Bondi Beach Boost bonanza
Bondi went surf-crazy for Boost. The Boost Mobile Surfsho from March 12 to 14 saw a pro surf and spectator extravaganza at Bondi.
There were good reasons to be down at Bondi for the biggest surfing competition held here since the Coke Classic in 1989: a picture perfect sunny day, beckoning clear warm water with great surf, and amazing aerial surfing performances from the world’s finest – Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Owen Wright, Taj Burrow and Jordy Smith.
Some of the Bondi locals surfed in the trials; none of them won cash prizes but it was great to see local kids mixing it up with world-class pros in the water and in the competitor’s area. The kids were stoked at the chance to hang out with heroes like Kelly and Taj.
Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark commented on the thousand-strong crowd: “Fantastic to have a big surf event here at Bondi – the crowds here today indicate how important it is to run an international surf event in Australia’s biggest city that not only produces outstanding world professional surfers but also has an abundance of excellent surf beaches.”
Down at the beach, super-surfers were being super-men in the water with amazing high-flying stunts to an ever-growing crowd. In fact, the crowd was so intense and so keen to get photos with their heroes that Waverley Police were called to provide police escorts for the high-profile pros to get from the VIP stands down to the safety of the jet-ski patrolled water.
Owen Wright took out the event with an enormous air-reverse (basically a 360° air spin). The light was shining on 20-year-old Lennox head aerial master – especially after his airs kept punching holes through the ozone layer above him.
Surfing’s World Tour is often referred to as a circus but it won’t ever come close to the extravaganza of the Boost Mobile Surfsho until it comes to Bondi Beach.
“They’re not the best waves but it was pretty perfect for airs,” said Owen after his finals win. And following the huge commercial success of this weekend’s Surfsho, competition organisers may well reassess Bondi Beach as a possible major event location.
– By Tom Edwards
