Curtis Ewing – Frontise Carve at Main Beach NSI. Photo by Andrew Shield.
The Gage Roads Straddie Invitational, celebrating its 40th anniversary, claims to be the longest-running teams surf event in the world. It started life in 1983 as the Straddie August Assault. It was initiated mainly to help businesses on Minjerribah during winter months, when the island’s tourist numbers dropped. This year’s event will take place on October 20 to 22.
Excellent surfs ensured highly successful events and the ensuing media coverage established the event as an ongoing attraction. Competitors are drawn from Noosa to Coffs Harbour and 16 clubs will compete this year.
The wide range of categories ensures broad participation possibilities, with categories for male, female and age classifications, individual surfers and tag team events. The judging is undertaken by a panel of professional judges. Key judging criteria are; Commitment and Degree of Difficulty, Innovative and Progressive Manoeuvres, Combination of Major Manoeuvres, Variety of Manoeuvres, Speed, Power and Flow.
Secretary of the Point Lookout Boardriders (PLB), Daniel Hatchman, says the club is expecting an impressive turnup.
“It’s a great weekend for the whole family,” he says. “The event is always well-catered and Sunday afternoon awards presentation will be held at the Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel so we’d urge people to get behind their favourite club, embrace the community spirit and get over here for a weekend of high-octane surfing action!”
Curtis Ewing was the power surfer for PLB in the Tag Team Final last year and came in clutch in the last minute with a big score to secure the win for Point Lookout Boardriders.
A bit of trivia… Curtis’ younger brother Ethan Ewing competed in the WSL Finals at Lower Trestles California. He took out a rampaging Brazilian Joao Chianca, ploughing through the Californian golden boy, local hero, Griffin Colapinto. Ethan’s surfing on the day was widely described as the most powerful and progressive rail surfing the world has ever seen (as distinguished from progressive aerial surfing). Finally, he came to face off 1v1 for the World Championship with Filipe Toledo, ultimately leaving Ethan 2nd in the world after two very close heats.
