James Murphy
THE 10th annual Robe Bash body boarding competition had a local name etched on the trophy once again for 2023.
Held on Saturday, the event attracted a strong field but at the end of it all, Robe’s Sam Woolston claimed the honours.
It was his second win in the event’s history, having won back in 2020 prior to a three-peat from Victor Harbour’s Jasper Ashmoore.
“I was pretty stoked to get my name on the trophy again,” Woolston told The Border Watch this week.
“Me and Jasper – who has won it three times – we have the last five between us.”
This year’s bash was held just past Stoney Rise – the usual location of the Easter Classic surf competition – at a spot which could handle the wind conditions on the day.
“It is a bit of a trek to get down there, it was about a 45-minute drive, but it was the only spot that handles a South East wind,” Woolston said.
All things considered, Woolston said the conditions were still decent.
“The waves weren’t too bad early, but deteriorated a bit with the wind,” he said.
“It was a bit of a hard paddle and hard work, but it was still contestable for sure.”
A field of 27 contested this year’s event, with competitors travelling from all over, including a contingent of Victorians.
“We are having it on the Melbourne Cup long weekend every year from now on so the Vic boys can come over,” Woolston said.
With plenty of competition on the water, Woolston did not have any high expectations going in.
“I was just aiming to make the first heat,” he said.
“It was hard work and in the quarter finals I was like I am not really fussed if I don’t make it through, because it was such hard work.
“I had just come in and got to the beach and they told me I had to go back out for the semi’s.”
From there he continued to impress and eventually took out the final over Ashmoore who was runner-up.
It was a vast improvement from last year’s Bash, which had Woolston ruled out early in the day.
“Last year on the second wave in my first heat I broke my ribs landing an air,” he said.
“I was out of the water for six weeks after the last comp.”
Rounding out the podium was Victorian Chris Watson, while Matt Cates came in fourth.
From a local perspective, Woolston gave credit to Zac Deane, who he said “made a heat and did quite well”.
Woolston will look to defend his title in 2024, in an attempt to chase down Ashmoore’s record.
