NEAR perfect two-to-three foot right-handers provided the ideal blank canvas for Scotts Head’s Wayne Kinerson to claim the Australian Surf Festival over 55 men’s title.
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The wildcard – and natural footer – was wearing a smile from ear-to-ear after he locked in the multiple turns to take the tight battle which saw less than a point separating first, second, third and fourth.
Kinerson’s victory was dedicated to a number of friends who have passed away in previous years, especially Cameron ‘Boydy’ Boyd.
“I’m just so stoked with this result,” Kinerson told the Guardian.
“I’d gone from third to first in the semis, but I thought for sure I was gone – I put my hands up in defeat as if to say ‘I’m done’, and paddled away … in the last 30 seconds I ended up on a wave and caught a 9.25 to make the finals.
“A similar thing happened and I ended up with the win in the final.”
Kinerson made it to the Australian Surf Festival after taking out first at State titles at Boomerang Beach in June.
“I had actually been pretty sick since the State titles and hadn’t really been out of bed for a month,” he said.
“When I made the final, all I wanted to do was to thump the hell out of the waves. The camaraderie in the water was pretty good overall, but the other guys definitely didn’t make it easy for me.
“The level continues to lift at every Australian title, so to come out on top feels great.”
Kinerson has surfed since 1972, but became disillusioned with the sport and took up motorcross before returning in 1990.
A move that has since provided dividends.
“I did it for Boydy … we made a pact to surf together and he was going to make me into a pro - when this event rolled around, I thought, hell I’ll give it one more crack,” he said.
“I was sitting out the front of my place eating a chocolate paddle pop and I asked Boydy, ‘what’s going to happen tomorrow (in the final)?’, and no word of a lie, I saw a shooting star, and I knew then it was already written.”
Kinerson had made it to the same stage twice before, but once he couldn’t attend and once was the “worst I’d ever surfed”.
“I had some unfinished business,” he said.
“It took a few days to sink in, but it’s the best feeling I’ve had in my life.”
The Australian Surf Festival at Coffs Harbour attracted more than 500 surfers from around the country, over the 18-day event period.
