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The event that just transpired at the Surf Ranch was maybe the most suitable contest ever made for Television. It was the first-ever addition of night surfing which is a perfect fit for prime time TV and also having intel of when each surfer will be in the water like guaranteed knowledge that Kelly’s going to be pitted at 11 am are prime examples of what advertiser’s desire. These types of aspirations for commercial success have been experimented for decades in pro-surfing. Let’s go back 30 years to when pro-surfing entrepreneur Roy Norris developed the Konica Contest strictly for television viewing.
Below is Tracks Writer John Ellis’s coverage of the experimental event at Wollongong’s Sandon Point. This archive featured in Tracks Magazine Issue no. 263 (August, 1992).
“MADE FOR TV “” …THE KONICA ALL STAR SURFING ARENA
Luke Egan was laughing as he approached after a warm- up surf. “How’s Pagey! We’re out there and I asked him where’s the best place to sit and he told me to fuck off! Told me to find out for myself and there was no way he was goin’ to help me. What a bastard!” Indeed, but there was money at stake – $15,000, or $500 a wave to be exact – and if I was Rob Page Luke Egan would be the last person I’d help at tricky six foot Sandon Point. Money is a funny sort of incentive. In this case it broke the bonds of mateship. It also encouraged some very entertaining surfing…
MATESHIP MAKES WAY FOR GREED By John Elliss
This more than unusual event was held at Wollongong’s Sandon Point in just about perfect waves on June 26. The brainchild of former APSA promotions manager Roy Norris, the Konica was a contest developed for television. It was run in one day, filmed by Prime Television, which which screened a one hour special on July 5 all around the country. Unfortunately, the eastern capitals missed out, which is a pity because the waves and surfing were outstanding.
15 surfers were in the event, each nominated by a particular sponsor who paid $2500 for the privilege. $1000 of this went to the prize pool, $1000 an ad on Prime and $500 to running expenses.
The field included internationals Luke Egan. Rob Page, Nick Wood, Simon Law, Michael Barry, Barton Lynch and Brett Warner. The rest, with the exception of Queensland junior Will Lewis, were locals Jason Gava, Robbie Kean, Chris Byrne, Jake Spooner, Angus Claussen, Chad Ryan and semi-local Todd Prestage.
The surfers were drawn into a seeding order and there were two surfers in the water at one time. They had 15 minutes in the water and they’d be scored on one wave.
Whoever had the highest scoring wave won $500 and stayed in the water to meet the next challenger. The surfers acknowledged they wanted their wave locked in as the scoring wave by raising their arms above their head. When they did this they no longer caught waves.
If a surfer decided not to lock in the wave he could paddle back out, but as soon as he did this the wave he’d just ridden was null and void it could not be counted even even if the surfer failed to pick up a higher scoring wave.
Sandon was pumping at four to six feet and with an offshore wind there was some amazing surfing on some incredible. waves. The local boys ripped, with Jason Gava setting the tone in an early heat with a barrel that scored a 28 out of a possible 30, which disposed of Luke Egan.
This was topped later on by Nick Wood when he was up against Chad Ryan. Nick scored 28.5 for a wave which saw him pull into the tube as he was heading up the wave out of his bottom turn, somehow correct inside and get an insane barrel.
Naturally Nick nominated this as his scoring wave only to watch Chad back- door a solid six foot tube from which he emerged four seconds later and worked to the beach to score perfect 10s from all three judges.
This sort of stuff went on all day. Barton Lynch, not surprisingly, was the highest money earner, disposing of four surfers and collecting $2000 before his run was ended by an in-form Robbie Kean. Keany won $1000 before Brett Warner took him out.
Due to time restrictions, the second round was turned into three man heats with the winner taking $750 for the win- ning wave. Big winners here included Jason Gava, who’d already collected $1000 in the first round, and Will Lewis, who won $500 in the first round.
A “lucky losers” heat was also held, consisting of the four lowest money earners. The surfers were Luke Egan and Angus Claussen, (both of whom had won $500), and Rob Page and Simon Law. (who hadn’t won a cent in either round).
Angus locked in a 22 only to be eclipsed by Luke’s 23.5, leaving Law and Pagey seven minutes to overtake. In the end it came down to the final 50 seconds with Page going left to score a massive 4.5 and secure third place and $500. Luke added another $1000 to his tally while Angus grabbed another $750.
As for Lawrowell, he’s now “The $250 Man” and is probably kicking himself for not taking up Luke’s offer to split their money regardless of their eventual placings. What a loser!
Sandon Point locals have a reputation for defending their prize right point against outside intruders. They’re pretty happy now after the local crew collected $7000 of the $15,000 prizemoney. This, despite a bitter Paul Holmes (who was never nominated by his sponsors as a competitor), claiming there was nothing in it for the locals and harassing organisers all day.
Another Konica All-Star Surfing Arena is scheduled for Newcastle in four to six months. After the success of this one we should see more hot surfing on the box and more dollars up for grabs.
