Riptide Magazine

2009 RAW D'Bah Nationals - Day One

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 November 2009 16:40

Here's a recap from the IBA Media Department:

It was 1996 when the last National Titles were held at the world-famous beach break peaks of D'Bah, and today the best bodyboarders in Australia were not left disappointed.  Despite the tricky onshore conditions D'Bah served up some funky left and right hand wedges in the 1.0 to 1.5 metre range.

The blue ribbon division, the open men's was first in the water today, with the everyone throwing all on the line for national glory. Central NSW Coaster Shaun Peterson set the pace early busting a massive Air Roll Spin combination and bagged a near perfect 9.73 wave average from the judges. IBA International Head Judge Maurice Wakeling described Petersons surfing as the benchmark for competitive bodyboarding. "He had one solid close-out roll, followed by a clean ARS on an outside wave, it is this kind of surfing that wins heats and titles".  said Maurice. Local rider Joe Clarke, was one of the most outstanding surfers and used local knowledge to find the right wedges at the right time.   Clarke landed a huge spin to invert combination that netted a 8.5 from the judging panel. "Today the waves are just popping up at the last second and there are rips everywhere which is making it hard to judge where to sit"  said Clarke.

Clarke is happy to have the National Titles on home soil after a 16 year absence from Duranbah. "It's is great that the event is here this year and it is going to be held in better waves,  this means that the best surfers win"

The event will conclude with the final leg of the 2009 Rebel Sport Pro Tour,  the Rebel Sport Pro, a 4 Star event featuring the likes of Mitch Rawlins (Qld) Michael Novy (Qld), Chad Jackson (WA), Brad Hughes (WA,) and Jones Russell (NSW).

Click through for a Riptide Exclusive Gallery of Day One of the event from aophoto.com.au (check out more of Alex's photography on both his blog and his website).