RYAN Hardy of Margaret River confirmed his title as one of the world's best bodyboarders on the weekend, putting on a relentless performance to win the main event of the SunSmart WA Bodyboard Titles.
The current International Bodyboarding Association (IBA) world No 13 was joined by more than 80 competitors at Mandurah Wedge, the state's mecca for bodyboarding.
Competition was restricted to small and testing waves at Pyramids Beach on day one for the preliminary heats, but conditions improved remarkably overnight as a solid ground swell on Sunday provided the chance to surf the Wedge.
A super consistent and seemingly relaxed Hardy won the open men's division, wiping out Mandurah's young-gun, George Humphreys, Jake Metcalfe and Boden Hay.
However, he wasn't left to seize all the glory as local bodyboarder Ben Veitch took out the Over-24s senior men's category, beating runners-up Brendan Gabel, Hardy and Mandurah's John Barker.
"Great waves, good friends and some really good heats make for an all-time weekend," Veitch said.
Drop knee bodyboarder Declan Genge was another local to do well, placing second in his division finals with 15.43 points.
Hardy thanked everyone who supported the event and said he would now focus his attention on following the IBA World Tour when it continues on the South Coast of NSW in coming weeks.
"Yeah, certainly my goal this year is the world title," he said.
"I can't see myself competing for a state or national title at this stage, but I'll always support the WA events if there's going to be good waves like we had today."
Surfing WA events manager Justin Majeks spoke of the decision to hold the event at Mandurah Wedge, pointing out the spectators' chance to get right up and close to the action.
"Each and every wave breaks so close to the rocks that you feel like you're almost riding the waves yourself," he said.
"The whole set-up creates an atmosphere in the water and on the rocks that you don't get at many places."
The next event will be held at Gas Bay in Margaret River from May 18 to 19, before another in Perth. The three annual state titles give bodyboarders a chance to represent WA at the national titles held later in the year.
See photo gallery above for all the action.
Results:
Open Men: 1 Ryan Hardy (Margaret River) 15.17pts, 2 George Humphreys (Mandurah) 12.50pts, 3 Jake Metcalfe (Wembly Downs) 8.83pts, 4 Boden Hay (Mullaloo) 8.77pts.
O24 Senior Men: 1 Ben Veitch (Margaret River) 13.33pts, 2 Brendan Gabel (Rossmoyne) 12.83pts, 3 Ryan Hardy (Margaret River) 10.17pts, 4 John Barker (Mandurah) 6.50pts.
Drop Knee: 1 Mark Boehm (Doubleview) 17.73pts, 2 Declan Genge (Margaret River) 15.43pts, 3 Matt Rakich (Mandurah) 10.57pts, Ross Bruner (Mandurah) 8.34pts.
U18 Junior Men: 1 Matt Budiselik (Busselton) 10.77pts, 2 Davis Blackwell (Port Bouvard) 8.93pts, 3 Blake Gerrard (Mindarie) 7.33pts, 4 Lee Wilson 6.00pts.