EP Longboard trial #1

Here's the wrap & results from Gregg Clarke for the 1st EP Longboard trial held at Pipe this last weekend:

"So I'm in the barrel of my life trying to wipe away the water from my eyes, when I realise that I'm at Pipe and Pipe don't barrel.... then it occurs to me, that I'm not in a barrel, but it is in fact the friggin galeforce south west and the pumping rain blinding my ass! I wonder how the judges are gonna score that.....

Yep, some heavy weather on the weekend meant pretty tough surfing for the EP longboarders at the first trial. However there were some bomb waves to be had if you could bag em, with the highest wave scored at 9.5 in the open final. Dean Simpson "walked" the final, with some incredibly critical longboard surfing. Jamie Morris was hot on his heals with some big moves to secure him a solid second place. The Hill brothers couldn't find the same quality waves and had to settle for third and fourth. 

The ladies final was dominated by our adopted WP surfer, Hannah Bing, who like her multiple SA champ brother, displayed some awesome 50/50 longboard surfing. Michelle Hill, while 6 months pregnant, had to watch from the beach, but showed her commitment to EP surfing by supporting the event in the most horrific conditions! Mia Baard styled her final and young gun Britney Linder, showed the older girls why she is gonna be a serious contender for the open title soon. Is was also great to see Kerry Viljoen back in the water and cruising a longboard again.

In the other divisions special mention to John Macleod, Ryan Anderson and Greg Smith must be made for the class they showed to win their respective divisions. 

We had 2 ft, occasional 3ft waves, which were more than contestable and at times really quite fun (before the storm came!). The full tide and Pipe shorey eventually started to claim okes left right and centre, with Brad Beck trying to get his own back by heading straight into the Pipe...Boardroom here we come. So yep, all in all a great contest, or it was until I surfed my board yesterday, thank you Pipe for creasing my favourite board......"