Maroubra, Bondi Boys Hit The Surf In Tassie
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday February 2, 1989
THE Billabong Australian Titles are underway at Scamander, Tasmania. Three local surfers are represented in the NSW team - Steve "Steamer" Lane and Sunny Abberton, of Maroubra, and Bondi's Ben Webber.
Abberton and Webber are competing in the Junior Division. Webber finished third in the State titles last year and Abberton was equal fifth.
Lane gained a place in the Senior Mens' Team after Newport's Nick Carroll had to withdraw because of a six-week overseas trip.
Carroll, who holds two Australian Open Titles, was a strong chance for taking out another title in the division. He won the State Senior Men's Title, defeating Ulladulla's Glen Kelly, Avoca's Rod Baldwin and Barry Tytefrom Cronulla.
Carroll left last Monday for London to attend to personal business. He is then travelling to Hawaii and later to California.
He was disappointed to miss out on the Australian titles, but his other responsibilities left him with no choice.
"There is always next year," he said with a grin.
Fellow Newport surfer Colin Thomson would have filled Carroll's place in the State team, except that he had already booked a one-month safari to Africa.
The World and Australian Pro-Am Champion, Merrick Davis, of Queenscliff, has started this year well with a win in the first event, the Capricorn$10,000.
Merrick fought off a strong challenge from Avoca's Mark Sainsbury in the final. Robbie Bain, also of Queenscliff, was third. Alby Ross, of Kingscliff, on the north coast, was fourth.
The three-day contest was held last weekend at Saltwater on the NSW mid-north coast. The waves were a good 1.5 metres.
Both Davis and Sainsbury pulled off big floaters in the 30-minute final and led the pack with some vertical surfing.
Robbie Bain started well in the four-man final, picking up three good waves in the first 15 minutes, but he then fell on two rides and he failed to find a decent fourth wave.
Equal fifth were Robbie Sherwell and Brett Hodge from the Gold Coast and Avalon's Mark Haynes and North Narrabeen's Brett Warner were equal seventh.
A Bronze plaque commemorating that grand old man of the sea, Snowy McAlister, will be unveiled at Manly Beach tomorrow at 10.30 am.
McAlister, who held four Australian surfboard riding titles in the 1920s, died just before Christmas, aged 83.
Snowy was a permanent fixture at Sydney surfing events and he was always willing to have a yarn.
The plaque was organised by surfing columnist Thor Svenson and was paid for by donations. The extra money raised will be given to Missionbeat in Snowy's name.
© 1989 Sydney Morning Herald
