After a week of bleak weather, Bondi turned it on for the finals of the Australian Open of Surfing on Saturday. Beneath blue skies, 16 men and 16 women competitors lined up for the ultimate stage of the innovative series where competitors progress through rounds based on their single best ride.

It’s a show up and blow up format designed to encourage Australian surfers to push the performance levels before they pursue the QS. Thanks to support from major sponsors Volkswagen, winners in each division were chasing a hefty $10 000 check; a worthy return for half a day’s work on a sunny day in Sydney’s eastern beaches.  

A solid east swell funnelled into the southern corner of Bondi on the early morning low tide, groomed by a stiff, offshore westerly. In the men’s division, local wildcard Grayson Hinrichs proved he had the flair to thrive in the one-wave format, launching a rotation that nearly landed him in the iconic Icebergs pool. The eight point score proved to be the highest of the day. By the time Grayson paddled out for the semis, the wind had swung to the southeast, providing the perfect texture for more aerial pop, and he went big again, landing a lofty rotation in the Bondi left shorey to claim the win with a 7.5, the second-highest heat score of the day.  

Meanwhile, in the women’s division Sawtell’s Rosie Smart made it clear she was the surfer to beat with a masterful display of precise and committed backside surfing. Rosie, who’d already claimed the qualifying event at Coffs Harbour, was midway through her H.S.C, but seemed to have no problems interchanging backside snaps with study sessions.

This year’s event was a collaborative venture between Surfing Queensland and Surfing N.S.W. and with the competitors drawn from the two eastern states an unofficial State of Origin theme emerged throughout the day. One men’s semi boasted two surfers from Queensland and two from NSW. However, by the time the final paddled out it was an all NSW affair, with Manly’s George Pittar lining up alongside the heavily touted Lennix Smith; Grayson Hinrichs and Dom Thomas, a power-carver and apprentice carpenter from Swansea.

Given the one-wave format, the crowd anticipated fireworks for the finals, but as the tide filled in the right rip-bowl lost some of its punch and it became a cagey, close-knit battle. In the opening minutes George Pittar linked together a sequence of silky turns, reaffirming his status as one of the event’s most eye-pleasing performers. His jet-black, Channel Islands ‘Fever’ rode like a fifth limb as he locked in a 6.10. The other three surfers nipped at his heels with mid-range scores but in the end none could trump the stylish Pittar’s early wave.

Post-final, an excited Pittar explained that he’d been working five days a week to keep his surfing dream alive and insisted the $10 000 pay day would help him travel and compete on the QS Regional Series next year.

Sawtell’s Rosie Smart maintained her form all the way to the final and her 6.5 keeper score was more than a point better than nearest rival Raya Campbell (the soul Queensland-based competitor in the final). Lucy Brown and Oceanna Rogers weren’t far behind and it’s fair to say that the Australian Open of Surfing gave us a glimpse into the future of elite women’s surfing. All competitors were still in their teens and are likely to give the major events a nudge in years to come.

The Australian Open of Surfing Series has now established its position as a crucial part of the annual competition schedule. As the series evolves it will attract surfers from around the country and continue to provide an important step for Australian surfers on their trajectory towards the world stage.