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The annual Mollymook Longboarders Charity
Classic was held on the weekend of 9/10 August, with 89 individual competitors
entered in 8 divisions.
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This number was down on previous years,
which was variously ascribed to current economic circumstances, the cost
of fuel (much more expensive in Ulladulla), the cold Winter, and the programming
of the Australian Titles the following week to which a few of the usual
supporters of the Charity Classic were committed.
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Regardless, the support was still strong,
and maintained the status of the contest as the biggest and best longboard
contest on the South Coast.
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The signs on Friday afternoon were good
for a contest at the preferred venue of Golfcourse Reef, with 3-4 foot waves
being appreciated by locals and some early arrivals for the contest, and
the forecast of an increase in size overnight.
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However, as for the past two years, the
conditions at 6:30AM on Saturday left the Contest Director no choice but
to shift the contest elsewhere, with Dolphin Point, the venue for the last
day of the contest in 2007, being an easy choice because of the good quality
very contestable head high waves breaking at the Point.
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The contest got underway about an hour
late with a big programme of 28 heats to complete before last light.
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The Over 45 division had the highest number
of entries, and with only a few grumbles was duly the first division in
the water.
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There was some outstanding surfing in
the almost perfect early conditions, with locals, Ross Murphy, Phil Jirsa,
and Steve Keogh progressing direct to the semi-finals along with 2007 runner-up
Ray Blackman.
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The Open 9 foot division followed, with
Ray Lawrence and Christian Pimm clearly standing out from their rivals.
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The standard in this division was exceptional,
with every facet of longboard surfing on display, which resulted in frequent
hoots of appreciation from spectators.
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Ray and Christian also gave outstanding
demonstrations of power surfing in the Open 8 foot division, with local
rider Sean Chivers also winning his heat in fine style.
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A shortboard rider deprived of the venue
was heard to remark that Open division longboarders were pulling off manoeuvres
that would be difficult on a shortboard.
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Also in this division local surfboard
maker Terry Glass, an over 45 competitor, showed some of the younger brigade
how an 8 footer could be ridden, coming second in his heat to Christian
Pimm.
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Surf conditions at the Point deteriorated
with the outgoing tide, and the contest was shifted 100 metres into Gay
Bay where the waves were more consistent although smaller.
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Other stand-out performers during the
day included Louis English, a junior, in the Old Mal division, surfing on
a board nearly three times older than his 18 years, and Samantha White and
Claire Norman in the Women's division.
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Samantha also surfed against the lads
in the Junior division with an excellent second place in her heat.
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Dave Wilson and Laurie Andrew both surfed
on 11 foot cruisers in the Over 55 division, with Dave progressing direct
to the semis from his heat surfing in his distinct 60s style.
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The day finished at 4:30 with all programmed
heats having been completed with a happy bunch of competitors looking forward
to Sunday.
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Most of the surfers had a great night
at Commercial Hotel in Milton on Saturday night, where longboard surfing
movies were shown and the competitor's prize draw was held.
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The contest continued at Dolphin Point
on Sunday with conditions almost identical to Saturday, but not quite as
consistent.
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The day began with repercharge heats in
four divisions, with local rider Chris Welsh being stoked with a PB in progressing
from the repercharge round into the semis in the Over 45s.
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There were few surprises in the progression
of surfers through the semi-final stage, although Matt Fleming, the runner-up
in the Over 35s in 2007 failed to progress.
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Local riders Phil Schoer, Ross Murphy
and Phil Jirsa made the final in both the Over 45 and Open 8 foot divisions.
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The waves remained good quality for the
finals which had the spectators again frequently hooting in appreciation.
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In the Old Mal final Matt Fleming, in
the absence of his nemesis from previous years, Paul O'Grady, had a win
in the Old Mal division with junior Louis English coming an excellent second.
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Louis' dad Mitch English progressed through
the repechage round to win the Over 35 division from local rider Dean Cristallo
in second place.
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The Women's final had equal representation
of seniors and juniors, with Claire Norman a clear winner from junior Bernie
Murphy.
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In the Junior final the Jackson brothers
finished first and second with Mitch claiming bragging rights over Jackson
for the trip back to Sydney, and local Ryan Welsh came third.
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Samantha White came fourth in both the
Junior and the Women's divisions.
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The Over 55 final had five local riders,
with Will Maris winning from Dave Wilson, and the only non-local, and previous
winner at this contest, Dave Pimm was third.
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The Over 45 final saw Ray Blackman again
relegated to second place this year behind Steve Beaumont.
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The Open 8 foot and Open 9 foot finals
were a shoot-out between Christian Pimm and Ray Lawrence, with Christian
being the victor in both divisions.
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As in the heats on Saturday, Christian
and Ray pulled off some incredible manoeuvres from both ends of the board
in both finals, with one of Christian's rides in the Open 9 foot final receiving
scores above 9.2 from all judges.
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Graham Sorensen was again the Head Judge,
and provided low-key advice and guidance to competitor-judges throughout.
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He was assisted by John "Muttley" Beaumont,
an accredited longboard judge, who provided a consistent reference standard
for comparison with competitor-judges scores, and also passed on scoring
tips.
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Steve Pinnington worked tirelessly as
tallier throughout the contest.
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Throughout both days the surfers and spectators
were provided with food drinks and friendly conversation by the dedicated
band of workers helpers and suppliers under Ken Greenhalgh's direction.
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Sponsors of the 2008 Charity Classic were:
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Southern Man Surf Shop
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Ocean and Earth
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IGA Mollymook
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NAJO Contemporary Jewelry
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Keith Purvis Podiatry
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Thompson's Commercial Hotel Milton
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Boots Great Outdoors
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Deering Street Printers
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Ocean Art
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Photos by David Milne
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SDS
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Soul Surf
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FCS
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Creatures of Leisure
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Palmer Surf
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Saunders Men's Wear Ulladulla
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Mollymook Fine Wines
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Boost Mobile
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The Crest longboard, 1st prize in the
raffle was shaped and glassed by Ken Peek.
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First prize trophies were made and donated
by Steve Rutten.
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Proceeds from the contest are donated
to local charities and community groups.
2008
MOLLYMOOK CHARITY CLASSIC 
