Barrel of fun awaits Benn
It’s a coastline he is all too familiar with and it’s one reigning East Coast Classic champion Benn Richardson will be hoping he can salute on for a second straight year on Friday.
With either Shelly Point or Dark Hollows shaping as likely event sites, Richardson will be looking to bank valuable points in the race to be crowned Tasmania’s best in what is the third stop of the Tasmanian Championship Circuit.
“With Jy Johannesen away on mainland business, it’s a good opportunity for a few of us to bank some points this weekend,” Richardson said.
“Not that we can’t beat him. Dustin Hollick will be trying to fly under the radar but we all know what he’s capable of.”
With Friday and Saturday looking the pick of the days, organisers will try to run a large chunk of competition from early on the Friday.
Surfing Tasmania officials are excited about the possible good conditions.
“We have good offshore wind conditions forecast for most of the day on both Friday and Saturday with a little South East swell around the one-metre-plus mark pushing fun waves our way hopefully,” Surfing Tasmania’s event manager Luke Johannesen said.
“The swell is forecast to slowly fade on Saturday afternoon so we will look to get plenty of surfing done on Friday. This is always open to change but things look good.”
Defending Open women’s champion Dara Penfold will be unable to take her place in the draw this weekend due to a leg injury.
That leaves the door open for the likes of Ava Carlton, Luca Brodribb, and Bo Ellis.