“I dunno how the f@*k these guys are boosting so high on these shit waves”, were the words of a fellow spectator

Back in the day air-events were Josh Kerr’s bread and butter, now they’re just jam on top. Pic: Boost Surf Sho

“I dunno how the f@*k these guys are boosting so high on these shit waves”, were the words of a fellow spectator as I pushed my way to the front of the dense Bondi crowd. At the water’s edge I gazed out across the break to the group of pros pulling air after air-reverse to the delight of booming loudspeakers and cheering onlookers. The waves were small, but every heat was stacked with about five absolute guns taking advantage of the perfect cross-shore wind to take their altitude to the next level.

Underdog aerialist Otis Carey underdog no more… Pic: Boost Surf Sho

The people loved it, especially the 16 year old girls. Sitting up in the media stands, watching girls in bikinis constantly parade up and down the beach in front of the competitors area, was mesmerising. So much so that thoughts fluttered between the surfing and the cat-walk in front of me. Those girls want to get in…I have a media pass…maybe some deal can be made here…Julian Wilson comes out of the stands for a heat, an eruption of female screams and stampede of 16-year-old’s toward him ensues. No, the girls don’t want me, they want Julian.

Julian Wilson is a hit with the ladies, that’s true… he also has the chops to get surf fans in a lather too. Pic: BSS

And local hell-man Tony Spanos, who they couldn’t get enough of after he was towed in to a wave on his makeshift bicycle-welded-onto-surfboard craft. Tony couldn’t wait to show off his contraption to the girls who muscled into photos with him in feverish enthusiasm. Was it really Tony, or was it the professional camera-men that turned the girls into a swarm of screaming, posing groupies?

Back in the real world of competition, local talent Otis Carey, Mr. Unpredictable, was going one heat getting an 8 point ride, and the next heat getting nothing, keeping crowds, or the locals at least, on the edge of their seats. Eventually Otis was just nudged out of the finals by Owen Wright, who was half-a-point ahead. Josh Kerr was Mr. Boost in the end, and won the final with a massive 9 point – you guessed it – air reverse. “Bondi is sick!” he shouted down from the podium at the nubile groupies squirming below him, twinkle in his eye.

Thanks to Boost Mobile, Nando’s, Arnette and Red Bull for sponsoring the event.

Tom Edwards