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Bondi Single Fin Comp 2009 13th November 2009

Dig out the old single fin from under the house!

Now in its fifth year, the Bondi Single Fin competition has become not only the highlight of the Bondi surfing calendar with the retro surfing and boards on display, but it has also turned into an occasion when many old-time Bondi locals gather to celebrate the rich surfing history of the area affectionately known by many as “Scum Valley”. And this year’s competition on Saturday, November 7, was even more of a flashback, with an unofficial Bondi reunion taking place around the event, thus serving to swell the crowd of onlookers into several hundred smiling faces.

Under cloudy skies the event, organised by Ben Davies and Beau Sevastos under the auspices of the Bondi Boardriders club, kicked off at the ungodly hour of 7am with surfers no doubt still half-asleep being sent out in the first round of the Open section in 2 foot cross-shore wind surf. And thus began a day that would see some spectacular surfing, some even more spectacular dancing in the compulsory pre-surf dance competition and some seriously hilarious commentary from a team headed by Bondi’s funniest men Craig Markham and Cooper Silk.

Being a largely invitation-only event for the first time this year to ensure that a high calibre of surfing was present right through from the first round, by lunchtime the South Bondi Hill was crowded with an audience keeping a close eye on the action.

As the rounds progressed, the stand-out surfers quickly began to emerge. In the Open section, up and coming star Clancy Dawson, perennial challenger and two-time winner of the event Ian Wallace and long-time Bondi ripper Craig Robinson made their presence felt, while in the Masters division (for surfers with at least a 25-year plus history at Bondi), ever-popular nice guy Mikey Beame set the competition alight with surfing that had the crowd cheering loudly, as did the radical slashing of Bondi legend Dave Davidson.

With a very contestable small right hand wave offering enough enticing sections to allow surfers to show their stuff, there wasn’t a single heat throughout the day that wasn’t worth watching, with many of the single fin boards from the 70s and early 80s being used getting more of a workout than they’d had in years. With the water cleared of backpackers and other associated flotsam and jetsam, all competing surfers said they enjoyed the experience of surfing their home break with the crowd on the hill cheering them on.

Apart from the surfing, other highlights were the appearance of the legendary Margie Duprez in an inspired silver outfit, John Campbell doing a drive-by of Bondi in his tug boat after being unexpectedly called in to work and not being able to surf in the comp, members of legendary hip-hop act the Wu-Tang Clan joining the band To The Next on the hill stage for a couple of tunes and some brilliant dancing from the grommets on stage in between heats.

In the end, the finals of both the Opens and Masters were enthralling affairs. In the Open division, natural-footer Clancy Dawson, demonstrating the style that has him pushing towards the pro tour, carved up the small waves with a majestic style which was a pleasure to watch. But goofy-foot duo Ian Wallace and Craig Robbo never let him get too far ahead, nor did Bronte pair John Dwyer and Luke Daniels, the latter possessing a very pleasing-to-the-eye flowing style. In the wash-up however it was Dawson who took the first prize, followed by Wallace and Robinson in second and third.

Mikey Beame was heavily favoured to take out the Masters division but first he had to get past solid local goofyfooters Steve Aldo and Davidson, Bronte’s Wayne Allchin, natural foot stylemaster Nick Pearson and Bondi’s Adam Gibson, aka yours truly.

When the results were announced at the raucous presso at the Beach Road Hotel, it was confirmed that Beame had taken the first prize from Pearson in second and Davidson in third place. Mikey’s acceptance speech was full of emotion, the popular winner dedicating his win to the memory of his brother’s wife who had recently passed away from cancer.

With the formalities out of the way, it was time for Bondi band the Shark Alarms to take the stage and for the night to descend in a beautiful type of mayhem, ensuring many sore heads were to be nursed the next day along with some beautiful memories of catching up with old and new friends.

by Adam Gibson

RESULTS

Opens

1. Clancy Dawson
2. Ian Wallace
3. Craig Robinson

Masters

1. Mikey Beam
2. Nick Pearson
3. David Davidson

The Thanks

Good to see everyone chip in and make it work for the surfing community with all money raised going to Bondi Boardriders club. Organisers Ben and Beau are especially grateful to Rick Scott, Grant Walker, Al Tucker, Catherine Davies, Helsy, Christie, Angie, Georgia, Q Sevastos, Carly Walker, Stodsy, Charles Cowan, Cooper and Bush, Big Tommy, Hideous Creature, Reg, Adam Gibbo, Cisco, Pete McGregor, Platty, Vuko, Bucky, Pama, Blake, Matt Dirt, the Beamie bros, Eddie Scott, and Zane Johnston. Plus all the sponsors too: Beach Road, Krack, Surf Culture, Gracie Jiu Jitsu Bronte, Electric, Dakine, Lost, DVS, Totally Adult, Excel, and Greenstuff.