Bondi Rides On
Waking up to double over-head-size waves on a competition day can be daunting. But 45 diehards were swept down to Bondi Beach with the powerful offshore wind on August 1 for the Bondi Boardriders Brad Valenti Memorial surfing competition.
Most were at first unenthusiastic about paddling out among the enormous waves, which looked like deadly close-outs. But local wildman Jordy Lloyd set the standard, paddling out before the heats and picking up a huge set wave. Straight into a massive top-turn and then pulling in for the barrel, Jordy got the rest fired up.
“The big waves separated the men from the boys,” Boardriders club president Beau Sevastos said. Young cadets, the under-15s, had to man-up pretty quick. Six youngens paddled out, and only one came back…with first prize of a new locally-made ‘R18+’ surfboard to celebrate his newfound manhood.
That was Ben Key, 14, whose Brad Valenti win has put him in first place overall for the year, a few points ahead of his brother James who picked up 2nd place. Special mention goes to James Key and Pama Davies (3rd), the only cadets to paddle out the back and brave the massive set waves.
The inconsistent Nathan Feller won his second Juniors’ event of the year, but still has a few points to catch up to take out an overall win this year. So far Jack ‘Cookie’ Campbell is holding a narrow lead over Louis Reed in second and Jack Priest in third. These kids will become our future Bondi silverbacks.
Only once in a while our Opens division gets to show its mettle among the big stuff. “It was out of control; one of our best Boardriders ever,” Beau said.
Brett Anderson, already in front on the overall points tally, charged to victory again with a solid performance. Paul Ingram, who had strained his hamstring, could barely walk and only intended to go out for a quick paddle, came back with second place, an amazing achievement.
And Jordy Lloyd, out of control himself, melded well with the surf and came out with a third, as well as the ‘Wave of the Day’ award for his pre-heat inspiration that morning. He was followed by Luke Kennedy, Shane Thomas and Beau Sevastos in the final.
But the real Bondi silverbacks were our new Masters (over 40s) Division, taken out by Phil Deadly, with Ray Vuko in 2nd and guest-apparent Ricky Scott third. All four Boardriders divisions represent the current generations of Bondi surfers, grommet to master, each imbibed with our rich Bondi surf culture, and a community bond as strong our will to surf.
The competition was in commemoration of the late Brad Valenti, who left a gap in the Boardriders community when he passed away in 1995, at the age of 23. A founder of the club, close friend, and ‘one of the boys’, Brad’s life is honoured each year with a wreath cast out to sea, this time from the lifeguard jet ski among thundering waves.
The next comp is AA Rated, meaning competitors earn double the points and will be doubly keen to make their moves on the ever looming end of season trophy time.
– By Tom Edwards
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