Day 9 - Beach Bowl Finals

The Channel [V] Music Stage was pumping today with Stonefield, Children Collide and The Living End making the huge crowd jump, check out the shots!

If the Beach Bowl continues to throw up the kind of action put on show by by Bob Burnquist and co today, the surfers are going to have a hard time keeping up.

Burnquist, Bucky Lasek and a throng of the world's best skaters threw down some serious manoeuvres in even hotter heat at Manly's Australian Open of surfing, before the juniors took over an did their best to emulate.

Eight-year-old Hurley rider Keegan Palmer has quickly established a cult fan basis, the jam-packed beachside stadiums echoing with chants of "Keegan, Keegan, Keegan". And the little shredder from Queensland didn't disappoint, carving the bowls and getting some serious air time in the junior comp.

Bondi's Poppy Olsen, the competition's only female skater, didn't let the 12-foot bowl daunt her, leaving those in the stands in awe of the primary school student in front of a packed house.

But Thursday was only the beginning, the final to take place Friday morning on Manly Beach.

Iconic Manly Beach in Sydney, NSW is our gracious host as we kick off the inaugural Australian Open of Surfing!  To say this place is breathtaking would be the understatement of the century.  In addition to the stunning scenery, this place is a haven for fun-filled adventure.  Between swimming in saltwater pools, Manly Cove, and the sparkling Pacific Ocean surrounding Manly’s famous beaches, joining a fun match of beach volleyball, trying your hand at surfing, windsurfing, parasailing, snorkeling, and scuba diving…this place has something for everyone! 

But don’t take our word for it…these pics speak for themselves!  Better yet, come experience it for yourself! 

A local, invite-only speciality event was held to decide two seed allocations into the main event of the Australian Open of Surfing.

Seven surfers from Queenscliff Boardriders and seven surfers from North Steyne Boardriders surfed it out on Sunday 29th January in windy, but contestable conditions.

The beach wasn't crammed with spectators, there was no live music on the Channel [V] stage and the world's best skateboarders are yet to land in the country, but that stuff is not far off!

In the meantime, please give a round of cyber-space applause for our successful trials winners; winner Beau Mitchell and runner-up Dayyan Neve! 

Both score a spot in the main event [round of 144] mens WQS 6*.

At their homebreak, these guys are definitely capable for taking down some of the big seeds.