SURFING
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Mother Nature waved her magic wand just in time for perfect conditions to prevail at last weekend’s annual Werri Slash.
Organisers were nervous in the days leading up to the longest running event on the South Coast surfing calendar, fearful of lake-like conditions.
But the swell finally picked up on Saturday morning and competitors were greeted by clean waves varying between 0.5metres to 1m.
‘‘We had two weeks of no waves anywhere prior to it and were pretty stressed,’’ Werri Slash co-ordinator Dave Hunt said.
‘‘Thankfully the forecast showed signs of a rising swell and we weren’t disappointed.
‘‘We had good conditions on Saturday and it didn’t really change on Sunday,’’ he said.
‘‘I don’t know what it is, but every year the Werri Slash has a knack for coinciding with the best conditions of the year,’’ Hunt said.
Wollongong’s Nic Squiers showed his class over the two days to emerge triumphant in the open men’s competition and Skye Burgess claimed the open women’s crown.
Rod Morgan captured the senior men’s title, while Billie Melinz won the under-16 girls’ championship and was runner-up to Burgess in the open women’s final.
Chad Hobby triumphed in the under-18 boys, Luke Wrice took out the under-16 boys’ division, while Kyen Stuart was victorious in the under-14 boys.
‘‘The Werri Slash has been a tremendous development event for South Coast surfers for 27 years,’’ Hunt said.
‘‘It’s great to see so many talented young juniors coming through.’’