Riptide Magazine

Rawlins wins the 2011 Vic Pro

Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 September 2011 17:21

Photo // Chris Bagot

While Casey Stoner was cutting hot laps at near by Phillip Island Australia's best bodyboarders put on a show to remember for onlookers and proud locals alike at the Mornington Peninsula's famed Rye Ocean Beach.

Impressive performances by contenders for the Victorian State Title preceeded some of the most high performance bodyboarding this year's tour has seen in the 4ft offshore conditions.

Top professionals Tom Rigby, Andrew Lester and Michael Novy freshly home from events on the IBA World Tour proved their experience with deep barrels and solid combinations in the early rounds. Local qualifier James Page was also mixing it with the big guns early until he exited from a deep barrel right onto the exposed reef. He was strechered up the beach by fellow competitors with a split knee cap. Scans later that afternoon revealed a very serious injury that will see young James spend the next six months out of the water. We wish him a speedy recovery.

As we progressed to the pointy end of the draw the Western Australian contingent of Brad Hughes and Chad Jackson proved to the crowd that they are some of the best barrel riders this country has produced weaving their way through some of the heaviest, fastest slabs of the day.

The semi finals saw a showdown between young guns Chase O'Leary and Lachlan Cramsie. This heat quickly became a clinic for those bodyboarders watching in the art of the backflip as both riders continued to push each other higher and faster. When the hooter sounded it was young Lachlan Cramsie from the Sunshine Coast who prevailed.

In an action packed 30 minute final Queensland's Mitch Rawlins justified why many call him the most explosive bodyboarder in the world. He bought his entire bag of tricks to this event, treating the crowd to displays of his huge overtweaked inverts, deep barrel rides and powerful cut backs that had even those local board riders watching raising an eyebrow. However it was not all one way traffic - Cramsie gave Rawlins an almighty scare with one minute remaining when he hit one of the biggest sections of the event performing a clinical backflip out into the flats. However he was unable to find the 5.6 needed in the final minute to snatch victory from Rawlins.

This was a huge win for Rawlins his first of the year. Upon receiving the novelty sized winners cheque he thanked major event sponsor Shed 9 as well as presenting sponsors Peninsula Hot Springs, Conroys Bakery and Baha Taco Joint. Mitch will definitely be back next year and commented on what potential this event has to be huge in the future.

Special thanks must got to Ray, Nathan, Steve, Chris and Eddie from the Mornington Peninsula Bodyboard Club for a superbly organized and run event.


Rest of Photos // Les Hallack

The over the weekend the riders at the Victoria State Titles and Vic Pro did a paddle out for WA shark attack victim and Eddie Soloman.