After so much swell grinding down the points through April, it was almost a relief to look at a near-flat forecast for last weekend’s Noosa Logger competition.
And on Friday it looked pretty much like the weather gods had got it right, with only ankle-snappers on offer at Noosa West Beach several contestable sand banks.
But event organiser Glen Gower must know someone in a high place because he was talking it up at the sign-on drinks on Friday night and come first light Saturday, Huey had delivered. Not much, mind you, but certainly enough to get a log moving across the clean little lines funneling into the rock wall rights, with the promise of more size on Sunday.
Moreover, after a chilly start, the weather was superb, just right for a laidback old school surf comp. The wind lay down for most of the weekend, the waves moved from waist-high to chest-high on Sunday, and with just a couple of tents, a barbie and a PA, the low impact Logger was a total treat.
And the quality of the surfing was astounding, from the juniors right through the generations to the grand kahunas of the over 60s. It would be churlish to complain about anything after such a great weekend, but I was exhausted after surfing against grommets a decade younger than me, and really hope they’ll consider adding a 70s next year. But then I think about my late great mate, Barry Magoo McGuigan, who competed well into his 80s against surfers a generation younger.
There were so many good performances that I probably shouldn’t pick favourites, but I’m going to anyway, starting with the kids. Junior winners Mia Waite and Lennix Currie are already household names in Noosa, both beautiful stylists, but young Ryder Worthington is such a treat to watch, and snapping at Lennix’s heels already.
Moving to the age divisions, from the top down, as it were, I can recall when long-term Noosa Mal Club president Glen Gower first started competing on a longboard, and it wasn’t pretty. Like a lot of shortboarders who make the transition, he got the job done but looked awkward. Not any more. Glen has become a very stylish senior surfer who is difficult to beat.
And speaking of that, your columnist felt pretty good about finishing ahead of old rival Eric Walker in a heat. It was only one heat, not overall, but jeez it felt good to get one over the Grey Ghost. It won’t happen again, the Ghost will prevail, as he has done for all of the 25 years I’ve been dreading getting him in my heat.
Wally Allan, the transplanted Barbadian who never stops talking or smiling, is another senior who has shot through the stratosphere in recent years, taking out a Queensland title a couple of weeks back and the over 55s at the Logger. Wal lights up the beach by producing something special almost every wave, as does queen of the surf Peppie Simpson, who won the over 45 women’s from much younger opponents.
Getting to the pointy end, the three big ticket events, men’s and women’s open and the Thomas Surfboards Open Old Mal, produced some of the golden moments of the event, as you would expect.
I’m just going to focus on three surfers who amazed me time and time again. Our own Matt Cuddles Cuddihy is silky smooth, yet powerful and inventive, and he laid it all on the table in taking out the old mal. Finishing fourth in that double-gender event, and winning the open women’s, transplanted Hawaiian Mason Schremmer has been turning heads with her surfing in Noosa since her mum started bringing the young girls to the Noosa Festival well over a decade ago, so it’s no surprise what a class act she’s developed into.
Lastly, I haven’t seen a lot of Brazilian Augusto Olinto, now living in Noosa, but every time I see him surf I get more excited about seeing him again. The goofy-footer from Ubatuba combines a masterclass of tricks that former world champ Rusty Keaulana would have killed for, with smooth, flowing transitions and powerful bottom turns. He is so much fun to watch.
The Noosa Mal Club has been putting on the Logger for quite a few years now, with the support of some great sponsors. This year big aloha to Heads of Noosa Brewing, Thomas Surfboards, Fine Surfcraft, Noosa Surf Outlet, Noosa Longboards, Huey’s Choice Surf Wax, We Are Feel Good Inc and Noosa Media.
And a big thanks and a bottle of wine coming your way to photographers Ian Borland and Fenna de King.
Sidebar/fact box
WINNERS
JUNIOR GIRLS
MIA WAITE
JUNIOR BOYS
LENNIX CURRIE
OVER 60S
GLEN GOWER
OVER 55 OLD MAL
WALLY ALLAN
OVER 50S MEN
DAMIAN COULTER
OVER 45S WOMEN
PEPPIE SIMPSON
OVER 40S
PAUL WHITE
THOMAS SURFBOARDS OPEN OLD MAL
MATT CUDDIHY
HEADS OF NOOSA OPEN WOMEN
MASON SCHREMMER
HEADS OF NOOSA OPEN
AUGUSTO OLINTO
