Fortunately, the beach bar gave spectators a dry sanctuary from which to view the non-stop finals.

Nic Jones started a fantastic day of competition, dominant in the Under 18s division. Again opting for traditional equipment, the dynamic young surfer from Maroochydore matched his classic noserides with some more modern turns and was unstoppable, claiming the title convincingly. He returned to the water for the Men’s Open, sponsored by shapers, Classic Malibu. Tough competition from Nick Farago, Beau Nixon, Lawrence Harkness Oscar Lalor and Matt Mulder in the six-man heat didn’e deter Jones, an early 8.25-point wave placing him in a commanding position from the outset.

Sliding through the rain: an outstanding double-win for local Sunshine Coaster, Nic Jones

From only two waves surfed for the remainder of his heat, Jones registered another high score to make his win indisputable, Jones delighted at the double individual win.

The under 18 girls final saw six competitors pitted against each other, each of whom have been outstanding in their heats throughout the week. But opening her heat with a solid score, it was Kimberley Norman who showed form from the start. A huge heat of waves kept the judges frantically working, with 34 waves registered in 20 minutes.

Norman remained in the lead for a very well-earned victory.

The structural integrity of the judges’ tower was in question, a deluge unleashing upon the Sunshine Coast. But with staff desperately working under their feet, the judges and commentators carried on regardless as the age divisions took their turns in the glassy First Point waves.

Taiwanese surfer BayBay Niu, the only international finalist in the John Madill Toyota Senior Ladies final struggled to collect a high score, but of her eight waves, Peppi Simpson led the charge to be the one holding the trophy.

Of the men’s senior divisions, it was Eric Walker and Geoff Fanning, in the Men’s Over 60s and Over 50s respectively, who shone through the downpour, Walker in particular answering the challenge with a superb score.

David Hayes’ challenge was significantly greater, having to fight for every point and to move from last into first place when the horn sounded. A Valiant effort well justifying his rise to glory.

Contest director and winner of the Global One Design Challenge, Alan Atkins, was so enamoured with his Modern Old Skool Model that he decided to take one home for himself! Many years of competitions organized, judged and surfed in, this one of his very rare victories.

The Gents of the GSI One Design, led from the water by the directors - Alan Atkins, contest director (right) and Phil Jarratt, festival director (right)

The Smorgasboarder Magazine Family Challenge took place amid the confusion of having to temporarily move the judges and use pen and ink to clock their scores, and with no running scores for commentators, it was anyone’s guess who was leading. But Australian Longboard Champion Dane Wilson led his father to victory, two immense scores taking the pair into victory over Oscar and Bruce Lalor in second and George and Glen Cunningham in third.

Nic Jones was again a winner, this time in the Classic Malibu Clubs Competition. Again doing his sponsors proud, he led his Alexandra Headland club up into first, an unrelinquished position, despite a frantic tussle for second, the Deus Bali team, featuring Thomas Bexon, Matt Cuddihy and Jared Mell, finally taking the silver in the dying seconds.

Matt Cuddihy seemed to have passed out in the lineup, not scoring a single wave until inside the final five minutes – but what a wave. Another in the dying seconds was too close to call, but once scores were collated, his was the win over very prestigious company.

A surprisingly low-scoring Harrison Roach couldn’t match the astounding finless skills of Fred Branger, Branger using the rail of his board to rise and fall across the clean waves for some uniquely long rides. Branger’s two highest scores gave him a substantial win and a very wide grin.

The Golden Breed Noserider is always the event’s largest draw card, and this year, despite the continuing showers, was no exception.

Having registered some inordinately lengthy tip time all week, Harrison Roach entered the event firm favourite, but whether through complacency or simple bad luck, he was unable to deliver that potential.

The big scores cme from the twinkle-toed Zye Norris, another superb nasal navigator. Zye’s combined score over forty seconds of noseriding time.

“It was the first of the few years I’ve been entering the noserider that I made it into the final,” said Norris after his heat. “I was just happy to be there and then I ended up getting the first. I think having surfed First Point in the last couple of weeks gave me a little bit of an advantage. I’ve always looked up to Harrison [Roach], so beating him was a bit weird! It was good though, I almost feel like I should apologise to him. I wouldn’t say he has coached me, but he has helped me a lot through surfing and especially noseriding.”

