The fourth year of the world’s biggest bodysurfing festival, The Coolum Wedge supported by Bendigo Bank, ran over the weekend with a record number of competitors.
The event featured 120 competitors ranging from 11 to 84-years-of-age, with 40 of those travelling from interstate or overseas.
One of the most hotly contested divisions was the Wedge Wizards, where men and women over 70 competed for the honour of being the Head Wizard.
Three days of intense bodysurfing kicked off with the International Bodysurfing World Qualifying Series (WQS) event on Friday 26 April.
The second World Bodysurfing Championships will be held in Coolum next year, which will be the first time the Sunshine Coast has hosted world championships in any sport, and the WQS was key for competitors to qualify for the Australasian team for those championships.
Breathtaking rides with never-before-seen manoeuvres were the order of the day and both finals unquestionably featured the very best bodysurfers of Australia and Asia.
In the Women’s Open, 18-year-old local Lyla Crouch emerged victorious, with last year’s IBSA (International Body Surfing Association) winner Ally Zillman in second place.
The Sunshine Coast’s Sherie Tracey filled out the podium and international competitor Katy Collins from Guam took the final spot.
The men’s IBSA event featured who many people regard as the world’s two finest bodysurfers that also fought out last year’s crown.
In 2023, local Jack Lewis, the Australasian team captain for this year’s world championships, defeated Nutri-Grain Ironman Ky Kinsela in both the IBSA and Wedge events.
This year, Ky turned the tables on Jack in both events, showcasing some incredible manoeuvres that left the spectators and competitors in disbelief.
Brisbane/Maroochydore man Jacob Marr was a worthy third place, winning numerous rounds on his way to the final as did Coolum’s Jay Van Deurse, who finished in fourth.
Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April featured the wildly popular aged division events that displayed the true bodysurfing spirit.
Competitors cheered each other’s rides in the same heat and waited on the beach to hug and celebrate the time they shared.
Some regular faces as well as some new ‘whompers’ took out the various crowns:
• Juniors (17 years and under combined): Tallow Crouch (13) for the second consecutive year
• Masters (40-55): Mark Shubert (NSW)
• Tribal Elders (56-70): Chip Bradshaw (Caloundra)
• Wedge Wizards (over 70): Chris Collins (Coolum)
In the Women’s Open, Ally Zillman turned the tables from the IBSA event with one of Australia’s greatest ever swimmers, Susie O’Neill, finishing in second and Lyla taking out the bronze.
The Men’s Open was won by King Ky, just shading his great friend and rival, Jack Lewis.
Bodysurfing as a pastime/lifestyle has an intense community spirit and the Wedge festival is seen as the annual gathering of the tribes from across Australia.
The Coolum community also showcases this spirit with over 50 volunteers making the three-day event flow flawlessly.
From the earliest beginning of the Coolum Wedge four years ago, The Wedge sought out a like-minded organisation that valued those community relationships above all else.
Bendigo Community Bank was also looking for events that shared those same values and a partnership was forged that continues to deepen with each passing year.
“The Wedge simply would not exist without Bendigo Bank,” Coolum Wedge co-founder Darren Verrenkamp said.
