Shock start to surf season

BY JED SMITH
Cataclysmic storms, large surf, 75 competitors and last year’s dead-last competitor finishing the day as ratings leader marked the beginning of the local surfing calendar.

With waves edging five foot and offering little face time, the day would belong to the innovative and aggressive.  One move, two if you were lucky, was the scenario; who owned the volatile one reo-wonder was the question.

As far as the Bondi line-up goes, no one surfs like Chris Symmons. To watch as he buries his rail, flying off the bottom with a waves-worth of speed into a frontal assault of a descending lip, sending fins, spray and person flying, is to witness the definition of raw, aggressive surfing. Where multiple champion Ian Wallace will map out his wave, carefully slicing portions off it en route to a long, calculated ride, Symmons will either fall off or throw down three turns of a calibre that won’t be seen again all season. This inconsistency, however, has also plagued his title aspirations, having never made an opens final before this.  But as far as a spectating goes, his heat is a must see.

With heavyweight Ian Wallace absent (Chile), a valuable head start beckoned. Local pharmaceutical professor and widely tipped threat for the crown, Jono Arnold, walked away with second place and valuable points. Chris Symmons took third, though there’s a good chance these points will be wasted’or he might win the whole thing. Loping power hacker Johannes Leak finished fourth. To suggest that Luke Firmage would at some point lead the ratings this year would have earned a beer in the face and a schooner to the head. Last year’s equal 47th competitor begins 2008 at the top of the table after winning the first event. 

Meanwhile the Bondi Grommet factory is in full swing, unearthing more kids than an Amish midwife. Jack Priest has graced these pages before, though special mention is in order for the rare feat of winning both junior divisions ‘ reminding that he weighs about 50 kilos, the contest was held in waves of consequence and this required surfing twice as many heats as anyone else.
For photos, registration information or the contest schedule visit: http://www.bondiboardriders.com/. See ya on May 18.