February 1 - 28, 2025: Issue 639

 

The ASRL Open 2025 + Surf Life Saving Australia Interstate Surf Boat Championships 2025

Photos by Malcom Trees/ASRL Open

Avalon Beach SLSC's Reserves division, with the Pinkies and Chaos taking gold at the 2025 ASRL Open. Photo: Malcolm Trees

The Australian Surf Rowers League (ASRL) Open 2025 was held in the picturesque coastal city of Coffs Harbour, NSW, from the 13th to the 16th of February. Nestled between stunning beaches and lush hinterland, Coffs Harbour offered the perfect backdrop for this premier surf lifesaving event.

Incorporating the annual Surf Life Saving Australia Interstate Surf Boat Championships, the ASRL Open is one of the big carnivals on the surf boat calendar, with crews from around Australia joining in this pinnacle surf sports event.

The ASRL represents the surf rowers of Australia, guiding the development and promoting the advancement of national surfboat competition at both grassroots and elite levels. Team Navy is proud to support ASRL who provide vital lifesaving duties and beach patrols on many Australian beaches.

The 2025 edition was yet again a carnival where local boaties featured in all racing and among the podium medallists as well as representing their state as part of the New South Wales team in the 2025 Interstate competition - in fact, all but two crews were from the Sydney Northern Beaches Branch, with Newport's 'Stingers', Trans-Tasman reps in the development squads this year, again representing in the under 23's.

Newport SLSC's 'Stingers; Alani Barros, Zoe Ellis, Ella Gale, Michael King (sweep) and April McCarney. Photo: Malcolm Trees

Among the winners, Avalon Beach SLSC took out the gold in both the male and female Reserves division, with the Pinkies and Chaos coming home guided by co- Boat Captain sweep Nathan Wellings. Avalon Beach SLSC's womens 180+ years 'Super Vets' were also medallists, securing bronze in their races with Peter Carter as sweep, ABSLSC's other co-Boat Captain. The Avalon Beach Super Vets - 180 yrs min Female Surf Boat are; Pete Carter (sweep), Gemma Eastwood, Sophie Egden, Stephanie Stoddard and Donna Wishart.

These ladies and Pete also took part in the most recent George Bass Marathon, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, coming first in their age division - a great result for a surf club celebrating its 100th year in 2025.

Avalon Beach SLSC's womens 180+ years 'Super Vets' team for the George Bass 50th Anniversary row. Photo; ABSLSC

The George Bass Surfboat Marathon is a 190-kilometre race over seven days from Batemans Bay to Eden is the longest and toughest surf boat race in the world and attracts participants from across Australia and New Zealand, particularly from surf life saving clubs.

South Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club won the open men's surfboat category, while the Portsea team took out gold in the open women's. 

In the 2025 SRL Open, in all divisions and racing Palm Beach SLSC rowers, the 'Palmy Army', excelled with medals in just about every age division from Opens through to Under 19's.

South Curl Curl also featured among the medallists, as did Manly, Freshwater, North Narrabeen, North Steyne and Queenscliff - some indication of the passion and skills of surf boat rowers on the Manly to Barrenjoey peninsula. 

Sweep Don McManus with the North Narrabeen Dreadnaughts, silver medallists in the 200 Years female division. Photo: Malcolm Trees

Team Navy ASRL stated on Sunday February 16; 

''That’s a wrap on an incredible weekend of racing. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who made it happen—our amazing volunteers, competitors, Coffs Harbour SLSC officials, first aid teams, water cover, supporters, work crew and sponsors. Your dedication, hard work, and passion are what make these events possible, and we couldn’t do it without you!

From the early mornings to the final race, the commitment and effort from every person involved was outstanding. Whether you were in the boat, on the beach, or behind the scenes—thank you for being part of another unforgettable ASRL event.

Safe travels home, and we’ll see you at the next one!''

On Friday NSW were crowned State Surf Boat Champions in the 2025 Interstate Competition.

Team NSW - 2025 Interstate Champions. Photo: Malcolm Trees

Surf Life Saving Australia's report states:

The New South Wales Blues have put an end to Queensland’s dominance in the annual Surf Life Saving Australia Interstate Surf Boat Championships held Friday February 14 at Jetty Beach in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales.

The Blues finished 13 points ahead of Queensland, who finished one point ahead of Western Australia in third place in the event that was relocated south from Park Beach, due to challenging conditions.

The Queensland Cyclones were looking to make it three titles in a row but with six race wins to two, Team NSW were able to end all talk of a three-peat.

