North Stockton, NSW, AUSTRALIA 14 February 2016
NORTH Narrabeen boardriders have backed up their Australian Boardriders Battle national championship by winning the Orica Team Challenge trophy at North Stockton beach.
In small waves fanned by a nor-easter, the North Narrabeen boardriders’ Skulls team (57.81) edged out North Avalon Surfing Association by little more than half a point (57.25) and pocketed the winner’s cheque of $5000. North Avalon took home $2000 for their effort. This was the tightest contest in the event’s four year history and speculation over which team would be taking the trophy back over the Hawkesbury was rife around the contest site.
The North Narrabeen Skulls team consisted of Cooper Chapman, Dylan Moffatt and Jordy Lawler. Chapman was the highest-rated pro-surfer in this event and is currently number 10 in the 2016 World Surf League Qualifying Series rankings. Surfers Shane Carroll, Chris Salisbury and Sam Taylor represented North Avalon in the final.
And showing the depth and dominance of the North Narrabeen club were the Skulls’ stablemates, the North Narrabeen Whites. The Whites tied for equal third place with Merewether Blue.
Stockton hosted thousands of people from outside the small community. As well as the Orica Teams Challenge, there was a 3 Peas Market with dozens of stallholders, the Stockton Surf Lifesaving Association’s nipper championships and the Head of the Harbour carnival – where under-9 to under-14 nippers from Nobbys and Newcastle descended on the surf to participate in a friendly carnival. The perfect weather played its part in ensuring a massive boost to local businesses and the small community’s economy.
General Manager of Orica Kooragang Scott Reid said the last three days of the Orica Team Challenge provided terrific surfing, friendship and generosity from the Stockton community.
“The Stockton community are very important to Orica and for them to allow us to host this event here for three days was very kind. It’s great to see every one having a lot of fun here in Stockton.
“Even the Stockton Ferry has been full with people coming over here today and you would have been battling to get a seat on that. Hopefully we will see you all again next year for year five of the Orica contest.
President of the North Stockton Boardriders club Sean Shotter said that the club didn’t want to hold a competition, they wanted to host an event.
“I’d like to thank Orica for their involvement. It’s a big thing to commit and stay committed to this kind of event. This is year four and I hope we get to year 44. I’d also like to thank the Stockton community because it does impact upon them. There’s a lot of people who have had us in their front yards for the past three days, so thanks for that.”
The next event at Surfest Newcastle Australia will be the Wandiyali ATSI Indigenous Classic – Australia’s richest competition for indigenous surfers. That event will be held at Merewether beach, commencing on Thursday 18 February.
