MALJAM SCORES TWO FROM TWO
After months of preparation the success of failure of the 2012 Maljam was going to rest on the will of the surfing Gods as we attempted to emulate the success of the inaugural Event the year before. As it happened we were blessed with benign, warm weather, a two to three foot consistent swell and a light offshore breeze that kept conditions almost glassy.
The Curly crew were totally stoked at the contestable conditions that prevailed all day and provided the illustrious crew of competitors the raw material to display their skills and water craft.
The Under 21’s hit the water at 6:30 and from that point the day turned over like clockwork. The surfing was up to international level as current and former World Champions and the crème de la crème of divisional surfers battled out in the testing Curly lineup. There were both lefts and rights available but the peak kept shifting which kept everyone on high alert. The challenge during the day was a lull around the midday high tide when the semis of the Open were held but beyond that there were plenty of waves on offer.
The highlights of the day included some great performances by Taylor Jensen who threw his board around like a short board and rode a genuine heavy old mal in the single fin to show his versatility. Harley Ingleby maxed out his wave count nearly every time and showed why he is one of the most respected exponents in the longboard family with his canny wave selection and radical maneuvers. Ray Lawrence from the South Coast wowed the crowd with some real power moves whilst Marlin Guihot was like a worker bee as he continually stepped, trimmed, hung and snapped the inside Curly break. Dane Wilson impressed with his aggression and some radical drop kneed cutties whilst Sue McComb proved a cut above the rest of the women with some deft walking and nice hang fives. Local boys Christian Pimm was frenetic in the semis and finals and constantly punished every wave he landed. Jack Lynch from the North Coast and Jack Enwhistle from Manly were too stylish and aggressive for the rest of the Under 21 contingent. Harrison Roach and Isaac Field were true to the retro surfing of the sixties with their smooth trimming and nose work and nice cover ups.
The biggest turnaround of the day was local Longreef surfer, Cristian Pimm, beating a current and former world champions to take out the hotly contested Open Event. Curl Curl surfer Jason Livingstone won the Over 35’s with a class display reflecting his knowledge of local conditions, Dane Wilson the best all round performer with first in the single Fin and second in the Open. Five members of the Curly Club made the final of the Over 35’s, Former President of Manly Malibu, Lynden Riley, won the 0ver 50’s ahead of former President of Longreef, Steve Beaumont.
Lawrence Harkness from Freshwater powered into second in the Single Fin with some uninhibited and totally committed surfing . A great display by Freshwater’s Sue Mcomb saw her take the Women’s just edging Manly Malibu teammate Ashley Beer. Jack Lynch was a wave machine and with some excellent trimming and intelligent wave selection won the Under 21’s ousting style master Jack Entwhistle.
The Wood display was a gem with tooth picks and okanuis on show for near half an hour before the crowd which was entertained by the wood board expert on the mike, Daffy Chisolm. Tim Reilly broke 500 pounds of ice with his bare hands immediately after the presentation in front of a huge crowd that was attracted by his front page spread in the Manly Daily published on the day.
In summary it was a day blessed by ideal conditions, world class surfers and an atmosphere of good vibes and tight competition.
The Curly committee recognizes that an Event such as this, that offers twelve thousand dollars for the day, could not be possible without the financial support of our sponsors. We are immensely grateful to Tim Reilly and the Four Elements Coaching Academy, Shusai Risk Management, Zen Chi Ryu, DYRSL, Dripping Wet Surf Co, Bennett Surf, ICMG Personnel, Damp Store and all the workers from the Club who toiled without complaint on the lead up to the day and the day itself.
We look forward to seeing you all next year and urge you to keep in touch with us via our progressive website, Facebook and Twitter.
Phil Nicol – Maljam Coordinator
RESULTS:
OPEN – 1. CHRISTIAN PIMM 2. DANE WILSON 3. HARLEY INGELBY 4. TAYLOR JENSEN
SINGLE FIN LOG – 1. DANE WILSON 2. LAWRENCE HARKNESS 3. TAYLOR JENSEN 4.HARRISON ROACH 5. HARLEY INGELBY 6. MARLIN GUIHOT
OVER 35’S – 1. JASON LIVINGSTON 2.SEAN DRY 3. ALEX HAY MCKENZIE 4. SIMON COX 5. CRAIG DAVIES 6. GRAEME WHITE
OVER 50’S – 1. LYNDEN RILEY 2. STEVE BEAUMONT 3. PAUL O’GRADY 4. BARNEY FENESSE 5. JOHN SKINNER 6. MURRAY BLEACH
WOMEN – 1. SUE MCCOMB 2. ASHLEY BEER 3. CLAIRE NORMAN 4. VIV CRESSWELL 5. RACHEL FLEMING 6. CLOE CUMMINS
UNDER 21 – 1. JACK LYNCH 2. JACK ENTWHISTLE 3. WILLIAM CROWE 4. TOM LEACH 5. DECLAN WYTON 6. JAKE BEVAN
Special award for Surfer Under 16 to Tom Bennett
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