NSW Team Captain Nikki Berry (South Curl Curl SLSC) was ecstatic to claim the win over her Queensland rivals.

“It feels so good. I have not been a part of state crew that has won yet so this is just the best thing ever,” said Berry.

“Every year Greg (Team Manager Greg Heard) kept grilling in to us that we have to take it back from Queensland and to get it done just feels amazing.

“WA was amazing today, so was South Australia. Everyone was hot on everyone’s tails this year but it is just so, so good to get one over Queensland,” she added.

The Western Suns were the surprise package of the 2025 Competition, narrowly missing second overall and winning the prestigious All Age 8 Boat Relay worth double the overall points.

Team Manager Sandy Clarke (Mullaloo SLSC) was proud of her team’s depth and performance in the race.

“It feels awesome to win the All Age Relay,” she said. “The crews were really motivated so it was nice to finish off on a win like that,”

“We have a strong crew all across the board and we didn’t really have any weak spots, which was very pleasing to see.”

The 2025 SLSA Surf Boat Interstates Competition saw 200 athletes go head-to-head with eight teams 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 ASRL Open 2025.

Full results of each race area available on LiveHeats, and you can watch the full event on the Team Navy ASRL YouTube Channel.

Overall Point Score:

  • NSW, 113
  • QLD, 100
  • WA, 99
  • SA, 85
  • VIC, 77

Surf Life Saving New South Wales said;

''Great work by Team NSW at the 2025 Surf Boat Interstate Championships at Coffs Harbour! We’re taking home the trophy.  Queensland was looking for three consecutive Interstate Championships, but NSW proved too strong. Well done everyone.''

Details of this year's medallists run below - along with some of the brilliant photography of Malcolm Trees that captures the essence of the 2025 ASRL Open.

NSW TEAM 

Open Female Surf Boat - South Curl Curl SLSC
1; Nicola Berry
2; Ellie Clubb
3; Willow Doyle
4; Rob Lowery
5; Malawi Warneford

Open Male Surf Boat - Wanda SLSC
1; Matthew Pescud
2; Bradley Querzoli
3; Nathan Spinner
4; Jack Spooner
5; Hayden Ward

Reserve Grade Male Surf Boat - North Cronulla SLSC
1; Michael Bofinger
2; Jason Brown
3; Jackson Ford
4; Kyle Meldrum
5; Darcy Smith

Reserve Grade Female Surf Boat - Avalon Beach SLSC
1; Laura Anna Baierl
2; Tegan Bilson
3; Lauren Petersen
4; Sophie Valentine
5; Nathan Wellings

U23 Female Surf Boat - Newport SLSC
1; Alani Barros
2; Zoe Ellis
3; Ella Gale
4; Michael King
5; April McCarney

U23 Male Surf Boat - South Curl Curl SLSC
1; Angus Campbell
2; David Campbell
3; Alan Perry
4; Jack Rivett
5; Mark Spiteri

U19 Female Surf Boat - Freshwater SLSC
1; Elani Plummer
2; Mark Reece
3; Darcy Robbins
4; Chelsea Robertson
5; Aiyla Thomas-Smith

U19 Male Surf Boat - Collaroy SLSC
1; Xavier Bosland
2; Luca George
3; William Keep
4; Robert Maloney
5; Kane Sinclair

Junior Surf Boat Relay
1; Xavier Bosland
2; Luca George
3; William Keep
4; Robert Maloney
5; Elani Plummer
6; Mark Reece
7; Darcy Robbins
8; Chelsea Robertson
9; Kane Sinclair
10; Aiyla Thomas-Smith
11; Alani Barros
12; Zoe Ellis
13; Ella Gale
14; Michael King
15; April McCarney

Senior Surf Boat Relay
1; Laura Anna Baierl
2; Tegan Bilson
3; Lauren Petersen
4; Sophie Valentine
5; Nathan Wellings
6; Michael Bofinger
7; Jason Brown
8; Jackson Ford
9; Kyle Meldrum
10; Darcy Smith
11; Nicola Berry
12; Ellie Clubb
13; Willow Doyle
14; Rob Lowery
15; Malawi Warneford

All Age Surf Boat Relay
1; Laura Anna Baierl
2; Tegan Bilson
3; Lauren Petersen
4; Sophie Valentine
5; Nathan Wellings
6; Xavier Bosland
7; Luca George
8; William Keep
9; Robert Maloney
10; Elani Plummer
11; Mark Reece
12; Darcy Robbins
13; Chelsea Robertson
14; Kane Sinclair
15; Aiyla Thomas-Smith

