Big Day at Burls

Andy Morris

The Raging Bull back to his old ways at Burleigh. Pic Shield

Surfers woke this morning with calls from surf reports claiming it was possibly the best day of the year so far. It was a big claim to make given the run of late, but if you saw the ocean this morning you’d probably agree, it was fair.


Mitch Coleborn put in a good showing but was beaten by his Volcom team manager Matt Bemrose. Pic Shield

The Occster, Mark Occhilupo, made the most of the solid runners on offer. Although he’s from Snapper way and doesn’t get up to Burleigh all that often, the icon instantly adjusted to Burleigh’s speedy sections, applying his signature backhand power carves. Occy came second to Luke Dorrington, guaranteeing a face-off with Nick Wood on Saturday morning. He was mugged coming off the beach, mainly by middle-aged women. Young local Chris ‘Ibis’ Bennetts, renowned for his perfect timing and whippet-like frame, surfed his last Breaka heat today as Mr. Occhilupo closed his account. Ibis was frothing regardless, “I’ve always dreamed about coming up against Occy in a heat! I’ll show him what this rig's made of, I’ve got nothing to lose,” he joked prior to jumping off the rocks.


Mitch Crews stalling for a Burleigh keg that he couldn't exit. Pic Shield

The boys in blue showed today. For a moment Dean Bowen thought it was because Matt Bemrose had filed a report against him for stealing his prized surfboard. Bowen had only grabbed it and stashed it in a bush while he wasn’t looking. There was no harm done. Volcom team manager Bemrose wasn’t fazed; he went on to manhandle everyone in his heat, including his young charge Mitch Coleborn. Billabong team manager Sasha Stocker shook his head as he watched. "When I got my job I called it quits, you can't surf against the guys on your team," he sighed.


Luke Dorrington throws up a fan from a Burleigh lip. Pic Shield

From 1pm there were heaps of mediocre waves trying to double up, in amongst some occasional smokers. This was possibly due to a slightly overloaded swell on an outgoing tide (‘cause it was firing on the high). This left surfers needing high scores because someone could luck into a barrelling bomb and get a high eight – mid range scores weren’t going to be enough to secure a win.


Chris "Ibis" Bennetts surfing against his hero Occy. Pic Shield

Over the last few days the commentators have had stern words with freesurfers surfing the end section of the point. Message one is keep moving north to the fantastic shories and message two; it’s an offense to surf in the contest zone because you’re not covered by event insurance so if you get messed up, we’re all messed up. Today some of the Burleigh Boys paddled out to keep everything in check. As you’d expect it worked. Freesurfers moved north and a member or two of the Burleigh Boys had the end section to themselves. Except for the odd lidder who drifted south. There was a random hero way up the point who rode a wave through The Cove. Ninety-nine percent of the waves hadn’t been linking through to Rock Break, but to this guy’s stoke his wave did. He ended up trimming across the whole Rock Break section. He may have thought he’d post some big scores, who knows? Anyway the commentators had something to say. “Karn mate, you wouldn’t jump on the golf course while Tiger Woods was having a whack now would ya?” Using Tiger Woods as an example. Really?

Quote of the day came from Vicco surfer Cahill Bell-Warren. He was talking about the part of the grandstand dedicated to the surfers. “We’ve got a really good setup in the surfer’s area. There are couches, nibbles and Breaka girls giving us milk!” Delightful.

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