It’s Easter and surfers worldwide turn their attention to the annual Rip Curl Bells Beach Pro in Victoria.
In 2004 Surfing Victoria hosted the Australian Longboard Titles.
Surfing West Australia sent along a team of 15 men, 4 women and a judge, Gary McCormick.
A support team of 5 partners and friends accompanied the competitors.
Team manager Mick Marlin contacted Helen Sweeney nee Hattrick (founder of Creatures of Leisure Pipelines Legropes) who was working in the real estate industry in Torquay.
Helen arranged 3 houses for the team, the Animal House, the Old Folks Home (with Nurses quarters upstairs) and the Married Quarters.
A 22 seat bus and a removalist truck for the boards provided transport.
Mick warned the team that paddling at Bells was like putting your hand into an esky full of ice and leaving it there!
The team enjoyed a great social time with the Torquay bakery the centre of attention.
A visit to the Australian Surfing Museum for all the teams was the highlight.
Team meetings and barbeques hosted by each house were always a hoot.
Surfing began at small messy Jan Juc beach break, gradually cleaning up to very contestable waste high peelers.
Contest director Max Wells was keen for the surfing to locate to Bells and with an approaching cold front he had his wish come true.
The quarter finals and most semis were held in a reasonable if windy Bells, as the swell kept building.
W.A. surfers unfortunately knocked out in the semis were Peter Dunn O50s, Chris Fullston O45s and Kevin Anderson O35s.
Finals day was a classic Bells day, sunny with offshore winds, corduroy lines to the horizon and overhead walls all the way to the beach.
W.A. surfers to make the finals were Claire Finnucaine Open Women, Arlene Nagtzaam and Sam Vanderford Over 35 Women, Bill Gibson Over 45 Men and Mick Marlin Over 55 Men.
All surfers put in a good effort with Arlene the top performer with a first place in the Over 35 Women.
The presentation at the Jan Juc Tavern went on well into the night.
A storm rolled through that night and the Teams Challenge was held on the last day at Torquay beach, freezing cold, wet and windy.
The team thermometer read 3 degrees on the beach and as most westsuits spent the night still wet in the truck it wasn’t a pleasant experience.
All up a fabulous time for the W.A. team and an experience not to be forgotten.
Images from Fujifilm photos by WA Team Manager Mick Marlin.
The WA TeamBells final dayDan Corbett at Jan Juc beach breakThe girls, Claire Finucane, Sam Vanderford, Arlene Nagtzaam & Judy Dann.Open Womans finalists – Claire Finucane WA 4th, Catherine Perry NSW 3rd, Tessa Davidson NSW 2nd, Chelsea Williams NSW 1st.Claire, Open Womens final.Over 35 Womans finalist Arlene 1st, Heather Peck Vic 2nd, Sam Vanderford WA 3rd, Kirsty Webster NSW 4th.Arlene’s winning wave in the closing minutes.Arlene chaired up the stairs.Arlene winner Over 35 Women. Trophy and photo are on display at WA Surf Gallery.Over 55 Mens finalists – Rob Spaven NSW 1st, Gerry Fafie NSW 4th, Mick Marlin WA 3rd, Jeff “Bully” Arnold Qld 2nd.Mick Marlin Over 55’s final. Photo by Arlene with Mick’s camera.Over 45 Mens finalists – Sput Keevers NSW 1st, Bill Gibson WA 4th, Ian Hockey NSW 3rd, Mike Pimm Qld 2nd.
It’s Easter and surfers worldwide turn their attention to the annual Rip Curl Bells Beach Pro in Victoria.
In 2004 Surfing Victoria hosted the Australian Longboard Titles.
Surfing West Australia sent along a team of 15 men, 4 women and a judge, Gary McCormick.
A support team of 5 partners and friends accompanied the competitors.
Team manager Mick Marlin contacted Helen Sweeney nee Hattrick (founder of
Creatures of LeisurePipelines Legropes) who was working in the real estate industry in Torquay.Helen arranged 3 houses for the team, the Animal House, the Old Folks Home (with Nurses quarters upstairs) and the Married Quarters.
A 22 seat bus and a removalist truck for the boards provided transport.
Mick warned the team that paddling at Bells was like putting your hand into an esky full of ice and leaving it there!
The team enjoyed a great social time with the Torquay bakery the centre of attention.
A visit to the Australian Surfing Museum for all the teams was the highlight.
Team meetings and barbeques hosted by each house were always a hoot.
Surfing began at small messy Jan Juc beach break, gradually cleaning up to very contestable waste high peelers.
Contest director Max Wells was keen for the surfing to locate to Bells and with an approaching cold front he had his wish come true.
The quarter finals and most semis were held in a reasonable if windy Bells, as the swell kept building.
W.A. surfers unfortunately knocked out in the semis were Peter Dunn O50s, Chris Fullston O45s and Kevin Anderson O35s.
Finals day was a classic Bells day, sunny with offshore winds, corduroy lines to the horizon and overhead walls all the way to the beach.
W.A. surfers to make the finals were Claire Finnucaine Open Women, Arlene Nagtzaam and Sam Vanderford Over 35 Women, Bill Gibson Over 45 Men and Mick Marlin Over 55 Men.
All surfers put in a good effort with Arlene the top performer with a first place in the Over 35 Women.
The presentation at the Jan Juc Tavern went on well into the night.
A storm rolled through that night and the Teams Challenge was held on the last day at Torquay beach, freezing cold, wet and windy.
The team thermometer read 3 degrees on the beach and as most westsuits spent the night still wet in the truck it wasn’t a pleasant experience.
All up a fabulous time for the W.A. team and an experience not to be forgotten.
Images from Fujifilm photos by WA Team Manager Mick Marlin.
Thanks for sharing your story and photos Mick.
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