Dunsborough surfers score championship crowns at WA Longboard Titles at Denmark

Capes veterans posted a strong showing at Denmark’s Parry’s Beach during the weekend’s WA Longboard Championships.

The first round of the championships was held in ideal conditions across three days and resulted in 13 champions crowned across divisions from under-18 juniors to the over-70 “grand kahunas”.

Representing Dunsborough, feared competitor Ryan Clark was unable to claim back his Open Men’s title, with the final prize going to Trigg’s Anthony Spencer.

For the women, Dunsborough’s Shae Sheridan came in fourth for the open title, which was claimed by Cottesloe’s Maddie Barrett.

However, local surfers fared well in other divisions, with Sheridan named State champ for her prize-winning performance in the over-40s women’s longboard and fellow Dunsborough surfer Paul Burke claimed twin champion titles in the over-45 and over-50s men’s divisions.

“The waves on Friday and Saturday were amazing, but today has definitely been challenging with a lot of water moving around,” Burke said on Sunday.

“It’s nice to qualify for the national titles and the WA team is such fun and hopefully we can get a strong team together again this year.”

Dunsborough’s Barrie McKinnon pulled through in the over-65 division, six points ahead of Margaret River’s Bill Gibson in third.

Margaret River woman Amanda Curley missed the over-50 women’s longboard prize by just 2.5 points from Green Head’s Samantha Vanderford.

But up-and-comer Kai Flynn flew the flag for the future of longboarding with his win in the under-18 juniors’ competition.

Flynn defeated Hillarys’ Qynn Horwood by a huge margin to be crowned among the weekend’s new State champions.

Longboard proponents will be tested next month in Geraldton as preparations continue for the nationals on the east coast later this year.