Surfing Western Australia

Whalebone Classic 2010

Champions crowned at the 2010 Whalebone Classic

Monday, 12 July 2010

Boisterous seas provided an exciting platform for the second and final day of competition at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Whalebone Classic testing Australia's best longboard surfers to the maximum.

With large and uneven 3-4 feet shifting peaks making wave selection crucial, competitors in semi final one all shared the lead at various stages before the all round repertoire of moves from Dane Pioli, (NSW) saw him snatch the win from Jackson Close (QLD). Semi final two saw big moves from 2006 World Champion Josh Constable (QLD), including a huge airdrop floater, to see him win comfortably from fellow Queenslander Mitch Surman.

As the finalists for both the men's and women's pro divisions hit the water, severe wind squalls were lashing the contest site and bring tents to the ground and making things as testing for those on the land and in the water.

Building on the momentum of his heat and then his semi, Noosa's Josh Constable absolutely went to town in the final. Undeterred by the atrocious conditions, Constable looked to be having fun as he attacked every wave with big lip bashes and then mere seconds later would be gracefully walking to the nose for serious tip time to amass an impressive 17.03pts out of a possible 20 for his two scoring rides to master the rough seas.

"It was tough out there, I surfed a contest at Bells that had strong offshore winds but this was gnarly, real gnarly but we all had fun out there" said Constable.

The fast aggressive approach to each wave saw Jackson Close finish on 15.16 to claim second.

NSW champion Dane Pioli had to settle for 3rd on 14.67, while Mitch Surman in first trip to the West and in his first LQS final placed 4th on 11.33.

Australian women's champion Rosie Locke who also hails from Noosa, took charge of the women's final to head off former Australian and perennial Whalebone winner Claire Finnucane and cement her place in the Roxy Women's World Titles.

"I got a good wave to start and while I was hoping to build on it, it turned out to be my best wave" Locke said.

She continued "It wasn't a fight against the other competitors out there it was a fight against the elements."

Fellow Western Australian, Jade Foster surfed into 3rd and an out of form Melissa Combo finished 4th.

Again the Whalebone Classic will be remembered for big winter surf and a festival atmosphere that saw all who attened stoke with the spirit of the Whale.

Results

ASP LQS Men Final

1st Josh Constable (QLD)

2nd Jackson Close (QLD)

3rd Dane Pioli (NSW)

4th Mitch Surman (QLD)

Semi 1

1st Dane Pioli (NSW)

2nd Jackson Close (QLD)

3rd Justin Redman (WA)

4th Jared Neal (NSW)

Semi 2

1st Josh Constable (QLD)

2nd Mitch Surman (QLD)

3rd Matt Aldridge (QLD)

4th Jock Bahen (WA)

ASP LQS Women Final

1st Rosie Locke (QLD) 11.5

2nd Claire Finucane (WA) 10.23

3rd Jade Foster (WA) 9.36

4th Melissa Combo (NSW) 9.00

For further details please visit www.whaleboneclassic.com.au or phone Sean McKeown on 0414569208