From January 12th – 16th, there was an extensive 4-day calendar of events for Surf Sports in Australia. Over 350 athletes, from youth ages to seniors, flocked to Maroubra Beach in NSW to participate in either Super Surf Teams League, Nutrigrain Iron Series, or The Interstate Championships.
The action-packed weekend started with the Super Surf Teams League, a 3-round event (Run from Friday – Sunday), which saw 15 teams, across 6 states compete in surf lifesaving events, including beach and ocean disciplines.
Western Australia had 2 teams representing our state, Broome Pearlers, and Scarborough Sunsets, which had 6 members of Trigg Island SLSC within them. In the Broome Pearlers Trigg was represented by: Sophie Lloyd, Samantha Brigden, and Selma Alibegovic, and within the Scarborough Sunsets Trigg was represented by: Ben Jones, Jazmin Shipway-Carr, and Daniel Humble (team captain).
On day one, the development focussed, team-based event, finished in a riveting style, with barely anything separating the top teams, and with a tie for first, between the QLD team Marlins and WA’s Scarborough Sunsets.
In the end, it was the WA side that finished ahead, as they secured another 15 points for winning the opening day of the 3-day competition, a decision made after a countback of points, with Marlins getting an additional 14 points going into Day 2.
After the first round, captain and Trigg Island SLSC member, Dan Humble was interviewed, commending his team for their efforts, and acknowledging the tenacious yet calm energy the side had, as they battled tough conditions.
The Broome Pearlers found themselves in 10th position after day one, with the side having success in the mixed beach relay, helping them gain extra points, to climb the ladder.
Day 1 WA Results:
Mixed 2-Person Beach Relay – 1st Place – Amelia Rowe & Tana Wesley (WA Broome Pearlers)
Mixed 2-Person Board Relay – 1st Place – Patrick Eley & Nikita Fredonnet (WA Scarborough Sunsets)
Men’s Ski – 1st Place – Daniel Humble (WA Scarborough Sunsets)
Day two, saw a shake-up in the leaderboard, with The Point Danger Seawolves taking out the top spot, and pushing our Scarborough Sunsets down to the joint second, alongside The Sunshine Coast Marlins.
WA Broome Pearlers were able to bump themselves up a position, finishing in 9th for the day, a positive result that would help them going into the final round on day 3.
Day 2 WA Results:
Mixed 2-Person Beach Relay – 1st Place – Jai Hawke & Megan McCafferey (WA Scarborough Sunsets)
Day 3 was the final day of the Super Surf Teams League, and it was highly competitive!
By the end of the day, when the points were getting tallied from the whole weekend, it was all down to a single point, between the top 5 teams.
With the Queensland Seawolves and WA Scarborough Sunsets, being in a tied first position. In the end, it was the Seawolves who came out as the championship team, as the Seawolves’ 9 event victories, trumped over the Scarborough Sunsets 4.
Captain of the Sunsets Dan Humble said whilst it’s disappointing to be pipped for the overall title, he was really proud of how the side represented WA over the weekend. “I’m really proud of our team, we put our best performances forward against some of the best upcoming athletes Australia has to offer, and second place is huge for our state, for our members and it’s a great achievement,” Humble said.
The WA Broome Pearlers finished the weekend in 11th place after a well-fought series of events and a number of wins on the board.
Day 3 WA Results:
Mens Surf Race – 1st Place – Ben Jones (Scarborough Sunsets)
Mens Ski – 1st Place – Fergus Morgan (WA Broome Pearlers)
