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The Mitch "Rocky" Rawlins takes down all challengers to win the first Australiasian Tour event at D'Bah on the weekend.
QAB press release:
Once again Duranbah, Tweed Heads Gold Coast turned the waves on with a 4-6 foot punchy swell for the final day of competition. Former Gold Coast resident Mitch Rawlins (now living at Yallingup, WA) has returned home for another spectacular victory in the 1st round of the 2009 Rebel Sport Australasian Pro Tour. The Dropknee Division saw Gold Coast local Dane Pope earn victory a very stylish and powerful display of bodyboarding.
Some of the best bodyboarders from Australia and the world were on hand to compete in the first round of the Pro tour, competing for valuable early points. The competition ran over three days with the final day dishing up some classic Duranbah wedges. It was also doubled up with the 1st round of the amateur QAB (Queensland Association of Bodyboarding) state championship series.
In the Pro Men’s final it ended up being an all QLD affair with local knowledge proving a major advantage on testing D'Bah conditions. Mitch Rawlins had a slow start with Jake Stone slamming a massive backflip of a solid 6 footer landing hard, then finish the wave off with a spin and a roll, making him the main man to catch. Joe Clarke replied quickly, whipping a nice stylish ARS. Corey McLeon was next to notch a high scoring wave smashing a full vertical inverted air to land hard in the flats. Mitch showing his long knowledge waited patiently until the dying moments of the heat when a 6-ft wedge popped up, he pounced and flew down the face and into a huge full-rotation air reverse landing smoothly. Eventually it was Mitch Rawlins from Gold Coast/Western Australia 1st, Jake Stone from Sunshine Coast 2nd, Joe Clarke from Gold Coast 3rd, Corey McClean from Gold Coast 4th
As Mitch Rawlins stated “Duranbah is one of the best suited waves for bodyboarding around Australia! I love coming home every year to compete at Duranbah. But the level of competition is getting so much better and if you’re not on your game you’ll be knocked out.” At the end of the contest it was also confirmed that the last leg of the Pro Tour will wrap-up at Duranbah in November in conjunction with the Australian National Titles of Bodyboarding. Mitch also has to say this “I am also stoked to hear the National Titles and last leg of the Pro Tour will be held here as this is a fantastic arena for spectators, as you can see by the large amounts that have been around to watch over the weekend. I’ll definitely be back again to compete here!”
In the Pro Dropknee Final it again proved to be an advantage to have local knowledge with Goldie lad Dane Pope showing a stylish, but powerful approach in the prevailing conditions. South African Sacha Specker (the man with a killer mo') was the early leader in the final landing a heavy floater and getting some nice smooth cutbacks. But Nathan and Dane were quick to fight back with Nathan getting a great sized wave and digging the rail deep to slam a nice sized cutback. Over half way through the final Dane used his local knowledge to get shacked in the Duranbah green room showing full style as he cruised through the barrel to come out and smash the oncoming section with a nice wack.
The next round of the Rebel Sport IBA Australasian Pro Tour will be held at Soldiers Beach NSW next weekend, with all of the biggest names in bodyboarding cruising down there for the comp. The action will be hectic, so make sure you don't miss out on watching competitive bodyboarding at its finest.
Extra: After losing in a very tight semi-final Dave Winchester paddled back into the D'bah line-up with fury in his eyes. He then proceeded to throw down some of the biggest moves of the day while free-surfing next to the contest peak; it truely was a power session. One hat-trick of consecutive waves included a huge backflip, an invert and an air reverse.
Above: Pro Men Final L to R: Jake Stone, Mitch Rawlins, Joe Clarke, Corey McLeon
Above: Pro Dropknee Final L to R: Nathan Koeaber, Glen Sullivan, Dane Pope, Sacha Specker
*Photos courtesy of QAB.
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