By heat 12 we had seen some incredible
performances - rails on edge and flare
reminiscent of an era long gone. Local area
councillor Greg Betts was up next, and
despite not quite tearing down the house,
still managed a good showing and returned
from the ocean sporting a huge smile.
The ‘donation’ bin had already begun to
rattle under the red tent, with amber ale
flowing for the first round losers - it brings
everyone back down to earth. It’s part of
what makes this event so special - there’s
no roped off areas, no swarms of security
teams blockading the carpark or shoreline,
no signs telling photographers they have
automatically relinquished their worldly
rights by just turning up. There’s just good
mates, free spirits and a large esky under the
table full of the good stuff.
As for the point herself, what a majestic
creation! It’s a sub-tropical rainforest
covered jewel on our urban fringe landscape
and its volcanic history is deeply rooted in
our geographical past. Created by one of the
farthest lava flows from the Tweed Volcano
some 20 million years ago, the headland
shares its origin with other iconic surfing
spots such as Point Danger and the Fingal
Causeway.
Every time you paddle out and look back at
the headland and the rocks you can almost
feel the spirituality of this time travelling
space, the ecological history, the human
history and perhaps the newest to arrive,
the surfing history. Regarded by many as the
one of the ultimate surfing contest arenas,
the point gives spectators a unique birdseye view over the waves, sheltered from
any southerly winds and primed to be up
close and on top of all that happens in the
water. From early pioneer surfing, through to
the great Stubbies contests, the Billabong
Pro eve