Kingscliff’s Codie Klein finished third as Sunshine Coasters dominated the Yoga For Surfers All Girls Surf Showdown Open Pro at Lennox Heads over the weekend.
Mooloolaba’s Chiana Ireland posted the biggest win of her career to take an exciting final narrowly defeating fellow Sunshine Coaster Sophie Callister (Noosa). Ireland sealed the victory on her last wave late in the final when she scored the top scoring ride of a 7.5 for a long peeling left which she surfed to the fullest to secure the win.
“What a great event to win” 18 year-old Chiana said after the final.
“This event has a great history and all the girls were ripping today and I can’t believe I’ve won it – I knew after that last wave I’d be a chance but you ever really know until it’s announced and right now I’m really excited.”
Past winners of this event include four- time ASP world champion Kingscliff’s Stephanie Gilmore along with current world number two rated surfer Sally Fitzgibbbons, highlighting the prestige of the event and Ireland today joined an outstanding list of previous winners.
On an uncharacteristically freezing day at Lennox Head, the waves remained clean and good all day and three Sunshine Coast surfers which included Noosa’s Naomi Stevic dominated the Open division with Stevic placing 4th while south coast NSW surfer Skye Burgess placed 3rd.
Despite not taking a finals position in the premier division, local girls also had an exceptional day with Byron Bay’s Isabelle Braley winning the Pro longboard division and collecting a handy $500 and Suffolk Park’s Kirstin Ogden (16 years) winning the Pro Junior division to add to her already impressive career in surfing.
“I never thought I’d win the Junior Pro, the field was so strong” said Ogden.
“It is always a great field that competes here and to win feels great – I just went out there to gain experience at this level and to win is unbelievable!”
Ogden also won the 16 and under division earlier in the day.
Isabelle Braley’s win set’s the scene for an interesting few months ahead with invites to surf in the two biggest ASP Longboard events in the world in China and France.
“I really want to compete in China but I’m also finishing my studies so it’s difficult to meet all my commitments” said Braley.
“France is the first of the two major longboard events and I don’t think I can get there and non attendance might affect my position in the China event so I’m unsure about these major events but I’m keen and really want to compete and today’s win helps my cause for sure!”
It was the 19th year of the All Girls Surf Showdown, an outstanding achievement for a great event and everyone looks forward to next year’s 20th anniversary!
Divisional Finals Results:
Southern Cross Credit Union Open Pro: 1. Chiana Ireland (Mooloolaba), 2 Sophie Callister (Noosaville), 3 Skye Burgess (Lake Heights/Sth Coast NSW), 4 Naomi Stevic (Noosa)
All Girls Surfriders Club Longboard Pro: 1 Isabelle Braley (Byron Bay), 2 Emma Webb (Jan Juc/Victoria), 3 Roisin Carolan (NSW), 4 Maz Pentecost (Lennox Head)
Yoga For Surfers Junior Pro: 1 Kirstin Ogden (Suffolk Park) 2 Naomi Stevic (Noosa), 3 Codie Klein (Kingscliff), 4 Chiana Ireland (Mooloolaba)
Inner Beauty 16 and Under: 1 Kirstin Ogden (Suffolk Park), 2 Naomi McCarthy (Palm Beach), 3 Ellie Brooks (Elanora), Coco Beeby (Scotts Head)
Inner Beauty 14 and Under: 1 Alyssa Lock (Tweed Heads), 2 Jalessa Vincent (Coolum Beach), 3 Sophie McCulloch (Alexandra Headland) 4 Lucy Callister (Noosa)
All Girls Surfriders Club Over 28: 1 Crystal Vail (Brunswick Heads), 2 Michel Blinkhorn (Byron Bay), 3 Wendy Yarnold (Forster) 4 Kellie O’Brien (Lennox Head)
All Girls Surfriders Club Over 40: 1 Jo Ann Anderson (Evans Heads), 2 Michel Blinkhorn (Byron Bay), 3 Mel Mott (Lennox Head), 4 Kellie O’Brien (Lennox Head)
Hive Swimwear Open B: 1 Emma Webb (Jan Juc) 2 Cindy May (Coolangatta) 3 Alanna Hale 4 Ros MacKenzie (Lennox Head)
The 2011 Yoga For Surfers All Girls Surf Showdown was made possible with the assistance of: Yoga For Surfers, Southern Cross Credit Union, Inner Beauty, All Girls Surfriders Club, The Lennox Hotel, The Northern Star, Southern Cross Ten and Ballina Shire Council.