The final contest of the day was the Laguna Bay Logger Pro, an excellent first year for this event, both in terms of response from the crowd and caliber of surfing.

And finally, Harrison Roach had his time to shine. An outstanding traditionalist, Harrison, piloted his traditionally styled board to a superb victory, ousting fellow local Matt Cuddihy to take the final gold medal of the 2012 Noosa Festival Of Surfing – another golden event for the 21^st annual festival and more than a little inspiration for next year.

As the rain eased to a slow drizzle, the contestants gathered in the beach bar to tlak waves, collect trophies and enjoy the music of Tim Gaze and Peter Howe and later, the surf-rocking Otchkies.

(photo credits: Geoff Fanning / Noosa Festival Of Surfing)

• 7:15 – Humid Boys (Under 15)
• 7:40 – PJ Burns Junior Women
• 8:00 – Pacific Longboarder Junior Men
• 8:20 – Old Guys Rule Mens 60 & Over
• 8:40 – John Madill Toyota Senior Womens
• 9:00 – The Sebel Resort Noosa Mens 40 & Over
• 9:20 – John Madill Toyota Mens 50 & Over
• 9:40 – Smyths Inc Mens 55 & Over
• 10:00 – Bolle Mens 65 & Over
• 10:20 – Global One Design
• 10:40 – Smorgasboarder Magazine Family Challenge
• 11:00 – Classic Malibu INternational Clubs Challenge
• 11:40 – Bonsoy Women’s Open
• 12:00 – Classic Malibu Men’s Open
• 12:20 – RACV Resort Noosa Old Mal
• 12:40 – SeaGlass Project Finless Challenge
• 13:00 – Golden Breed Noserider Pro
• 13:20 – Laguna Bay Longboards Logger Pro
• 13:40 – Logger Invitational
• 14:00 – Vertra Tandem Exhibition
  

  Fred and Aurilie Branger wowed the crowds yesterday with their world championship-winning tandem talents and will be repeating their performance this afternoon

For spectators, at this, the pointy end of the GSI Noosa Festival Of Surfing, we have the best of the best performing in their divisions all day long – every heat a nailbiter, every moment thrilling to the end. Please come and join us for finals day at the Festival Village and stay for the presentations, with Peter Howe, Tim Gaze and Rusty Miller jamming onstage into the evening.

Although an insignificant drop of swell occurred overnight, it was complimented by a decrease in wind and more favourable direction blessed the contest arena with manicured waves running across the mid-tide sand bank.

Junior divisions abound for the quartet of opening heats, the Pacific Longboarder Under 18s rapidly followed by the Under 15 Boys semi final, sponsored by Humid.

The Jones brothers had a fantastic morning, older brother Nic, a team rider for event sponsor Classic Malibu, gleaning nine well-earned points from his opening wave, and a mid-range score very late in the piece securing a justified victory in the first heat of the day. His younger sibling Harri had more of a challenge in the Humid Under 15s, putting all his efforts in to narrowly qualify for tomorrow’s final.

Nathan Strom was untouchable in heat one of the Under 15s, leading from the commencement and indefatigable throughout to register a superb win.

Light showers came down on the heads of the spectators clamouring for position along the shoreline of First Point’s natural amphitheatre, as the inaugural Laguna Bay Longboards Logger Pro launched into its first semi final.

Matt Chojnacki, from Sydney’s Northern Beaches was world-class in his performance, his very traditional stylings the epitome of panache and the perfect example of the skills required for the event. 16 points even garnished Cojnacki with a convincing win in heat one, whilst the second heat was dominated once again by the local superhuman surfer, Harrison Roach.

Sydney Northern Beaches' Matt Cojnacki surfed straight out of the 1960s in the Laguna Bay Longboards Logger Pro, despite not even being alive until two decades later

Only three waves were ridden by Roach, his opening ride, an impressive 6.75, looking shabby next to his very high following scores. Roach’s faultless talent gave him a near-perfect score to set the bar for the final tomorrow.

Another traditional event ensued, the Old Mal division, sponsored by RACV Noosa Resort. Matt Cuddihy remained in the water after taking a qualifying second place in the previous division, and backed it up with a healthy twelve points, a touch of Sage Joske’s influence in his crouched rail-grab bottom turns, Joske an outstanding participant in previous years.

