Four amazing waves, from our semi-finalists; Sheldon Simkus, Thomas Carvalho, Korbin Hutchings and Reef Heazlewood got our judges and the fans frothing as the contest comes down to the last shootout heat to decide who will be crowned the SWS Surfboard Empire E-Pro Australia 2020 Champion.
All 4 surfers went into the semi-finals knowing that they had already achieved 2 key milestones in the event; qualification to the SWS Global Finals in 2021, and the all important cash prizes sponsored by Addo Animus the company headed by directors Keith Davies and Kathleen Carlyon, the key people involved in bringing Surf Web Series to Australia.
Addo Animus specialises in sports tech and innovation products, notably; the interactive training system BLAZEPODS and the NACSPORT VIDEO ANALYSIS suite of software products. Surf Web Series has undoubtedly stretched the boundaries of what can be achieved through technology and innovation!
Heat 1 featuring Reef Heazlewood and Thomas Carvalho was a battle of contrasting tactics as Heazlewood went skywards, posting a stratospheric air off the Duranbah ramp in front of the wall, while Carvalho stayed down and low as he tucked deep into a screaming Kirra barrel on a wave that looked at one stage like it was going to end at Tugun, but sadly closed out prematurely.
The fans got into things on this one as well, just like in previous rounds, helped of course by the incentive of discount surfboard vouchers in the semi finals from round sponsors Mark Richards Surfboards, LSD Surfboards and YOW Surfskates. The judges however had it all for Heazlewood as he became the first to qualify for the final.
HEAT 2 saw Sheldon Simkus and Korbin Hutchings battling it out for the other final berth, and shot at the event title. Both surfers posted barrels that were within a stones throw of each other, at Kirra and Snapper, with a long shacked section followed by a short tuck under the lip seeing Hutchings barreled twice on yet another Kirra stunner. Simkus on the other hand was again behind the rock at Snapper, where you have to wonder whether he has some kind of a marker buoy that he grabs onto which keeps him in the same spot, for the same drop, the same negotiation through the backwash, and then the same deep disappearing act before he gets spit out seconds later. When it was all weighed up by the judges they were again unanimous on this one and Simkus got the nod and progressed into the final.
So we have our first ever, epic 2020 E Pro Finalists, Reef Heazlewood & Sheldon Simkus, and for the fans, make sure to look out for the Final heat posted on Saturday, it will undoubtedly be a stunner. You can go to the SWS Website for all the latest news.
The finale of the Surf Web Series Surfboard Empire E-Pro Australia will be a blockbuster live broadcast with our new global media partner Fuel TV to be broadcast Monday evening 6pm Local Qld (AEST) Don’t Miss it!!
Surf Web Series fans GET VOTING and remember to tag your surfer and your heat sponsor to go into the draw for even more giveaways. In the coming days we still have Best Barrel, Best Air categories and of course the final which will all be featuring giveaways from Pyzel, Cabianca and Lost through naming rights sponsor Surfboard Empire.
Remember: Go to @surfwebseries on INSTAGRAM to vote!
Engagement from the audience is an exciting and key feature of SWS events, as fans are encouraged to vote for the winners of each heat via social media commentary on the Surf Web Series’ Facebook and Instagram pages. The surfers and sponsors are also encouraged to rally their fans to vote as they play a very important role as a fifth Judge in the very tight heats.
The Surf Web Series format requires surfers to submit 7 videos of themselves riding waves up to 8ft faces, as moderated by our judges, anywhere in Australia during the 2020 calendar year. Once the clips have been registered with SWS, the heats are drawn, then the surfer decides which one of their 7 waves they want to use in that particular heat. The videos are then edited into a competitive heat format by SWS and released on social media. Heat results are released 24 hours later after the judging panel decisions and fans votes are calculated.
The top four finalists of the 2-week event will earn a spot in 2021’s epic final, as the SWS World Championship Final invites the globe’s top ranking surfers to battle it out on a world stage in April of the coming year. All four semifinalists of the Surfboard Empire E-Pro Australia will represent their country against participating nations.
The event features prizes of $6,000 (AUD) for the champion, $2,500 (AUD) for the runner-up, $250 (AUD) for semifinalists. Additional spot prizes for the voting fans had massive incentive for the fans to get involved and support their surfer of choice in each round.
Surfboard Empire are naming rights title sponsor of the E-Pro Australia, in addition to key partnerships with: Surfing Life Magazine, Addo Animus Pty Ltd, Ryan Softboards, Getagrip Surf Wax,
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES FOR SPECIALIST CATEGORIES ARE STILL AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE EVENT!
Contact australia@surfwebseries.com for details.
The #EProAustralia is made possible thanks to support from:
SURFBOARD EMPIRE—Australia's biggest surfboard store, stocking: Lost, Mayhem, Firewire, Sharpeye, Pyzel, LSD, MR, Channel Islands, JS, and more.
RYAN SOFTBOARDS -- Gold Coast based Ryan Softboards have donated equipment and prizes for competitors and fans of the #EProAustralia, with voting fans going into the draw to win a brand new board from the Ryan Softboards quiver.
ADDO ANIMUS — Addo Animus Pty Ltd are Australian distributors of the Blazepod Reactive Training System. A specialist digital video analysis and sports tech company. Blazepods are a great addition to your home or professional training set up, and ideal for improving speed and reaction to help your general fitness and surfing performance.
GET A GRIP SURF WAX— Regular surf wax contains harmful petrochemicals that harm our oceans and marine life. As surfers we have a responsibility to help keep our oceans clean and that's why we created GETAGRIP Natural Surf Wax, an environmentally friendly surf wax that is sticky and long lasting. Our 100% natural surf wax is made in small batches at home on the Mid North Coast, NSW Australia. Do mother nature a favour and start making a difference by switching to an all natural surf wax!
SURFING LIFE MAGAZINE— Australia’s Favourite Surf Magazine publishes 6 issues based on the 6 pillars of the surfing experience - Surf Travel, Surf Culture, Waves, Technique, Surfboards and Surfer - each issue dedicated to that subject alone, providing the substance, depth and authority that will have a direct impact on your surfing. Surfing Life is active across six media channels (print, social, online, e-newsletters and events), making it one of the most influential, relevant and in-demand surf brands in Australia.
SURF OPEN LEAGUE—an international platform dedicated to promoting the sport of surfing and its many beaches around the world, founded in México in 2005.
Updates on the E-Pro Australia can be found on the Surf Web Series website: surfwebseries.com/australia