2025 ASRL Open Medallists:

160 Yrs Min Male Surf Boat

  • 🥇 1st Place – Elouera Greatmen, Elouera
  • 🥈 2nd Place – Woolgoolga SLSC Gropers, Woolgoolga SLSC
  • 🥉 3rd Place – Kawana Waters Kinetics, Kawana Waters

180 Yrs Min Male Surf Boat

  • 🥇 1st Place – South Maroubra Weapon Vets, South Maroubra
  • 🥈 2nd Place – North Cronulla Brados Zeros, North Cronulla
  • 🥉 3rd Place – Etty Bay ETTY BAY, Etty Bay

200 Yrs Min Male Surf Boat

  • 🥇 1st Place – Avoca Beach Blue Pills, Avoca Beach
  • 🥈 2nd Place – Bronte Argonauts, Bronte
  • 🥉 3rd Place – Mooloolaba Freight Trains, Mooloolaba

220 Yrs Min Male Surf Boat

  • 🥇 1st Place – Tallebudgera Cab Savs, Tallebudgera
  • 🥈 2nd Place – North Cronulla Koros, North Cronulla
  • 🥉 3rd Place – Mollymook Team A, Mollymook

260 Yrs Min Mixed Surf Boat

  • 🥇 1st Place – Woolgoolga SLSC Long Strokers, Woolgoolga SLSC
  • 🥈 2nd Place – City of Perth SLSC Phantoms, City of Perth SLSC
  • 🥉 3rd Place – Kurrawa Old Boys, Kurrawa

160 Yrs Min Female Surf Boat

  • 🥇 1st Place – Dicky Beach Dreamers, Dicky Beach
  • 🥈 2nd Place – Metropolitan Caloundra Hammers, Metropolitan Caloundra
  • 🥉 3rd Place – Wamberal Wasabi Warriors, Wamberal

180 Yrs Min Female Surf Boat

  • 🥇 1st Place – Batemans Bay Banshees, Batemans Bay
  • 🥈 2nd Place – Queenscliff Reality Queens, Queenscliff
  • 🥉 3rd Place – Avalon Beach Super Vets, Avalon Beach

200 Yrs Min Female Surf Boat

  • 🥇 1st Place – Manly LSC Moonlighters, Manly LSC
  • 🥈 2nd Place – North Narrabeen Dreadnaughts, North Narrabeen

240 Yrs Min Mixed Surf Boat

  • 🥇 1st Place – South Curl Curl White Bread, South Curl Curl
  • 🥈 2nd Place – North Steyne Old Gold, North Steyne
  • 🥉 3rd Place – Kempsey Crescent Head Team A, Kempsey Crescent Head

Open Male Surf Boat

  • 🥇 Wanda Weapons
  • 🥈 Elouera Wilko
  • 🥉 Tallebudgera Myths

Open Female Surf Boat

  • 🥇 Currumbin Cockatoos
  • 🥈 South Curl Curl Shakers
  • 🥉 Palm Beach (NSW) Pirates

Reserve Grade Male Surf Boat

  • 🥇 Avalon Beach PINKIES
  • 🥈 Northcliffe Hurricanes
  • 🥉 Palm Beach (NSW) Pelicans

Reserve Grade Female Surf Boat

  • 🥇 Avalon Beach CHAOS
  • 🥈 Palm Beach (NSW) Pterodactyl
  • 🥉 Batemans Bay Banshees

Under 23 Female

  • 🥇 Currumbin Vixens
  • 🥈 Palm Beach Pina Coladas
  • 🥉 Piha New Zealand

Under 19 Male

  • 🥇 South Curl Curl Ticklers
  • 🥈 Queenscliff Double D’s
  • 🥉 Nth Cronulla Funky Fresh

Under 19 Female

  • 🥇 Collaroy Cannons
  • 🥈 Mona Vale Menace
  • 🥉 Palm Beach Prosecco

Under 17 Male

  • 🥇 Batemans Bay Hurricanes
  • 🥈 Currumbin Eriks
  • 🥉 Metropolitan Caloundra Mafia

Under 17 Female

  • 🥇 South Curl Curl Runaways
  • 🥈 Jan Juc Jets
  • 🥉 Mona Vale Menace

Avalon Beach SLSC's NSW Team Reserve Grade women; Laura Anna Baierl, Tegan Bilson, Lauren Petersen, Sophie Valentine and Nathan Wellings (sweep).