Slydefest Handboarding Competition Australia 2019 - Lights the Gold Coast UP!

On the back of our USA parent company Slyde Handboards Australia has bought Slydefest Downunder to the Gold Coast in Queensland. 

On June 1st the first day of Winter, over 40 Competitors took to the water in their 15 minute heats at Narrowneck Beach on the Gold Coast’s Northern Beaches. The surf ranged from 2 to 4 foot for the day with mostly offshore wind conditions.

Event Director and Slyde Handboards Australia owner Travis Davies says “ I couldn’t have been happier, the waves came to play for the full day, and the Gold Coast sun was out all day, really I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

 
Photo by @quinant66

7 am saw Heat 1 hit the water and away we went, the day was full of action from the experienced hand boarder to the crew that just wanted to give it a go, it was great to see everyone come together and support the sport we love.

Everyone got at least two heats, and as the day went on the best handboarders in Australia rose to the top, we watched front flips, belly spins, epic tube rides and commitment that was very impressive.

 
Photo by @quinant66

Fitness was key with some guys having to battle 6 heats for the day, the sweep came into play and run arounds were required, but at the end of day we were left with a Champion in the Men’s Open Division, Ladies Opens and Under 15’s.

The ladies division started at 6 competitors and come the end we had two battle it out with the young Allana Glowaski finally taking it with a countback from Lynda Franklin.

The under 15’s division came down to two Lewis Churchill won with ease actually making the final in the open division taking down a lot of class along the way, but at 12 years old hand boarding is looking good for this young man.  In second place was young Slyde Team Rider Ace Davies at 8 years of age also took down a couple and eventually failing short against the stronger men, well done to the groms. 

The Mens Open final heat of the day saw the battle of top 4, Uga Mihailovic, Dylan Kelly, Don McCredie and Rikki Gilby,

Don set the pace with multiple waves including one waves on clean face with 4 spinners and a finishing move, Rikki held his own in the final getting solid rides and Uga who powered hard all day just came up short. Then we have Dylan Kelly, we don’t want to take anything away from anyone else, but Dylan seemed one step ahead all day, his flare, class and style left him standing top of the podium at the end of the day, with a minute to go and well behind a clean critical front flip was enough to claim him the win. Dylan from Cairns QLD walks away with the win in Slydefest Australia's first event.

The day couldn’t have run without its sponsors:

Slyde Handboards, We Are Feel Good Inc Sunscreen, DMC Fins, Surf FX Surf Shop, DaFin Hawaii and Australia, Keel Downunder, Spy Optic Sunglasses Australia, Adelio Wetsuits,

 
8 year Old Ace Davies fought hard to claim 2nd in the Juniors.

Thank you for everyone that entered and helped on the day, we cant wait for 2020 is going to be huge! 

Results,

Open Mens

• 1^stDylan Kelly QLD
• 2^ndDon McCredie NSW
• 3^rdUga Mihailovic NSW
• 4^thRikki Gilby NSW

 
Winners and their trophies, Left to right, Uga 3rd, Dylan 1st, Travis Davies Slyde Owner, Rikki 4th and Don 2nd

Open Ladies

• 1^stAllana Glowaski QLD
• 2^ndLynda Franklin QLD

Allana Winner of the Ladies

Under 15’s

• 1^stLewis Churchill NSW
• 2^ndAce Davies QLD

  
Lewis Churchill winner fo the juniors

Other photo's from Slydefest;

Semi Finalists left to right, Rikki Gilby, Dylan Kelly, Gus Williams and Ben Oakley

Semi Finalists, left to right, Jack McCrae, UGA, Don McCredie and Simon Svensen

Follow all the FUN ➡️ HERE