Shortboard Winners Crowned at 2022 Australian Surf Championships

Reef Heazlewood (QLD) and Freya Prumm (NSW) take out Australian Shortboard Open Titles. Image credit: / Surfing Australia

Sunday, August 7, 2022

Freya Prumm (NSW) and Reef Heazlewood (QLD) are the first 2022 Australian Surf Championships for 2022. Both Prumm and Heazlewood are long-time competitive surfers and first-time Australian Champions.

Finals day of the first event of the Australian Surf Championships was all about heat strategy. The competition was run under small 1-2 foot conditions at beautiful North Haven Beach, south of Port Macquarie.

Freya Prumm (30) from the NSW Far South Coast has been to a number of Australian Championships but was stoked to win her first Title today.

“I’m as frothing as you can be when you surf for 13 years without a big victory,” said Prumm after her win.

It was the game-day experience that helped her win her Title today. Under priority Prumm caught a back-up wave on a separate bank to the rest of the field. It gave her the edge she needed to steal the lead from fellow Team NSW surfer Charli Hurst.

“It was tricky out there, especially surfing against the younger girls who have an advantage in small surf but it’s not just about surfing, it’s about playing the game and it’s no secret that I love playing the game,” Prumm added.

Reef Heazlewood (22) from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is also no stranger to the Australian Championships. He has won a number of Australian Junior Titles in his time and has now added an Open Title to the list.

“It was tough out there but it makes the win really nice,” said Heazlewood.

“I was able to show my competitive skills and stay sharp. There was a set at the start of the heat that I got a seven point ride on and backed it up with an eight towards the end.”

Heazlewood pulled out his trademark aerial manoeuvres to impress the judges and stayed busy between the banks to find the highest scoring left-hand waves.

“It was a really fun final. All the boys really pushed each other, there were a couple of stressful moments but that made it a great one to compete in,” he added.

Not only do both winners return home with a National Title, but also a cool $4,000 in prize money.

The Australian Shortboard Titles continues this week with the Over 35 through to Over 60 divisions ahead of the Longboard and Logger Titles next weekend. View heat draw for Australian Shortboard Championships.

The Australian Titles were first held in 1963 and won by Robert ‘Nat’ Young (NSW) and Phyllis O’Donnell (NSW). View full honour roll here.

OPEN SHORTBOARD RESULTS

Open Men

1st Reef Heazlewood (QLD) 15.5

2nd Micah Margieson (NSW) 11.65

3rd Nic Squires (NSW) 9.6

4th Maddy Job (QLD) 8.55

Open Women

1st Freya Prumm (NSW) 12.4

2nd Charli Hurst (NSW) 11.35

3rd Tru Starling (NSW) 8.15

4th Eva Bassed (VIC) 7.5

View full results

Shortboard Titles Schedule

• 6-10 August: Open Men and Open Women Shortboard division

• 7-8 August: Masters Over 35 Shortboard division

• 8-10 August: Over 60’s, Over 55’s, Over 50’s, Over 45’s, Over 40’s Shortboard division

View heat draw for Australian Shortboard Championships

Location and schedule subject to change based on conditions. For live updates and links, follow @surfingAus Instagram. For all live results, visit the Live Heats event page.

Surfing Australia is working in conjunction with Surfing NSW to bring the 2022 Australian Surfing Championships to wave-rich Port Macquarie to crown the newest Australian Shortboard Champions.

NOTE: Entry to all Australian Titles is by state qualification or invitation. If you have qualified through your respective state titles, please enter via your state branch.

NOTE: All events and event dates are subject to change. Surfing Australia strictly adheres to any Federal Government directive regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Australian Surf Championships | Port Macquarie, NSW August 5 – 22, 2022

• August 5 – Opening Ceremony for the Australian Shortboard Titles

• August 6 – 10 – Period for the Australian Shortboard Titles (Further division scheduling to follow)

• August 10 – Opening Ceremony for the Australian Longboard Titles

• August 11 – 19 – Period for the Australian Longboard Titles (Further division scheduling to follow)

• August 20 – Australian Para Surfing Titles (All divisions on standby)

• August 21 – 22 – Period for the Reflections Holiday Parks Australian Bodyboard Titles (Further division scheduling to follow)

ALL EVENT INFO HERE: https://australiansurfchampionships.com/

The Australian Surf Championships is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

The event is also proudly supported by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, the Australian Institute of Sport, Reflections Holiday Park, mySURF.tv, Surfing Australia and Surfing NSW.