WHAT WAS HE FINKING? GOLD COAST SURFER’S AMAZING RIDE IN CONTEST
YOU would think taking to the waves without your board’s fins screwed in would have a disastrous end. Not so.
Gold Coast surfer Mitch Crews produced a stunning heat win in a World Surf League Qualifying Series event in NSW yesterday despite his board’s fins not being locked in place.
Despite the fact his fins could have fallen out at any stage, Crews executed a barrage of mammoth turns to post two excellent wave scores in excess of eight points.
His luck finally gave out in the dying moments of the heat, when he lost the middle fin on his final wave.
A later inspection revealed only one side fin was screwed in the whole time.
“Thankfully, they held in place until the final wave of the heat,” he said. “Maybe I have a little luck on my side.”
The Currumbin surfer is competing in the Great Lakes Pro, which was off to a flying start yesterday with the opening rounds of the men and women revelling in the punchy three-foot conditions at South Boomerang Beach, about 140km north of Newcastle.
The 2017 Great Lakes Pro women’s runner-up and top seed Philippa Anderson, of NSW, made her intentions clear when she attacked her Round 1 heat.
Anderson remained patient over the duration of the affair, locking in a 6.50 wave score early and then opted to sit with priority for the next 15 minutes until she was able to muster up a modest 5.00 wave to gain the upper hand against her opposition.
“I think I may have sat off the peak a little bit over the middle of that heat,” she said.
“I just tried to remain calm over the course of the heat as the clock counted down.
“If you let your nerves get to you in those situations, then it can all fall apart. I’m just stoked to be here, it’s a lovely day and the waves are fun.”
Having spent the five weeks in Australia following the world junior championship, American Alyssa Spencer used her knowledge of Aussie beach-break conditions to her advantage to take a convincing win in her opening heat.
Spencer nailed a chain of backside turns and snaps to post an impressive 13.85 twowave heat total and cement her spot in the second round.
“It was really fun out there. It was tricky but if you found them, it was good, I did definitely get flogged on a few,” she said.
“This is my first time to Boomerang and the place is beautiful.”
THANKFULLY, THEY HELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FINAL WAVE OF THE HEAT. MAYBE I HAVE A LITTLE LUCK ON MY SIDE MITCH CREWS