It was a victory several years in the making – NSW taking out the 2025 Interstate Surf Boat Championships and bringing an end to all talk of a Queensland three-peat on an action-packed day in Coffs Harbour.
Jetty Beach at Coffs Harbour on Friday 14 February was the setting for NSW’s triumph, finishing 13 points ahead of their northern neighbours and a further point ahead of an excellent WA team in third place on the podium.
Team NSW managed six wins to the Queensland Cyclones’ two – a domination of the team chasing a third straight title.
“It feels so good. I have not been a part of a state crew that has won yet, so this is just the best thing ever,” NSW Team Captain, Nikki Berry from South Curl Curl SLSC said.
“Every year Greg (Team Manager Greg Heard) kept drilling into us that we have to take it back from Queensland and to get it done just feels amazing.
“Everyone was hot on everyone’s tails this year but it is just so, so good to get one over Queensland.”
The 2025 Surf Boat Interstate Competition saw 200 athletes go head-to-head with eight crews per state, representing NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia.
The teams competed in Opens, Reserves, Under 23, and Under 19 categories in the Interstate Competition, held alongside the Australian Surf Rowers League (ASRL) Open 2025.
NSW crews put on a strong showing there too – all but two races of the ASRL Masters Championships and proving equally as commanding on Open Championships weekend (15-16 Feb).
Among the best results were the Wanda Weapons crew of Matthew Pescud, Bradley Querzoli, Nathan Spinner, Jack Spooner, and Hayden Ward winning the Open Male Final, Avalon Beach Chaos’ Tegan Bilson, Laura Baierl, Lauren Petersen, Sophie Valentine and sweep, Nathan Wellings winning the Reserve Female Final, and Batemans Bay Hurricanes winning the trial U17 category.
James Collins, Jacob Pike, Kadyn McDonald and Kayden Smith, swept by Neil Innes, overcame strong teams out of the Currumbin and Caloundra clubs to win their division.
Photos – Mal Trees
Thursday 20 February 2025
