AS heavy rain continues to wreak havoc up and down the coast, the surf community is calling upon Huey to deliver the goods for this weekend’s 45th Bird Rock Memorial Surf Classic.
At 6pm on Friday, surfers, families and friends will firstly gather at the Bird Rock memorial at Town Beach Headland to honour the lives of surfers loved and lost.
Established in 1998 at the Headland, the memorial preserves the names and memories of local surfing legends.
The service provides the community with space to reflect, share stories, and celebrate the lives of their loved ones.
“Our motto is ‘We surf with you in our memories forever’”, Geoff Branch, Bird Rock Co-Organiser and keen surfer, told News Of The Area.
Geoff has been “surfing and helping with this event since 1981 when it started” and really aims to shine a light on all surfers who are no longer paddling beside one another.
On Saturday, the action starts at Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills, with more than 100 surfers anticipated to compete across several long and short board competitions.
Rounding out the event, following the annual paddle out, all eyes will be on the highly contested Open Men’s Shortboard final as keen locals work to de-crown last year’s winner Kelly Mills from Bonny Hills.
Fellow Bonny Hills surfer and Bird Rock supporter Allan Brown handmakes the event trophies with the help of his sidekick Super Sal, adding yet another touch of local magic to the event and for those impressive enough on the day to take one home.
A presentation and band night will take place from 6pm at Lake Cathie Tavern in the evening to wrap up a very special 45 years.
The Bird Rock Memorial started out as the Mark Edwards Memorial in 1981 with the very first surfing competition held at Middle Rock in memory of a mate who lost his life in the ‘70s.
From that humble beginning, grew a community that wanted to keep the memories of those passed alive through their mutual love and respect of surfing and the ocean.
This tradition became what the community knows today as the Bird Rock Memorial Surf Classic and is the longest running surfing event on the Mid North Coast.
It’s set to be a cracker of a weekend full of community spirit and epic showdowns in the surf.
By Rikki WALLER
