Rodney Stevens

World champions will be among the competitors battling for a national title when the country’s top waveskiers tackle Yamba’s Turners Beach break until Saturday in the Waveski Australia Australian Open.

The final stop on the national tour after events at Newcastle, Wollongong, Kingscliff and Emerald Beach will see competitors aged from 16 to 70 plus, honing their skills in preparation for the world titles in Ventura, California, in November.

A dangerous surf warning on Monday saw the start of the competition delayed, spokesman Dave Andrews said, but conditions later in the week look set to produce some close competition.

With an East Coast Low pressure system moving away from the coast, Mr Andrews said the competition had the option of moving location but preferred to stay at Turners Beach.

“The last three Australian Opens have been at Turners Beach, but we have been delayed of course, due to Covid, so the last one was 2019,” he said.

“It’s a good beach for surfing and it’s also in the middle of the East Coast because our competitors come from the Sunshine Coast Noosa right down to the southern part of NSW, New Zealand, Western Australia, so it’s sort of central.

“We can swap beaches, but we’ve found it’s not the best thing to do, we’ve even looked at Brooms Head for example because it’s a little bit more protected there, in the bay, but we’d rather stick with Turners because it usually performs best in all conditions.”

More than 50 competitors have descended on Yamba for the week, bringing a welcome economic boost to the region.

“Everybody that competes, they have to take the week off and they bring their families, so they need accommodation for the whole week and their meals.

“The local support from the businesses is just outstanding, The Yamba Shores Tavern, The Pacific Hotel, The Wobbly Chook, plus Sassafras and the rest of the restaurants, the surf shops, the ladies’ shops, the hairdressers, everyone just seems to support it which is outstanding.

“The Clarence Valley Council are a major sponsor and through all of the arrangements they have been extremely supportive.

“It’s well supported by the locals; the sponsorship is great and it’s a great place for people to come.”

The last chance for competitors to perfect their skills in competition before the World Titles, Mr Andrews said the competition will be red hot.

“We’ve got a range of competitors from mainly in their mid-twenties, up to people in their seventies, with men’s and women’s categories as well,” he said.

“One guy who’s riding is 16 and we’ve got competitors in their seventies.

“It’s the preliminary championship for the World Titles that will be held in California, so a lot of the competitors are getting ready for that.

“There will be an Australian contingent going and there’s probably at least 10 of the riders that will be here that are going to the World Titles.

“We’ve got the current and 11-time world champion, Grafton local Rees Duncan, we’ve got ex world champions here and we’ve got the current ladies Australian champion Karen Campbell, so we’ve got the best riders in Australia here competing.”

Colourful marquees on Turners Beach will be a beacon for spectators wanting to take in the action, Mr Andrews said. 

“The first heat in the water is usually about 7am in the morning and we go through till about 3pm in the afternoon,” he said.

“Later in the week when all the elite riders hit the water is when you’ll really see the top end of surfing, the earlier days are for the legends and the qualifiers.

“The finals will be on Friday and maybe even into Saturday, depending on how long this bad weather goes on for.”