Seven new Bodyboarding State Champions have been crowned on the opening day of the 2020 QLD Surf Festival on the Sunshine Coast today, which was held at Coolum Beach in punchy 2-3ft (1m) waves. The festival includes Queensland State Team qualifying events such as shortboard, longboard/logger, SUP surfing and bodyboarding – and has replaced the traditional state title events of these disciplines. Queensland state teams will be selected from the festival, to go on to surf at their respective Australian Titles.

Gold Coast local Dale Akehurst (Miami, QLD) has won the open men’s title, defeating Grant Nutter (Gold Coast, QLD), Luke Jackson (Runaway Bay, QLD) and Adam Keegan (Marcoola, QLD) respectively in the final. Akehurst scored a 5.0 (out of a possible 10.00), and managed to back it up with an 8.0 for a combined heat total of 13.00 (out of a possible 20.00) to take the title.

“It was tough out there, but we got it done,” said Akehurst. “The Aussie Titles were really fun last year, so I’m looking forward to heading down again. It’s a different experience competing against the other states – those who we don’t cross paths with too often, like the WA and Victorian crew.”

Cooper Stewart (Buddina, QLD) has won the under 14 open division, after placing second and first respectively in two aggregate finals for the division, leaving him with the overall win. Stewart defeated two local brothers Jai and Zayde Taylor (Peregian Beach, QLD) and Cooper McNally (Buddina, QLD) respectively.

“I’m pretty stoked to take the win,” said Stewart. “I’m looking forward to the Australian Titles later in the year. I managed to get a third at the Aussies last year so I’m definitely keen to try and get first place!”

Beau Thompson (Gold Coast, QLD) won the under 18 boys division, Warwick Leese (Oxley, QLD) has won the over 45 men’s division, Lloyd Llewellyn (Bli Bli, QLD) has won the open men’s drop knee division, Xavier Marie (Buddina, QLD) has won the under 16 open division and Adam Keegan (Marcoola, QLD) has won the over 35 men’s.

Click HERE for the detailed results from today.

Tomorrow will see the open men and women’s shortboard divisions get underway. Spectators/competitors are encouraged to call the Surfing Queensland event hotline on (07) 3030 6388 from 6:30 am each morning of the event for a confirmed location/start time.

EVENT SCHEDULE

BODYBOARD: 6th March

OPEN SHORTBOARD: 7th-8th March

MASTERS SHORTBOARD: 9th-11th March

SUP SURFING: 11th-12th March

LONGBOARD & LOGGER: 12th-14th March

The 2020 QLD Surf Festival is proudly supported by The Sunshine Coast Council and Visit Sunshine Coast, official destination partners for the event.

The event is also supported by The Point Coolum Beach, official accommodation partner of the event, Coolum Surf Club, official venue partner of the event, Coolum Business and Tourism, H2Coco, Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast, Surfing World Magazine, Coastal Watch Plus, Air Asia, QMS Media, The Queensland Government and Surfing Queensland.

To stay up to date with any news regarding the 2020 QLD Surf Festival, head to www.surfingqueensland.com.au.

Filmed by Ella Tubman.

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