The Wedge 2023 Festival, comprising the world’s first IBSA World Tour qualifying event on Friday the 24th March and then the ‘Any Wedge Way You Can’ events over the Saturday and Sunday 25th–26th March have been run and won. 50 of the nation’s and Hawaii’s best bodysurfers competed for the IBSA men’s and women’s crowns followed by a record field of 120 bodysurfers for the weekend divisions.
All competitors and spectators were adamant this was the best bodysurfing event ever held. The entire bodysurfing ‘tribe’ from around Australia and the world came together for the three days and the stoke was off the charts for the duration.
Friday was the world’s first IBSA (International Body Surfing Association) event in history. Successful competitors gained points to qualify for the World Tour Final to be held in Hawaii. After all the knock-out and progression heats, the women’s final was desperately close, with only 0.1 separating first and second. It was eventually taken out by Queenslander Ally Zillman with Lilly Kelly from NSW just falling short. Third was Novocastrian Caitlin Callahan with local favourite Lyla Crouch close by in fourth.
The IBSA men’s competition attracted a field of over 40 of the sport’s best watermen. After ferocious rounds of heats, quarters and semis, the field was reduced to the four best watermen for the final. Local savant Jack Lewis produced a superb performance to take out the world’s first IBSA event, edging out iron man Ky Kinsela and Jack Macrae.
The Wedge events ran all weekend with 120 competitors battling it out across five divisions. The Saturday highlight was unquestionably the Champion Team Super Heat. Amongst the exceptionally strong teams entered with North Sydney Body Surfer and The Hawaiian Team. However the local team Sun Coast Sea Otters comprising Darren Verrenkamp, Tallow Crouch, Lyla Crouch, Jay Van Deurse and Jack Lewis turned in a flawless performance to run away with the win. This was the event the competitors loved competing in the most. At the end of the heat, every single competitor swam back out and caught a single ‘party’ wave in together – 20 of the world’s best bodysurfers on one wave.
Sunday was Finals Day for the Wedge as the fields were narrowed down to the Final Fortunate Few.
The Juniors Division was taken out by 11 year old local girl Lyla Crouch, a superb performance against competitors of both genders and ages up to 17. The podium was also filled by locals Kaden Wallis and Taj Barraclough who have podiumed in the same event in previous years.
The Tribal Elders (over 55’s) was won by local Bill Moore, with Chip Bradshaw and previous winner Darren Verrenkamp filling the podium.
The Masters (over 35’s) was won by another local in Adam Baldwin, his first big win. Sydney-based Richie Evans was second with Red Bull photographer Trent Mitchell coming in third.
The Women’s Open was won by double Olympic gold medalist Susie O’Neill who showed she has lost none of her form in the water. She edged out defending Champion Lyla Crouch with IBSA winner Ally Zillman taking out third.
The Men’s Open final produced arguably the best bodysurfing heat ever held in Australia. The five finalists, produced an epic display for the crowd, with the two main protagonists from the IBSA event, Jack and Ky soon separating themselves. Like tow heavyweight boxers they went blow-for-blow, wave-for wave with extraordinary rides, one after the other. In the end Jack edge out Ky in this battle for the ages, with local boy Jan Van Deurse grabbing the bronze.
Competitors are already dreaming of Wedge ’24…
Bodysurfing World Tour Qualyfing System event ranking
OPEN MEN
1. Jack Lewis (Australia) 1000
2. Ky Kinsela (Australia) 860
3. Jack Macrae (Australia) 730
4. Patrick McNally (Australia) 670
5. Jae Marr (Australia) 610
6. Jay Van Deurse (Australia) 583
7. Glen Murphy (Australia) 542
7. Dylan Kelly (Australia) 542
9. Jarrod Bridges (Australia) 494
9. Jonathon Nowers (Australia) 494
11. Jad Markland (Australia) 469
11. Jacob Rosenbrock (Australia) 469
13. Thomas Sewell (Australia) 432
13. Harry Gordon (Australia) 432
13. Marvin Smith (Australia) 432
13. Ben Wallis (Australia) 432
17. Trent Mitchell (Australia) 393
17. Adam Baldwin (Australia) 393
17. Richard Evans (Australia) 393
17. Michael Browne (Australia) 393
21. Luke Smith (Australia) 373
21. Chris Hansen (Australia) 373
21. David Laeha (USA, Hawaii) 373
21. Christopher McDougall (USA) 373
25. Jerome Petit (France) 343
25. Jacob Marr (Australia) 343
25. Adam Laeha (USA, Hawaii) 343
25. Scott C (Australia) 343
25. William Moore (Australia) 343
25. Ian Pendergast (Australia) 343
25. Sam Keelan (Australia) 343
25. Mark Tucker (Australia) 343
33. Luke Hutchison (Australia) 303
33. Paul Murphy (Australia) 303
33. Chirs Nicholas (Australia) 303
33. Jeremy Winer (Australia) 303
33. Dalton Kelly (Australia) 303
33. Paul Sifigna (Australia) 303
33. Lincoln Dews (Australia) 303
OPEN WOMEN
1. Ally Zillman (Australia) 1000
2. Lily Kelly (Australia) 860
3. Caitlin Callahan (Australia) 730
4. Lyla Crouch (Australia) 670
5. Sherie Tracey (Australia) 610
6. Kate Maxfield (USA) 583
7. Jaqueline Cutts (Australia) 555
7. Kristin Jones (Australia) 555
9. Juanita Read (Australia) 500
9. Lynda Franklin (Australia) 500
11. Taylor Wood-Durant (Australia) 475