The 2023 Australian Bodyboard Titles concluded at North Haven in Port Macquarie, the capital of Australian bodyboarding.
Held under pristine 3-4 foot offshore conditions, the ocean provided the perfect canvas for bodyboarders to showcase their prowess, vying for the coveted title of Australian champion.
Glen Elliott, Surfing Australia Contest Director, believes they witnessed the best conditions ever seen for this division of the Australian Titles.
"Epic conditions for the bodyboarders, with each participant reveling in the high-performance peaks at North Haven," Elliot said.
"Solid 3-4 foot left and right peaks were the order of the day, complete with tube riding and big flips."
The open men's and open women's events were both dominated by riders from Western Australia.
The $1,000 winner's prize will undoubtedly assist with their cross-country travel expenses to this prestigious event.
Exciting Performances
Ebony Schell (Mindarie, WA) defeated her East Coast adversaries in the open women's, securing back-to-back Australian Titles.
She remarked:
"I think just the vibes here are amazing to complete with all my friends from WA and cheer each other along," said Schell.
"And obviously, to back up that win from last year, it builds up my confidence. I'll be back next year to defend my title."
Participants couldn't stop talking about the fantastic conditions they encountered throughout the event.
Kai de Legh (Perth, WA), the open men's winner, shared:
"The forecast was looking pretty sad at the start, then I think it was on the second day it picked up, and it was 3-4 feet, just pumping offshore glassy peaks, which was great to see."
At 21, Kai was the youngest finalist, surpassing his rival Jimmy Leayr (Newcastle, NSW) by a mere margin of 0.3 to claim the Australian Title.
In the over-35 masters, Wade Boeree (Kotara, NSW), originally from Western Australia and now representing the Newcastle Bodyboard Club, triumphed with an impressive heat total of 17.26, which included an individual score of 9.13.
For Wade, the contest transcends scores.
"I mostly compete just for the kinship, these guys are my brothers, and I enjoy the camaraderie that I've formed over the last 30 years of bodyboarding."
For all the participants in the bodyboard division, this competition is not just about titles or scores.
It's an amalgamation of camaraderie, the joy of surfing, and the memory of the fantastic waves that allowed them to compete to claim the title of Australian champion.
2023 Australian Bodyboard Titles | Champions
Open Men: Kai de Legh Padbury (Perth, WA)
Open Women: Ebony Schell (Mindarie, WA)
Under 18 Junior Men: Jai Taylor (Noosa, QLD)
Under 16 Cadet Open: Sunny Williams (Pacific Palms, NSW)
Under 14 Grommet Open: Archer Thoms (North Haven, NSW)
Over 35 Masters Men: Wade Boeree (Kotara, NSW)
Over 45 Men: Nathan Clark (Mentone, VIC)
Drop Knee: Jimmy Leayr (Newcastle, NSW)