Bumpy swell brings spectacular surfing

A SOLID if bumpy two metre swell made for some spectacular surfing at Southbridge Boardriders' final pointscore on Sunday.

The two-metre southerly swell lashed "?The Farm' as competitors in every division tackled monster sets.

Just paddling out the back was an achievement, especially for the cadets, as the bigger waves were easily twice their height.

Brett Connellan stood out in the cadet division, picking up some of the best left-handers on offer.

Other standout performances came from Nick Clifford, Brett Rogers, Chris Homer and Kevin Schoefield, who won the junior, open, senior and masters divisions respectively.

Wave selection was a key factor, as choosing the right wave made the difference between an opportunity to pull off some power manoeuvres or a very long paddle.

Many surfers had difficulty securing the mandatory three waves in their heat.

Some of the younger surfers were impressive attacking the waves with abandon.

The focus is now on the "?King of the Rock' tournament, held in memory of Cowries masters Mark Clifford and Mark Prpic. That tournament will be held on Saturday, July 28.

Preparations for the presentation and the 2007-08 season (which starts in August) are well under way.

Southbridge is also looking to attract women and girls surfers to the club for the new season.

Enquiries regarding Southbridge Boardriders can be made at beyond words...BOOKSHOP, Addison St, Shellharbour Village.

Winners of the divisions will be announced at the presentation.