Watch: Fifty Years Of The West Coast Classic
When it comes to describing the social aspect of surf contests I’m more credentialled than most.
Every fourth Sunday, the local boardrider club gathers to set up the trailer, fire up the BBQ, and run the monthly pointscore comp. Then, same as I have for many years, I put my name in the draw - now entered into one of those age categories with a mildly patronising name: ‘masters’, ‘legends’, ‘dukes’.
Mildly patronising though no less competitive...
And every month the results are the same with S. Nettle failing to progress for any of a thousand different reasons. No sets, dud swell direction, bogus interference decision.
There’s nothing at stake for this here legend, and truth be told I’d get more waves if I skipped the comp and surfed elsewhere on the day. So why do I keep turning up..?
It’s a question my kids hit me with as I walk up the hill, wriggle out of the coloured singlet and ask the contest director if fifth place will be progressing today.
Yet the day only begins when my heat is over. When I get a chance to hang and chat, find out who’s been doing what and where. To gossip, in other words.
Just as competition provides a natural outlet for those so inclined, so too does the social gathering that goes with it - and though some of us are better at the latter than the former, we still keep turning up.
The 50th anniversary of the West Coast Classic was held at Marrawah, Tasmania, in April. A staple of the Tasmanian surfing community it’s survived so long because it’s more than just a surfing contest.
Over its five-decade life, the West Coast Classic has reflected the values of the crew who run it. Shannon Davey won the 1976 West Coast Classic when surfing was turning its back on society and an us vs them attitude prevailed, yet now marvels at how socially inclusive it is - echoing the sentiments of the wider surfing community.
In this twenty-minute doco, Shannon and many others chat about the qualities that helped the West Coast Classic maintain its fifty year run. There may be tents and heats and coloured singlets, but sheer competition is the least of it.
Produced by Surfing Tasmania. Directed, filmed, and edited by Jy Johannesen.
Comments
Great vid.
I wish a WSL competitor would give a comp winning speech like that. Classic comp, classic speech.
Great surfing, fun waves and a beautiful atmosphere . A really enjoyable watch
to us on the SA limestone coast, the tassie west coasters are our bretheren. same bathymetry, weather conditions, sea life, geology, low population, condescending stick from viccos...
the most 'SPORT' thing about surfing, is when it brings people together through a shared physical passion that drives them to get out of bed and get stuck into something utterly pointless and magnificent and human. and then have a beer and talk endless shit about tomorrow.
Where there is low population and average surf conditions, those people are a unique mix of family and close friends.
super happy for those on the vic surf coast and in the bay, but for we of the continental shelf at the far edges of the Otway Basin, it's a whole different kettle of fish, and one I'm sure those in the centre don't envy one little bit. Just the way we like it. (shout out to the two KIs).
From the Robe Classic to the Marrawah Classic.. over a century of combined surf competition at the Upwelling edges of the Otway Basin. On ya, everyone, past, present and future!
i thought the waves were good on limestone coast?
depends who's asking. generally speaking, the answer is no : )
thats a good answer haha :P
Which one in that photo is you b6 ?
I'm guessing the dude in the brown corduroy trousers. lol
tassie legends saltmarsh family pic ^
I'm more like salty at the piano these days ; )
(though I do love my beige R*usty cords..)
How's Rob's Texas Tuxedo!
?si=ra4NuomkWRZAcUnCGood surfing and good vibes all-round
Mate we’re all rattled by a fucken great white smashing one of our kin close to home.
Our whole life is up side down. Sorry for not getting excited by this article. If you had allowed people to express themselves in the last article about nets , I’m sure you would have more support.. Merc was as salty as they come and I feel more needs to be discussed on the matter.
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2022/08/16/shark-nets-ma...
very, very sorry for your loss. just revolting and devastating.
(as a sth aussie, when we lose people any stupid fucking internet thread inevitably degrades into gratuitous descriptions of the circumstances of the attack, and people who know nothing of the community chiming in, and then the same old polarised shark opinions being peddled by the same old soapboxers taking over. even when it's a kid taken. I assumed swellnet were giving elevated respect to Merc's family and community by not creating a space for this to happen).
RIP
Thegrowingtrend,com.
Hi mate. Go ahead, the ‘floor’ is yours . AW
Im all for surfing & socialising. Goodonya guys for having a ritual.
If amature competitions at popular surf spots include inovation, kids, girls, women, grannies, grandads, disabled & body surfers, bodyboards, fishy keel fins, minimals, longboards, skis, charity fundraisers, etc ..... I will fully support clubs taking over the best surf banks on the best winds, on the best surfspot, all weekend.
When you paddle past someone looking for the same wave as you with the fire in there eyes one day to the next it’s a hard thing to understand the ocean taking them away.
I guess it happens every day of the week these days. Or at least it seems that way.
Can only imagine the family having one my self.
Rest is peace brother and I hope your family see your spirit live on in every they do..
Great part of the world. I spent the winter there in 2016. What an incredible bunch of people. The rocks are much more unpleasant though than what the cameras suggest. Its miserable down that way weather and wind wise but that does not stop the committed folks. Most welcoming surf community you could ever wish for.
Dont worry @stu, if you're struggling with heat form, just pop a live feed of the comp up on SN and no doubt there'll be plennnnty of feedback from the peanut gallery on what you shoulda/coulda done better! haha.
No doubt there'd be plenty of free advice, but there's the thing. I'm a competitive surfer but I don't like rules, particularly the one that says you have to start at this time and finish at that time - which is an important one to follow when surfing heats.
I live at the best pointbreak in southern NSW, so come what may I surf heats the same way I'd freesurf it - sitting in particular takeoff spots and waiting. If they don't come, so be it, and if they do I'll usually progress.
As Mason Ho said about heat surfing: I never get beaten, I only ever run out of time.
Dont worry @stu, i'm already formulating a case about the crooked judging that must be taking place.
Any sport in which you can bet....an esky of prawns and a slab of Tooheys New is bound to have implications that are holding their elite competitors back!!
I hear ya on the rules too!! Luckily, my old boardriders club was a little, erm...anti establishment and rules, for a while there.
Would be a great piece having a bit of a look at some of the more eccentric clubs around oz. Would actually make an epic doco!
..roadtrip !
Maybe we can glide some liquid gold moments without judges and cook communal satay sticks
eg. https://pyzelsurf.com.au/products/padillac
What a classic. Good vibes! True spirit of surfing.
great vid....no booties, thought I would be colder, nice one Henry, young
shredder from sunshine
nice write-up stu. also like basesix's chime in. what a weird and wonderful sport.