Cuddihy surfed outstandingly and, alongside Matt Cojnacki, was a definitive surfer in this event, featuring exclusively boards all made before 1967. Cojnacki channeled the spirits of yesteryear, emulating the surfers of a decade in which he was not even born.

Both surfers will take their well-earned places in tomorrow’s final.

The Old Guys Ruled once again, with the Over 55 and Over 60 Men’s events taking to the water.

These semis were the last opportunities for surfers to earn a berth in tomorrow’s finals, the top three of each heat advancing. This do-or-die challenge drew some outstanding performances from the surfers, Albe Curtis particularly of note, posting two very solid rides to lead from start to finish. Nipping at his heels though was Pacific Longboarder chief editor, John ‘JB’ Brasen. JB’s best was the heat’s highest score, a 7.25, but he was unable to match it and relinquishing the top spot, but not his ticket to the final.

Bruce Channon; he put it down to luck, we call it class - unmatchable in the Old Guys Rule Over 60s semi

Mike Pimm, too, was a standout, two massive 7.5 waves giving him a fantastic victory.

And then to the noserider. The Golden Breed Noserider, always a thrilling crowd-pleaser, failed to disappoint and, with little surprise, Harrison Roach again was head-and-shoulders above his adversaries.

Local knowledge paid dividends and three of the four surfers tip-timing their ways into the finals. Roach went from the sublime to ridiculous, with again very closely a minute perched on the front end of his board. But today he was in closer company, Matt Cuddihy and Beau Nixon both around ten seconds off the pace. All three were indisputable finalists, but the fourth and last remaining place was a nail-biter. With just seven seconds separating the remaining contestants, it was young Noosa local, Zye Norris who won the coveted fourth.

Light as a feather and in full control. Zye Norris is a noseriding genius in the making

With so much action taking place throughout the day, it is very nearly impossible to hone the highlights, like needles in a needle stack of exceptional moments.

To précis a wonderful day of semi finals, Nic Jones was phenomenal in both the Under 18 and the Open Amateur Men’s, claiming outstanding victories in both, amounting almost 17 points of a possible twenty in his heat, making for a very busy finals day tomorrow.

The PJ Burns Under 18 Girls second semi was far too close to call. A very lethargic ocean providing little opportunity in the heat’s first half reduced the action to ten minutes. The surfers added to this compression of scores, matching each other evenly right up until the dying minutes. An overabundance of very late scores left the judges sweating for a full five minutes after the final horn, but it was Rosain Carolan who emerged victorious, Rachel Fleming set to join her in the final.

The SeaGlass Project Finless Challenge was again Harrison Roach’s feeding ground, but Fred Branger dominated the second heat and it will be very interesting watching the pair go head to head in tomorrow’s final.

Final competing was done by the Senior Women, for the John Madill Toyota semi final.

An interference call denied local favourite, Keena Wilson a berth in the first heat, Leanne ‘Bluey’ Gilkes taking the heat, and in the second semi, visiting Taiwanese surfer, BayBay Niu surfed an exquisite round, but with a breath-taking 8.25 points scored on a perfectly executed wave, Yvette Kordick tipped the balance.

Taiwan's BayBay Niu, unbeatable until the dying seconds in the John Madill Toyota Senior Women

Both surfers, though, will have their rematch in the final.

The greatest crowd of the day was drawn in the dying hours of daylight. Wrapping up the day was a fantastic display of surfing-meets-gymnastics, with five tandem couples paddling out and gaining the largest cheers and greatest appreciation of the festival so far.

Fred and Aurilie Branger wowed the crowds with their world championship-winning tandem talents

All the action of the last day of the festival tomorrow, as finals fill the day for all divisions. Exceptional talent, thrilling tension, nail-biting finishes – the day is poised to be an unmissable event, all taking place right on the beach at First Point, Noosa.

All results for the day, and the week, are available on the event website, as well as draws for Thursday’s competition.

(photo credits: Geoff Fanning / Noosa Festival Of Surfing)

But the rainy start was owned by the old boys, with the Over 55, Over 60 and Over 40 divisions all taking place in the growing and groomed waves wrapping around the point into Laguna Bay.

Dates of birth had no baring on abilities, those of a more lengthy lifespan still managing to draw exclamations from the meagre crowd and very healthy scores from the barrage of onlooking judges.

