Held each year by the Windansea Boardriders Club, it's a unique contest with a lit vibe and when the waves turn on, it's a great place to be.
Ma and Pa Bendall
The Ma and Pa Bendall, and Easter long weekend tradition, was run and won yesterday. The guys and girls scored good waves and sunshine and the standard of surfing was something else.
This event gets its name from Ma – Majorie; and Pa – Charles Bendall. They were a couple well into their 50’s when they started to surf Moffat Headland in the mid 1960’s. Ma and Pa also owned a block of flats which was a bit of a youth hostel and halfway house for the youth of the Sunshine Coast. They took them surfing to keep them off the streets, and a number of kids got their life back on track through Ma and Pa.
They were also filmmakers and made a movie around their own experiences learning to surf in their 50’s, titled, Never Too Old … The film featured in cinemas up and down the east coast, and endeared them to everyone.
But it was back home where they were especially appreciated. With their big hearts and love of the ocean, they become local legends, and when Pa died in 1974, the Moffat’s locals held a contest out of respect to Pa.
Later in 2001, Ma passed on at the ripe old age of 91, and the the Ma and Pa Bendall contest was born. Held each year by the Windansea Boardriders Club, it’s a unique contest with a lit vibe and when the waves turn on, it’s a great place to be.
All photos – Dan Hayward
In the shadows of the ancient cliffs, Cooper Davies drops in and finds his lineEli Steele, the 2016 defending Ma & Pa champ hooks into a Moffats lip. Eli surfed amazing all weekend and looked a good bet to go back-to-back.Michael McCarron channels his inner Mark Richards and spreads his albatross wings off the lip of a set wave.The Parko’s. Mitch and Daryl Parkinson, uncle and cousin to Joel look on while Mitch waits for his Semi Final heat. Word is, Daryl has been ripping so well at home, that he could’ve entered the comp, and given it a nudge!Mitch Parkinson and the wave which got him into the final. Noah Kearney lays back into another long Moffats wall. The waves were pumping all weekend, and the surfing was next level.Oney Anwar was in cruise control for most of the event and was one of the favourites to win.Oney Anwar in his semi final. His surfing has an unmistakable style and his ultimate goal is to be the first Indonesian on the WSL World Tour. Surfing Life expects him to make it, too!Cadet Boys division winner, Taj Stokes. Taj surfed well beyond his years all event long. Keep an eye out for his name in the future!Tim MacDonald was rock solid all event long, barely making a mistake. Here he is in the final on his sticker-less Mt Woodgee board riding to the Open Men’s title.Meanwhile for the women. Codie Klein was on a tear. She dominated on her backhand and was cut above the other ladies.Tim MacDonald taking out the final from Mitch Parkinson.To the victor, go the spoils. For one of the most unique surfing events around, you would only expect to win the most unique trophy. Tim MacDonald collects his trophy and $15,000 prize money while Mitch Parko – the runner up – looks on.
