Senior Wavefest competition set to return for long weekend as talent fills the local surf

Excitement is building ahead of this weekend’s annual senior Wavefest competition, with strong numbers once again expected to return to the water.

The Albany Boardriders’ annual competition will have 24 competitors in the open men’s division and eight in every other category.

The remaining divisions consist of an over-35 men’s, over-45 men’s, open women’s and over 30’s women’s.

The over-50s and over-55s categories will not run this year because of a lack of entries.

Last year’s open men’s winner Paul Dupuy will return in the hope of clinching back-to-back titles, as will open women’s winner Sascha Roberts.

Action will take place over two days across the three-day long weekend.

Albany Boardriders president Dave Beeck said he was expecting a strong competition and the location of the event would be confirmed later this week.

“We’ll announce the location Friday night. It’s going to be offshore all weekend, but it’s up in the air at this stage,” he said.

“It will either be at Nanarup, Middleton, Mutton Bird, Ocean Beach or Parry Beach.

“Last year’s winner Pud (Paul Dupuy) is in Indonesia surfing with his daughter and asked if she could be a late entry as well.

“Evie (Dupuy) is a really good surfer as well, so Paul will be a hot favourite in the open men’s division and Evie will probably be a favourite to take out the open women’s.

“We’ll probably have the open men’s heats on the first day and maybe even some over-35s and over-45s men’s because they will be there, and then save everything else for the next day.”

Beeck said there would be a stack of prizes up for grabs for winners in the separate divisions.

“The first prize is an $800 wetsuit and then we’ve got some prizes from Creatures of Leisure and Ocean and Earth,” he said.

“We’ve got some custom-made trophies which we do every year, and have got great support from Wayne Winchester out at the Surf Gallery who has thrown in some vouchers.”

Reigning champions from 2022 include Dupuy and Roberts, while Beeck took the honours in the over-45s division.

Karina Hick took the top spot in the over-30 women’s division, while Josh Coummans snatched first place in the over-35 men’s category.