Age is just a number to the young at heart, and Bruce Channon and Eric Walker proved it. Among several excellent performers, these two both amounted a 7.75 single-wave score – something to be proud of for even the youngest and most agile.

Event director Phil Jarratt was swathed in a mist of Deep Heat after exiting the water, but a mid-range score testament to the efforts he threw into his exploits in the third round of the Old Guys Rule Men’s 60 and Over.

The 55s too, sponsored by Smythe’s Inc, drew some spectacular exhibitions. Despite his second place, Bill Tolhurst registered the wave of the third round, the local shaper unable to back up a tremendous wave just shy of the 9-point mark.

With the round two repercharge of the Sebel Resort Noosa Men’s Over 40 out of the way, the ladies took to the water. Waves stuttering and wind prevailing from out to sea, Georgia Young all the way from WA opened her heat with a scorching wave which, despite her inability to find a matching wave, took her into an unchallenged lead. She will definitely be a very strong contender in tomorrow’s semi final.

What the Noosa Festival is all about: smiles & sunshine. Georgia Young, outstanding in the Bonsoy Women's Open Amateurs

(image: Andrew Carruthers / www.saltimages.com.au)

The Golden Breed Noserider division is measured on time rather than merit, with seconds being counted for hang fives, that time doubled for completed hang tens. This generated a hive of activity in the judges’ booth, ten individual judges poised with stopwatches to register the times of the five contestants in the water.

As was predicted, local nasal aficionado Harrison Roach lived up to his reputation, very nearly an entire minute of tip time accumulated from his two-wave tally. Roach’s noseriding skills are absolutely staggering, each of his waves peeking the interest of the throng of onlookers lining the First Point shoreline and filling the festival’s beach bar.

Undoubted king of the Golden Breed Noserider Pro, Harrison Roach, tucked low, trimming hard, in a mindblowing performance of tip-time finesse

(image: Andrew Carruthers / www.saltimages.com.au)

Disappointment for the young Japanese contender, Yuta Sezutsu though, unable to collect a substantial score despite some fantastic wave-riding. The rising onshore wind did nothing to improve the feasibility of ideal nosriding conditions and many surfers struggled to exhibit their usually exceptional abilities.

Although Roach was undoubtedly the man of the moment, over 25 seconds clear of his closest rival, there was a plethora of good rides, Trent Dicky and Matt Cuddihy both gaining very healthy times to take them into the next round.

Event major sponsor, Global Surf Industries held its eponymous Global One Design, in which the pre-selected contestants compete on identical boards. Each year, a different model is chosen, this year being the turn of the contradictingly named Modern Old Skool, a traditional shape with single fin.

Rip Curl co-founder and long-standing friend and participant of the Noosa Festival, Doug ‘Claw’ Warbrick paddled out for some fun, not amounting to too much, but a noble effort and a wonderful gesture.

The gents of the GSI - Global One Design invitees (l-r) Surf-Shop owner Evert Harder, Paul Guthries, event director Phil Jarratt, Rip Curl co-founder Doug 'Claw' Warbrick, Craig Reese and legend in age and renown, Barry 'Magoo' McGuigan

Barry ‘Magoo’ McGuigan is a legend, both in the throwaway Australian sense and in true definition. The 80-plus character doesn’t look a day over 60 and can surf rings around surfers many decades younger than himself. Very worthy of an invite into the event, he did himself proud, coming a very respectable third in his heat, the ruthless Phil Jarratt denying preferential treatment to a man old enough to very nearly be his father.

Rusty Miller, a man who has surfed swells the size of mountains, came a well-earned second and has spent the vast majority of his time in Noosa Heads getting involved in both the contest and the evening’s activities.

The Noosa Festival is all about fun and healthy competition, and this was never more evident than in the third heat. Visiting Jersey surfer and guest commentator, Joe Davies, was out in the waves having an absolute ball, a larrikin of the lineup, matching the expertise of his surfing with the hilarity of his tomfoolery.

The third round of the Sebel Resort Noosa Men’s 40 and Over was owned by one man: Geoff Fanning. Fanning registered a very near perfect score, paddling in a little under 10 minutes clear of his heat-end, very rightly confident in the knowledge that his first place would remain secure. Fanning was already dry and supping a beer when the horn finally sounded.

