Two Australian champions are crowned at the Australian Standup Paddleboard Titles at Port Macquarie, NSW, in decent 6 foot swell that tested the countries best.

An action packed 24 heat day saw quality performances by all competitors in the south east swell that opened up onto Town Beach, crowning Queenslanders Justin Holland (Gold Coast) and Shakira Westdrop (Casuarina) Australian Standup Paddleboard Champions.

The icy winds and challenging conditions, put the best Paddlers in Australia to the test, big scores opened up the early morning heats before the finals got under way in the afternoon, with Queenslanders looking to take the title early.

In the open men’s defeating Jackson Close (Coolangatta, QLD), Keahi De Aboitiz (Noosa, QLD) and Michael Davies (Msmasters Beach, NSW), it was Justin Holland (Gold Coast, QLD) who found himself in a tough final against a high calibre of surfers.

“I had a pretty good surf the first heat, but I felt like I had more to come, so I swapped boards in the final and it paid off”, said Holland who won with a combined heat total of 15.50 (out of a possible 20).

“I’ve been doing this for two years now, I had a good result in Tahiti in the world Standup tour and now to be crowned Australian champion, I’m looking forward to the rest of the year” said Holland.

Holalnd’s win was not won easily with current Australian Longboard champion Jackson Close searching for a second 2011 title and young Keahi De Aboitiz displaying an array of futuristic ariel maneuvers the kite boarder is known for.

Fitness levels were tested with some competitors opting to run from north to south in between waves, and some SUP riders utilising the jet-ski at the last minute before being dragged into the river mouth in the heavy rip.

In the open women’s Victorian Emma Webb was keen to add another trophy to her cabinet, after winning the open women’s Australian Longboard crown on the weekend.

Webb shot straight through to the semi finals with Erin Dark (Gerringong, NSW), Shakira Westdrop (Casuarina, QLD) and Jenny Ryan (Currumbin, QLD) who showcased solid performances in the opening rounds.

It was Shakira Westdrop (Casuarina, QLD), who led from the hooter riding a solid wave from the back to take a commanding victory over Emma Webb (Jan Juc, Victoria), Jenny Ryan (Currumbin, QLD) and Erin Dark (Gerringong, NSW), who finished second, third, fourth respectively.

Westdrop dominated throughout the SUP competition going through undefeated in the open women’s in the messy conditions on Town Beach Port Macquarie.

“It was pretty rough and big out there, I saw the guys were getting the scores out the back and knew to just get out there and get a few good turns on that first wave”, said Westdrop.

“There’s a lot of girls doing SUP now, cruising the rivers and the waves, jumping off their longboards and short boards, more girls are just having a crack at it, it’s great”, said Shakira Westdrop, the 2011 Australian Standup Paddlebpard Women’s champion.

Final Placings:

Final Mens placings

1 - Justin Holland (QLD)
2 - Jackson Close (QLD)
3 - Keahi De Aboitz (QLD)
4 - Michael Davis (NSW)
5 - John Christensen (NSW)
5 - Roger Saunders (NSW)
7 - Andrew Cassidy (NSW)
7 - Beau Nixon (NSW)
9 - Adam Robinson (NSW)
9 - Geoff Breen (QLD)
9 - Glenn Turner (NSW)
9 - Matthew Lumley (VIC)
13 - Jake Jensen (QLD)
13 - Jeremy Corne (NSW)
13 - Richard Finlay-Jones (NSW)
13 - Scott Downing (NSW)
17 - Dan Cleary (NSW)
17 - Tully St John (QLD)
19 - Leon Blakos (VIC)
19 - Matthew Tackle (VIC)
19 - Michael Stokes (NSW)
22 - Graeme Briggs (VIC)
22 - John Tackle (VIC)
22 - Peter Sharp (NSW)

Womens:

1 - Shakira Westdorp (QLD)
2 - Emma Webb (VIC)
3 - Jenny Ryan (QLD)
4 - Erin Dark (NSW)
5 - Kristianna Page (VIC)
5 - Elyse Commerford (NSW)
7 - Hannah Finlay-Jones (NSW)
8 - Melissa McManus (NSW)

Contest Director Glen Elliott from Surfing Australia, is pleased with the success of the event so far and looking forward to the rest of the week where the Single Fin and Alaia divisions will take to the water for the first time in the 14 day event.

“Port Macquarie has offered us an array of perfect breaks which have been ideal for this competition, the Australian Surf Festival has such a wide variety of genres there this year, the countries best Surfmasters, Longboarders, SUP riders, Single Fin and Alaia competitors are putting on a great show”, said Elliott.

Having ridden a wave of popularity, across the globe, over the past decade, stand-up paddleboarding has etched its way firmly into the sphere of competitive and recreational surfing, solidifying itself as a permanent part of the Australian Surf Festival.

The hybrid discipline, which takes inspiration from surfing, skiing, wakeboarding and skateboarding, continues to rapidly evolve and grow in popularity.

The festival isn’t just about the surfing; it will tickle the taste buds of entertainment buffs with live music, surf art, surfing education courses and the Essential Energy Indigenous Surfing Program confirmed for the two-week event.

One of Australia’s leading indigenous artists, Vernon Ah Kee has taken centre stage at the Glasshouse Regional Gallery with his Cant Chant Exhibition, which will opened during the festival waiting period.

Ah Kee is known for his incisive critiques of White Australian culture. In the Cant Chant exhibition he takes on the iconic subject of the beach and casts a critical eye on its special role in forming Australian identity.

Cant Chant includes surfboards painted with North Queensland rainforest shield designs as well as a video installation featuring dead boards (waterlogged surfboards) blasted by guns, and Aboriginal surfers.

As an added benefit to this year’s festival, an exciting live music program, including six shows, will be staged at the Blue Water Bar and Restaurant.

For more information about the Australian Surf Festival please visit –www.surfingaustralia.com

For the latest updates and live scores visit: www.australiansurffestival.com

The 2011 Australian Surf Festival is proudly presented by Surfing Australia and Surfing NSW and proudly supported by Events NSW, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Sundowner Breakwall Tourist Park, Blue Water Bar and Restaurant, Glasshouse Regional Gallery, Suncorp, VB, Australian Sports Commission, Coastalwatch, NBN Television, Port Macquarie News, Star FM, 2MC FM, Surfing World Magazine and Pacific Longboarder Magazine.

The Australian Surf Festival Program:

Australian Longboard Titles – 14-20 August, 2011

Australian Stand Up Paddleboard Titles – 21-24 August, 2011

Australian Surfmasters Titles – 21-27 August, 2011

Australian Alaia Titles - 24-27 August, 2011

Australian Single Fin Titles – 26-27 August, 2011

About Events NSW:

Events NSW, a part of Destination NSW is committed to developing and building a world class NSW Events Calendar. All events on the NSW Events Calendar including the Australian Surf Festival are exclusive to Sydney and NSW and deliver significant economic, marketing and community benefits to the State. Events NSW partners with both the public and private sector to deliver the best event experiences in Australia and the world.

www.eventsnsw.com.au

About Port Macquarie:

The NSW North coast – from the Hunter to the Northern Rivers, attracts over 60 per cent of all overnight trips during which visitors went surfing (source Tourism NSW). Port Macquarie is strategically located in the heart of this popular surf region. With our accessible surfing coastline for all skill levels, and our long established urban beach culture, we are in the perfect position to continue to grow our reputation as a premier surf destination, and securing the Australian Surf Festival for the next three years is testament to this.

www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au