FORMER Margaret River resident Jarrah Calder has claimed this year’s State longboard surfing title in the over 35 men’s division.
Going into the final contest of the year, Calder needed to win the event to take the title from ratings leader, Nick Jenkins. With both surfers making the final, it was Calder who came out on top to claim his maiden State Title. After clinching the win Calder said he was relieved with the result, thanking Surfing WA and his sponsors Quiksilver, Nathan Rose Surfboards and Future Fins.
“It was great to finally claim the title after four years of trying,”?he said. “Nick’s been a great competitor this year and he has been in top form, he definitely took the challenge right to me.”
With the State Longboard titles wrapped up for 2012, Calder is focusing on the Australian Surfing Titles held throughout August in Port Macquarie, NSW.
“I’m excited to be part of the State team representing Western Australia, and the opportunity to compete for an Australian title will be a great challenge. We’ve got a great team this year and I’m looking forward to watching them do well.”
In preparing for the titles, Calder will compete in the upcoming Whalebone Classic, a professional longboard contest in Cottesloe. The Whalebone contest makes up part of the Triple Crown series, a contest that honours contributions by the late Greg Laurenson to the WA surfing community over the past 40 years.
As a former winner of the series, Calder says it a great event to be involved in. “The Triple Crown contests rewards consistency over three events, so everyone has a chance to win, and the longboard community really gets behind the series,” he said.
The next contest in the Triple Crown series, the Whalebone Classic, will be on July 14 and 15 at Isolators Reef in Cottesloe. For information visit www.surfingwa.com.au.