Tomorrow brings the beginning of the end, semi finals abound for the whole day and a disparity of events crammed in from dawn to dusk.

Results for the day, and the week, are available in the event website’s Results section, as well as draws for Thursday’s competition.

(photo credits: Geoff Fanning / Noosa Festival Of Surfing)

The John Madill’s Toyota Men’s Over 50s round one was the opening division of the day, our resident photographer, Geoff Fanning, opening heat three with an outstanding eight-point wave to take him to an un-relinquished early lead.The Old Guys Rule Over 55s was dominated by Mick Henderson, his highest two waves raising the bar for his fellow contestants, but it was a bar set high indeed, his individual scores matched by only one other surfer, David Storck, his combined score authoritatively the best of the division’s second round.

Continuing the run of the age divisions, Glenn Cunningham highlighted the Sebel Resort Noosa Men’s Over 40 contest. With the shift of swell waves became fickle, competitors having to contend with a particularly awkward inside section, often closing the wave down and denying surfers any rides of significant length. But despite these tricky conditions, Cunningham produced a healthy score early in the piece to give him the lead, strengthened by a score in the mid-sevens to seal his victory.

Regardless of the heavens unleashing a torrent, the much-anticipated SeaGlass Project Finless Challenge elevated excitement on the beach, many taking shelter in the beach bar and the tents of the festival village to witness the awesome surfing and incredible talent in this unique event.

And a challenge it was, although made to look deceptively easy by the division’s participants. All boards ridden must be without fins, all inspired by the centuries-old alaia surfboard design. Exceptionally difficult to surf, these curious craft require near-perfect conditions in order to be effectively utilized. These were not the conditions on offer, but surfers nevertheless illuminated First Point through the miasma with their overwhelming display.

Harrison Roach has long been one of the most talked about names in this genre and failed to disappoint, performing multiple spins and reverse tail-slides and generating inordinate amounts of speed along the clean faces of the First Point waves.

One of the finest exponents of of the finless movement, Harrison Roach slides his Wegener-shaped alaia through a perfectly executed 360 spin

Another contestant outstanding in this discipline, despite riding a board home-shaped from a gnarled length of timber, was Braden Weir. The 360, a full, sliding rotation, is a commonplace maneouvre was exhibited by Weir at lightning-fast speed, often twice or three times in succession in his heat also featuring instigator of this re-ignited movement, Tom Wegener who himself demonstrated admirably the skills required to pilot these deceptively complex vessels.

On a board less than an inch thick, made of solid timber and lacking fins, Braden Weir put on a staggering performance in the SeaGlass Project Finless Challenge

Again grateful for a continual swell, contest director, Alan Atkins, made the decision to remain at First Point for the duration of the day’s events, which culminated in the qualification round of the Golden Breed Noserider Pro.

Yuta Sezutsu, a Japanese surfer we have already seen much of this week, outclassed is peers definitively, clocking up a breathtaking 28.85 seconds perched on the tip of his board. Enthusing the New South Wales contingent, Beau Nixon came a highly respectable second, Nixon one of the festival’s most prolific competitors. Winners in this qualifier now advance to tomorrow’s seeded round two.

Jared Mell balletically tiptoeing his way to the nose for another textbook hang-five

Day five commences with round three of the Old Guys Rule Men’s Over 60 division, the age divisions accounting for much of the day, but to wow the crowds, two superb events will be held between 11:30 and 2pm. The second round of the Golden Breed Noserider comes first, featuring seeded surfers and renowned local noseriders Harrison Roach and Matt Cuddihy, and former world champions, Harley Ingleby and Josh Constable.

Immediately after the Golden Breed Noserider Pro comes the Global One Design Challenge in which all exclusive invitees ride the same model board, kindly donated and created by event chief sponsors, Global Surf Industries.

(photo credits: Geoff Fanning / Noosa Festival Of Surfing)

Californian World Longboard champ, Jen Smith, one of the very few ladies of the newly founded division, surfed excellently against her male peers to gain a place in round three, but it was those with local knowledge that had both the upper hand and the crowd’s attention.

Bowie Pollard held on through the rapidly-peeling low tide waves, rarely returning from the nose to clock up some very long rides and exceptional scores. Former world champion and Noosa’s favourite son, Josh Constable blended performance with the traditional, solid noserides interspersed with big turns off the lip.

