Board & Ski

After a long and cold winter of training the 2010/2011 season kicked off with the usual trip north to compete in the Coolangatta Gold. As per usual Collaroy was well represented fielding one full team, a composite team, as well as two individual competitors. The composite team of Kendrick Louis, Reece Bosward, Brad Gaul (Queenscliff) and young Max Brooks (Newport) finished in 3^rd position, a great result given the calibre of competition. Not to be outdone by the high profile composite team, of Mitchell Trim, Patrick Nicol, Andrew Young andGregg Armstrongfinished a strong 5^th.   Blake White and Matt Gittoes did well in the individual competition.

It was another very successful year for the team in terms of local carnival participation and results. Results from these carnivals are contained elsewhere in the Annual Report, I would however like to make special mention of the Men’s Open Taplin which won gold at the Branch titles held on home soil.

The first major carnival for the year was the NSW Inter Branch Championships, in which Collaroy was strongly represented by Mitchell Trim and Kendrick Louis. Given their performances, both Mitchell and Kendrick were selected to compete in the Interstate Championships, which were held at Queenscliff beach. Kendrick was selected to spearhead NSW and he did not let the selectors down leading home a high profile ironman race, which included the likes of Ky Hurst and Matt Poole. Mitchell was selected to represent theNorthern Territorywhich he did with aplomb, his best result being second in the men’s open board. Competitors are drafted into theNorthern Territoryteam in recognition of their strong results, and as a reward for just missing out on selection for their home state. Kendrick again gained further representative honours as the captain of the Australian U/21 team, which successfully toured New Zealand in February, and has also been named in the Australian squad for the 2012 world Championships.

The State Titles were a great success for the entire team with highlights being Kendrick's win in the open Ironman, 2nd in the open surf race, 3rd in the open board and teaming up with Mitchell to take out the board rescue event. Mitchell again snared gold as part of the winning U/19 ski relay alongside Pat Nicol and big Sammy Redwood. Matt Gittoes andGregg Armstrongagain showed their consistency on the double ski, with a bronze medal for the second year in succession.

The Australian Titles may have been lean as far as places and medals are concerned, but we had strong representation in all events with special mention going to Mitchell Trim, who made the finals of the U/19 surf race, board, ski and iron man, a great effort especially considering the challenging surf. Matt's strong showing in the open ski final was another highlight.

It's encouraging to see the constant improvement of our U/17 and U/19's coming through with not only Mitchell Trim and Pat Nicol showing the way this season but the likes of Andy Young, Sam Redwood, Max Tapper, Jodie Trim, Jack Ryan, Lachy Nicol and Georgina Butterworth all competing this year and showing what they will be capable of in the future.

Of course competitors cannot perform to their best without the efforts of all those who support them. Thanks must go to the usual crew of Steve Green, Ken Gittoes, Dave Macintosh, and everybody who assisted in a another successful season at the Roy.

Reece Bosward