Coolum Beach Board Riding Team - Aussie Winners!

Published: April 20, 2023 Last Updated: April 20, 2023

A new wave of fearless young surfing lifesavers at Coolum Beach have teamed up with a couple of revered, wave-riding elders to take down the might of Bondi Rescue at the Aussie Surf Life Saving Titles in Perth.

Perennial national masters surfing champion, Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club Life Member and former Maroochy Council Chief Lifeguard Bruce Dunne has for years been helping harness a small but enthusiastic team of talented youths on short and long boards.

He may not be quite as old as Star Wars Jedi Master Yoda, but Bruce and his equally talented surfing sidekick Jodie Waring, believe the force of the surfing gods is firmly with their younger charges.

They see “shredding” sets as a powerful and positive force for upskilling young lifesavers in surf skills as they come through the ranks.

This close-knit Coolum surfing team are still on a natural high having just been crowned the 2023 Australian Champion Board Riding Club and winners of the Peter Doolan Trophy, after taking out four individual gold, four silver and two bronze at the recent Aussies in Perth..

They blitzed some strong contenders including runners-up, the Bondi Beach SLSC team, led by national double gold medalist Anthony "Harries" Carroll, the dashing lifeguard of Bondi Rescue fame.

For Coolum, Bruce took gold in the 60-69 years Male Long Board, Jodie won the Female Long Board while 32-year-old Coolum relative lifesaving newcomer Jake Harris struck double gold in the 30-39 years Male Long and Short Bord.

According to 52-year-old Jodie, the club's young tearaways were equally impressive with teenage brothers Josh and Lachlan Andrews helping lead the way.

Josh took silver in Under 15 Male Surf Board Riding and 17-year-old Lachie pushed Bondi star Carroll all the way in the Open Short Board final for silver.

Jodie's 21-year-old son Cooper also made life hard for Bondi's Harries in the Long Board final but had to settle for silver, while Bruce was runner-up in the 60-69 Short Board.

Jodie and Bruce also pulled out all stops to each take a bronze in their Open Long Board finals.

The team stayed together in Perth as a happy "family" unit, with the supportive vibe helping Lachlan and another brother, Toby, place fourth in Open Male Long Board and U19 Male Short Board events.

Lachie also made the finals in open long boards placing fourth.

"There's just a lovely family environment (surrounding the surfing team) - you have the grand parents, the parents ... it's about the friendships you make," Jodie said.

"It's just been remarkable for such a small team to be able to get into finals and open finals."

According to Jodie, team captain Bruce remains their surfing talisman, being the enduring common thread in their three successful national team success to date that includes 2014 and 2018.

Bruce's mantra is that the best surfers make the best rescuers as long gone are the days of surf beach tribalism when "surfies" were the sworn enemies of the red and yellow capped "clubbies".

"Their talent is excellent for patrolling, with over 75% of ocean rescues being performed by surf board riders," Bruce said.

Certainly outstanding team member Jake is living proof of his claim after a surf tragedy sparked him to train as a lifesaver.

"A few years ago I was surfing at (Coolum) First Bay and as I was coming back in I saw a lady floating face down in the water.

"I was one of the surfers there that dragged her out and performed CPR until the paramedics got there," Jake said.

Unfortunately the woman could not be revived, but Jake is convinced combining his surfing and rescue skills has greatly enhanced his confidence for any future water emergencies.

Jodie believes an active and competitive surfing movement within lifesaving is one of the best means of retaining this expanding Coolum young talent pool.

She said being out in the break in the prime position to rescue swimmers in trouble is part of what "the magic of surfing is all about".

"We love the ocean and it's an all-round fitness - we have people as young as 10 representing the club (in surfing) right through to masters.

"It's a section of the club that brings everyone together," Jodie said.

"We are blessed that it's something that isn't forced, it has it's own natural essence - we all love the same thing," she said.

The team thrives on the energy they get form the surf and its young guns have learned to love the long boards that, as grommets, they scoffed at.

"They've simply followed in Bruce's footsteps because most of us were all short board riders," Jodie said.

"To see the skill and talent they've developed on the short boards is quite remarkable.

"They're all rescue ready, they're in the water and have respect of the ocean."

Jodie said the clubs Management Committee has provided invaluable support to help support the surfers get to the Perth titles and team is pleased they've been able to repay the faith by way of gold, silver and bronze.

While Coolum surfers will be lining up again next year when the nationals are held at home on the Sunshine Coast, Jodie said the team's primary aim is to do what they always do, go out to have as much fun as possible. 

"You're just so immersed in nature and I think that's the gift," Jodie said.

"Once we have the pressure of trying to be something (like be defending champions) then I think we'd lose the magic," she said.

(Peter Gardiner)

 

Get more of the verbal scoop on the success for our Board Riding Team at Aussie Titles from our long serving member and competitor Bruce D, who was interviewed by local ABC Radio.

Listen in at approximately minute 136 of the following link:

https://www.abc.net.au/.../sunshine-coast.../102083664