But Matt Cuddihy was the man of the match, his ability to read one of his home breaks paying dividends and a collection of outstanding scores giving him a convincing advance into round three.

The headless Matt: Matt Cuddihy head-dipping his way to an indefatigable victory in his round three heat of the Laguna Bay Logger Pro

“I’ve been waiting for [a logger division] for the past 15 years. It’s great to see the inclusion of a division devoted it – it keeps the surfing stylish. There are a lot of good surfers in this division. I think local knowledge always helps, but other competitors such as Josh Constable and Harrison Roach.” Riding a stringerless Thomas Bexon single fin, Cuddihy has been challenging his shaper at his own game, Bexon also an outstanding contestant in the Logger division. “It’s a perfect board for this event, it has heaps of flex, is stable and noserides superbly.”

A day off tomorrow allows the loggers a breather before entering the semis on Thursday.

Diplomacy can sometimes be a little thin on the ground between surfers and SUP riders, but the finals of the Sunshine Coast Airport SUP Opens certainly made the more conventional boardriders reassess their opinions. The outstanding heats were lead by Jackson Close on the men’s side and the dynamic Hawaiian surfer Mariko Strickland outshone adversaries in the women’s. Close repeating his form of the previous day, burying his paddle to assist him through staggeringly hard cutbacks. Whilst the little girl from Hawaii was all about finesse, whipping her board around in a manner belying its length and volume.

Sunshine Coast Airport Men's Open SUP finalists: l-r, Lincoln Dews, Tully St John, Geoff Breen, Jackson Close, Beau Nixon, Max Groh

Both surfers claimed the titles, presentations taking place overlooking the battleground of First Point at the festival’s beach bar.

The Men’s Open Amateurs sponsored by longtime festival sponsor and long-established local shapers Classic Malibu were a smorgasbord of styles and equipment. With the swell yet to rise to significant proportions, some contestants repeated their decisions of yesterday, favouring traditional single-fins to best utilize the minimal waves. Some surfers, such as Noosa local Teruman Yamamoto, are very distinctly traditional in their approach, decidedly the preferable style given the conditions.

Nick Farago (NSW) had a very strong heat, two solid scores securing a definitive win in the round’s final heat, while the young Reunion Island surfer, Remy Darkis, stood strong against stiff competition to advance to the next round, the quarter finals taking place in the latter part of the day’s proceedings.

The Sunshine Coast lived up to it’s name, a glorious afternoon unfurling as the quarter finals of the Laguna Bay Longboards Logger division commenced. Harrison Roach erupted into his heat early, with an exquisite ride earning him a near-perfect score and, despite his second wave being of only a mid-range score, placed him in the lead for almost the entire duration of the heat. Matt Cuddihy repeated his form, and Sydney surfer, Matt Chojnacki, proved himself a textbook exponent of the genre, faultless drop-knee turns and superb noserides producing a definitive win for the young man.

The Smythes inc Over-55s defying the hands of time in the afternoon proved that surfers not only never grow up but also never lose their flair, perhaps a more sedate approach to waveriding being taken, but no less skillful than those in the Open divisions. Local shaper, Billy Tolhurst led a stellar heat, his namesake, Billy Neves joining him for a thrilling afternoon’s surfing. The old guys still know how to entertain.

The Classic Malibu Open Men’s division entered round three as the sun crept towards the horizon, the contestants vying for the final places in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Acoustic tunes wafted across the evening air, with Peter Howe and Tim Gaze again bringing their familiar sound, so entrenched in Australia’s surfing history, to Noosa’s Main Beach, and Noosa Longboards’ Pete Cullen enjoyed the reunion of his band, sharing their summer sounds with the crowd.

Peter Howe and Tim Gaze, legendary surf-musos, strum the night away

With competitor draws and the giveaway of a superb Deus Ex Machina surfboard encouraging crowds to attend the post-surf entertainment, the lucky few questioned whether Christmas had come early, as jealous stares chilled their napes, but all in good spirits and all with the delightful camaraderie shared in such abundance at the Noosa Festival Of Surfing.

Age divisions enter the water early tomorrow, before the anticipated SeaGlass Project finless challenge kicks off a little after 9:30.

(photo credits: Geoff Fanning / Noosa Festival Of Surfing)