Tasmania was well represented at the Australian Wakeboard Championships on the Gold Coast this week.
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Held at the city’s Marine Stadium, the competition saw the best wakeboarders in Australia as well as some internationals battle it out over four days.
The Tassie team of Brad Garwood, Nigel Curran (both Launceston), Andrew Bennett (Devonport) and Jessie Mason (Hobart) all rode in the competition throughout the four days.
Bennett claimed victory in the masters category (over 30 age group) with Curran placing fifth in the same class.
Mason made it to the semi-finals, but just missed out on the podium, with while Garwood crashed out on his last ride damaging his knee early in the run.
Tasmanian Wakeboarding president Bennett was stoked with his win.
“I was really happy with how I rode on the day and the conditions on the water were awesome,” he said.
“It’s nice to come back to Tasmania with a national title under my belt and it was even better having a solid crew up on the Gold Coast to cheer me on.
“Wakeboarding Queensland, Waterski and Wakeboard Australia and everyone else who helped out with the event did an amazing job. There were more spectators at the event than at any other nationals competition I have been to.”
There have already been whispers about the next Australian wakeboard championships being held in Tasmania for the 2017/2018 season.
Bennett said this would be a great event to host as the wakeboarding community in Tasmania is growing and the competition would attract international riders as well as hundreds nationally.
Tasmanian Wakeboarding are holding the third round of their 2016-17 season on March 18 at Trevallyn Aquatic Club in Launceston.
Categories include groms, women’s, straight air, advanced and pro.
Spectators are welcome, and BBQ and drinks are supplied on the day.