Former World Champion, Barton Lynch, recaps the sixth annual Blast Off, a pre-junior contest he hosts at Palm Beach in Sydney. Browse through the highlights in the extended story. Straight from the champ's desktop to your screen. Pretty rad... And the kids look like they had as much fun as BL did when he won the '88 Billabong Pro.
- 301 kids participated
- Monday, September 26th, Nikki Griffith from Pittwater Council suggested there were 3,000 spectators at Palm Beach for the first day of BL’s Blast Off 2011.
- Every day was conducted at a different break. The first three days were at Palm Beach. Day 1 was held at the Southern corner, Day 2 was North of the pavilion at the South end, and Day 3 at North Palm Beach. On the finals day we moved to North Avalon.
- We held simultaneous heats on two banks for the first three days - the waves were perfect for the kids in the two to four-foot range with great shaped lefts and rights on both banks and offshore winds. The final day at North Avalon was bigger, with five foot sets and perfect conditions, and although very challenging for the smaller kids in the 6s and 8s divisions, it was a surprise to everyone that the micro groms and their parents actually ventured out the back charging waves that were at least three times over their heads and barrelling.
- Our Tuesday evening celebration, “Blast Off Idol” presented by Skullcandy including the presentation of the “Keenest Groms Awards”, was a raging success. It was held at Palm Beach RSL with a full house on hand to watch the kids show off their other talents. First place went to Banjo Hunt for his version of the ACDC classic “TNT” closely followed by India Thornton, & in third was Luka Reentz.
- In 2011, BL’s Blast Off donated $3,320.00: $1,100.00 to the Disabled Surfers Association, $2,000.00 to the Palm Beach SLSC, $220.00 to the Avalon SLSC.
- BL’s Blast Off continued to pay its respect to the Indigenous people of Australia by teaching the kids Koori dance with Terry Olsen. This year in conjunction with www.coastalwatch.com BL’s Blast Off is able to provide a platform for the promotion of the Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern for their website and assist with the development of a donations page.
- Every division finalist won Hurley products, Skullcandy headsets, and a ton of other goodies from our sponsors. Each division winner also received a brand new "Chilli" Surfboard. The first three places in every division also won a gold, silver or bronze medal featuring unique Blast Off artwork.
- World Champions Layne Beachley, Rabbit Bartholomew, Damien Hardman, Laura Enever and Terry Richardson all hung out at the Blast Off with the kids.
- We held the Hurley/Electric/Beach Without Sand Monday evening BBQ and team signing. The BWS shop at North Avalon was packed to the rafters, we gave away a heap of prizes, the kids got autographed posters signed by team riders and everybody enjoyed a free BBQ.
- On Wednesday we held the "Fantasea" Palm Beach to Blast Off Whale Spotting Cruise where people could enjoy the scenic ride on a Fantasea ferry out through the heads and to the Blast Off event site at Palm Beach. This is the fourth year we've offered this opportunity to see our beautiful area from the sea for free.
- The "Beecraft Blast Off Scholarships" is for the boy and girl who BL believes shows the potential to be a future pro. The 2011 recipients were 12-year-old Billie Melinz from Stanwell Park and 13-year-old Chris Zaffis from Angourie, both kids received $500 worth of coaching with BL courtesy of Beecraft.
BL’s BLAST OFF 2011 RESULTS
BOYS 14s
1st JACKSON GILES
2nd CHRIS ZAFFIS
3RD JARED HICKEL
4TH LLIAM MORTENSEN
5TH KALANI BALL
6TH SAM BOND
GIRLS 14s
1ST CALI McDONAGH
2ND HOLLY WAWN
3RD TESS MAWSON
4TH TIANA REID
5TH JEMIMA HUTCHINS
6TH RUNI-JANE LATHAM
BOYS 12s
1ST KYUSS KING
2ND LUKE WRICE
3RD KEHU BUTLER
4TH SANDON WHITTAKER
5TH MITCHELL RAYMOND
6TH JACK MURRAY
GIRLS 12s
1ST ALYSSA LOCK
2ND KIANI DOBBYN
3RD KOBIE ENRIGHT
4TH BILLIE MELINZ
5TH ALYSSE COOPER
6th BELLA WILTON
7TH KIARA MEREDITH
BOYS 10s
1ST MIKEY McDONAGH
2ND KEANU MILLER
3RD KARNE BLACKWELL
4TH LACHLAN FOSTER
5TH CONNOR LEE
6TH KAYA HORNE
GIRLS 10s
1ST KIRRA-BELLE OLSSON
2ND MACY CALLAGHAN
3RD BODHI LEIGH-JONES
4TH CHARLI ALLPORT
5TH HOLLY WILLIAMS
6TH PIPER HARRISON
BOYS 8s
1ST ZAYNE OLSSON
2ND LENNOX CHELL
3RD JOEL VAUGHAN
4TH TANE DOBBYN
5TH KAI BLACK
6TH EMERSON RAPER
7TH ETHAN PRESTAGE
8TH RIVER HOBBS
GIRLS 8s
1ST SUMMA LONGBOTTOM
2ND CEDAR LEIGH-JONES
3RD CLAIRE BIERKE
4TH EVIE COULTER
5TH LUCY GREEN
6TH MILLI ALLPORT
BOYS 6s
1ST KOBI CLEMENTS
2ND COREY LAWSON
3RD WINTER VINCENT
4TH LENNIX SMITH
5TH RASMUS KING
6TH TAANE MITCHELL
GIRLS 6s
1ST KEIRA BUCKPITT
1ST ELLIE HARRISON
2ND MARIA-GABRIELA SPAKE
4th MADISON DAVIDSON
4TH JOCELYN SELLAR
5TH MARLI DODSON
