Wade ‘Ra’ Carmichael showers the the beach from south to north. Pic: Wes Lonergan.
The 3-4 feet southeast swell ran straight into Duranbah Beach as Boardriding Club Champions from all over Australia arrived to contest the Cup, won last year by LeBa standout James Woods. Woods also surfed through to the final along with Nick Squires, Shane Holmes and eventual champ, Carmichael.
The local surfers kindly gave competitors two peaks breaking off the south wall and the standard of surfing did not disappoint with 8’s and 9’s dropping in nearly every heat.
But it was all Carmichael’s day. The powerful natural footer dominated proceedings in the final, positing a 7.77 early, only to back it up with a commanding 9.7.
“Yeah I’m stoked, this event is sick. It gives me some good publicity and there was a solid crowd there to watch,” Carmichael said of his win.
“I took home two grand and I got a BOSCH power drill, so I’m gonna go drill some holes I’m frothing,” he joked.
Defending-champion, James Woods was up against the ropes early, struggling to form any commanding lead while Shane Holmes couldn’t get himself into a threatening position. Squires however, nearly caused the upset of the contest, posting a shocking 9.33 with three minutes to go but it was all too late. The halfway point proved to be the defining moment for Carmichael – who will also compete in today’s Jim Beam Surftag Australian Championships for Avoca Boardriders.
“It started pulsing during the arvo and the bank went a little wider and there were a couple of really good waves that’d roll through and you could get a good three or four turns on,” he said.
“No one really got any really good ones and I kept getting a few bad waves and then just on the middle of the heat I got a really good one, a 9.77.”
But the 21-year-old was quick to hush any celebrations, aware that there are bigger tasks at hand – leading his club to victory.
“No celebrating tonight though, we’ve got the tag team tomorrow and we’ll see how we go in that. The Avoca boys are looking pretty good, we’ll see how we go though,” he said.
Action is set to reach a whole new level today with the five-man teams posed to tear apart heats with day one of the Jim Beam Surftag Australian Championships.
For results, photos and videos during the event go to www.facebook.com/surftag
Sanuk, Perfect Wave Travel, BOSCH, Swimmable Underwear, Tracks and Coastalwatch proudly support the Jim Beam Surftag Australian Series.
