The team had a successful campaign up the coast at the Kirra Teams Titles. Results were:
- Beau Wills — 1st
- Sam Chell — 1st
- Jake Thompson — 2nd
- Brent Power — 2nd
- Brendon Back — 2nd
- Wade Carmichael — 2nd
- Josh Hay — 3rd
- Dane Atchison — 3rd
Avoca finished the weekend 14th from 36 teams, which is a great result considering 5 of the 8 team members are 20 years–old and under.
Dane Atchison had Josh Kerr (ex–WCT surfer), who was beat by the Werri Boardriders' surfer to win the whole event — which just shows the calibre of surfers these guys were up against. For those not up on the format of this comp, it basically has 36 teams of 8 surfers 2 of which have to be under 20yrs, with the rest open surfers. Each 20 minute heat has 4 surfers in it, 1st gets 4 points, 2nd gets 3 points and so on. On Saturday night we were in 7th spot, we ended up on 24 points from a possible 32 — so its a pretty cut throat top 16.
Young Willsy blew them out of the water in his heat and Thomo caught the bomb of the heat 2 seconds after the hooter. That wave would have won him his heat easily.
Joshy and Wade were unlucky and couldn't buy a wave to save their lives. It's a cruel sport sometimes. Brent and Backy were their usual, solid selves and once again juggled work commitments to fly up and back for their club. That only leaves “the old man of the sea”, Mule, who with some basic tactics of sitting wide and getting the biggest sets possible cracked his first Kirra Teams win ever — after 10 years of trying. It was a good lesson for the groms.
All in all it was a good trip. The waves didn't disappoint and D.Bah pumped all weekend. Saturday arvo our grommies literally took over Snapper as the old men watched from the surf club balcony. Our young guys got heaps of respect from the commentators, judges and peers and they basically surfed themselves silly.
Big thanks to Mick and Mule for ferrying the team and supporters up the coast and I'm sure we can't wait till the next teams titles rolls around again.
Cheers boys,Love
There are some photos from this comp and the Newcastle comp coming online soon.