Winning the Kirra Longboard Klassic surfing competition on the Gold Coast late last month felt surreal for Able Seaman Cameron Stewart.
Before the final heat, six current and former Defence riders wearing black armbands paddled into the waves and sat silently together for a minute’s reflection to honour the missing crew from the MRH90 Taipan helicopter that had crashed in the Whitsundays two days earlier.
“Looking at each other there was some emotion, so it was a good to be together in the ocean, in our healing spot,” Able Seaman Stewart said.
With Navy’s Lieutenant Edward Bramich finishing a close second, Able Seaman Stewart put his success down to luck, wave selection and making more turns.
Able Seaman Stewart competed for the second time that ADF divisions were included in the event. Last year he was first placegetter for ADF and near top of the open division.
Progressing from short boards to mini mals while growing up in Coffs Harbour, he is happy to “mix it up”.
“Shortboard, longboard and everything in between, even the foamies – anything that floats me I’ll go for,” Able Seaman Stewart said.
The final started well for Lieutenant Bramich, who sealed an eight-point ride, until no more good waves came through, as the wind caused challenging surf.
Being a “longboard specialist”, he surfs in all conditions and said this probably paid off, as he was able to make something out of nothing.
Growing up in Newcastle, Lieutenant Bramich was one of the few kids who longboarded. There was an element of grace and flow required to surf the traditional way, which resonated with him.
While it was Lieutenant Bramich’s first Kirra Beach Klassic, he holds the ADF Surf Riders Association longboarding title from earlier in the year.
Having never competed on a longboard, another Navy competitor, Able Seaman Luis Mori Hernandez, thought he did well to claim fifth place.
He borrowed a board from the Air Force entrant, after the airline refused to take his boards, even though he pre-paid for oversized luggage.
At 50, Able Seaman Mori Hernandez said his advantage was fitness and moving quickly, teaching the sport and being in his element.
Two years ago, Able Seaman Mori Hernandez was Navy Surf Riders Association grand master champion and Peru’s master national champion in 2004.
The sole Army member in the final, Major Myles Conquest, normally rides a shortboard but he enjoys the art of the longer board and said those doing it for a long time could inject their own flair.
“Anyone can be taught to walk the nose, but to walk the nose and put some style on it, that’s individualistic,” he said.
He has been surfing since 16, and has travelled the world representing the ADF Surf Riders Association (which he established 10 years ago) in Defence-sponsored events in places such as Hawaii and the UK.
Another Army member, Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Brad Prowse, was knocked out in the semi-finals but, having been a shortboarder for more than 30 years, was happy with his result.
Earlier this year, at the interservice surfing championships, one person was competing in the longboard category for Army but two were needed.
“I said I’d have a go, borrowed a longboard, and actually enjoyed it,” WO2 Prowse said.
After buying a longboard for when surf was small, he decided to enter the Kirra event.
Meanwhile, Air Force’s Sergeant Iain McGrath, who started surfing in his late teens and switched to a longboard a few years ago to help his daughter learn to surf, said he “choked” in the heats with an unfortunate wave selection.
“Kirra is one of the best surf spots in the world. When it’s working it’s easy to pick the waves, but when it’s small, it gets affected differently by winds and tide changes,” he said.
Last year’s Klassic was the first surfing competition Sergeant McGrath had entered and said it was enjoyable to connect with veterans and community.
Sergeant McGrath also enjoys helping colleagues learn or progress their surfing skills. Mastering nose-riding and the cross-step to increase scoring is his aim for next year’s event.
The annual event at Kirra Beach is open to serving and veteran military personnel, including foreign armed forces.
