEORGE SIMPSON (Gracetown)
MIKE MCAULIFFE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: WILLOW HARDY (Margaret River)
For more information on all things surfing in Western Australia be sure to check out: www.surfingwa.com.au
