Pioli off to flying start at Duranbah
DANE Pioli’s quest for an Australian longboard title is off to a flying start with the Tweed Heads surfer using his knowledge of the Duranbah break to advantage in the opening round.
Pioli used his local knowledge to advantage, posting the highest two-wave heat total of the day, a 15.5 out of a possible 20 in order to advance to the second round.
Pioli, the 2010 Australian longboard champion and 2016 logger title winner, used a variety of traditional turns, as well as some progressive snaps – difficult on a longboard – to underline his favouritism for the open title.
The Tweed surfer was the only local to advance, with a pair of West Australians – Anthony Spencer and Jack Medland – and three New South Welshmen, Collaroy’s William Crowe, Grant Ferguson, from Long Jetty, and Declan Wyton, from Annandale, the other Round 1 winners.
After winning the junior women’s division last year, Tully White, from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, showed she was up to open competition with a comfortable win in her opening round, advancing directly to the semi-finals.
Perennial longboard standouts Greg Brown (Victoria) and Dean Bevan (Wellington Point) dominated the over 35 men’s division to advance to the semi-finals.
The national longboard titles are a major component of the Australian Surf Festival which continues from 7.30am today.