Back To Those Lazy, Hazy Beatle Days
Illawarra Mercury
Friday December 7, 2001
No sign of Midget or Gidget but they were there in spirit when the Layback Longboarders hosted their North Beach Classic last Sunday.
On the day when tributes and tears flowed for 1960s icon George Harrison and one of his best loved songs, Here Comes the Sun, filled the airwaves, the malibu riders of a style symptomatic of those lazy, hazy Beatle days were out in the sunshine and surf at North Wollongong Beach.
In a timely gesture, some of the funds raised on the day will be donated to Camp Quality children.
And so it was time for the surfers to drag their nine foot (2.74m) plus boards into the water, gracefully glide onto a few or three, casually walk the plank and hang five, head dip and flick out.
In terms of classic competition, Dane Wilson took out the opens ahead of Tom Avery and Christian Pimm.
The Old Mal category for boards made before 1967 went to Bill Morris with Kirk Garbeis and Jarret Napper filling the minor placings.
Morris made it a double by winning the over 45s division, Dave Pimm was second and Ken Middleton third.
Over 35s went to Glenn Moore ahead of Martin Maloney and Dave Boyce.
Keeping the longboard tradition alive for future generations were the juniors with Dane Pioli the winner, Luke Smith second and Michael Hopkins third.
``We had a brilliant day ... the sun was shining ... waves were small but contestable and some very entertaining manoeuvres were performed during the finals," Layback treasurer Paul McDonald said.
And it all happens again next year.
© 2001 Illawarra Mercury