www.waxheads.com news update 12 2 11

Arnette roulette -Maroubra / NSW

MAROUBRA/NSW (Saturday 12th February, 2011): SYDNEY surfer Otis Carey (Bondi, NSW), 22, has boosted his way to an upcoming showdown with the world’s top surfers after winning the Arnette Roulette series at Maroubra today.

Carey’s fourth place finish in the final event of the two stop aerial based series was enough to secure him a berth in the main event of the 2011 Boost Mobile Surf Sho at Bondi in March, and the opportunity to take on surfing royalty - Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning and Julian Wilson.

The Indigenous surfer, who grew up at Coffs Harbour before relocating to Bondi over a year ago said he was pumped to face off with the pros.

“I’m so amped to take on the big guns,” said Carey, who finished on top of the series with 3440 rating points.

“I’ve always wanted to surf against Kelly (Slater) in a heat, so it’s going to be epic. I’ve been living at Bondi for a year and have had some good waves. It’s been great for practising airs.”

The day’s final was taken out by WA surfer Jerome Forrest (Margaret River), 20, who performed a massive straight air to indie grab to finish ahead of Duncan McNicol (Caves Beach, NSW) in the 30-minute final.

“I’m wrapped,” said Forrest, who goes home with $1500 and a stack of prizes for winning the final event.

“The waves weren’t great but it was good for airs and that’s what the comp was all about. It was good to compete against Otis (Carey),Thom (Pringle) and Duncan (McNicol). I’ve never competed in an aerial event before so I just went outside the square and it paid off.

Final scores: Jerome Forrest 8.83, Duncan McNicol 3.67, Jordan Lawler 2.00, Otis Carey 0.60

Finishing in second on the series ratings was McNicol (2940), just ahead of Ford (2506) in third, with Pringle (2330) in fourth.

The 2011 Arnette Roulette Series comprises of two, one-day events incorporating Surfers Paradise, QLD and Maroubra, NSW, and will see the best aerial artists (under 25 years) take to the sky with the chance of winning their ticket to the 2011 Boost Mobile Surf Sho Main Event.

Each event shares a cash prize purse of $3,000 inclusive of a winner’s cheque of $1,500.

The winner from each event will also surf away with an Arnette prize pack (Sunglasses and product), Insight wardrobe (RRP $1500), a Haydenshapes FiberFlex Surfboard, FCS Fins & Leash, a Surfing World Magazine subscription, and a Boost Mobile handset.

The two events will utilise a dynamic ‘aerial’ format and will be open to 48 surfers respectively. Entry is only $30 per event.

The format incorporates a spinning game wheel that will be spun at the start of each heat to determine the 'TRUMP' manoeuvre.

Surfers will be allowed to perform other aerial based moves during the heat, but performing a successful trump move in the respective heat will be awarded an additional 2-points.

Surfers will be judged on their best one-wave and a typical 20-minute heat will see 6 surfers competing. 50% progression applies through Rnd 1 and 2, and the semi-finals.

The final will see the remaining 6 surfers battle it out for top honours.

The 2011 Arnette Roulette series make suse of a unique, national ratings system that will determine the Arnette Roulette wildcard winner and who will gain a place straight into the main event at the 2011 Boost Mobile SurfSho at Bondi in Sydney. A surfer’s best two results from the two events will be calculated to decide the winner.

Finalists in each event will go into the running to win Arnette prize packs, Insight apparel, Haydenshapes Fiberflex Surfboards, FCS product and Boost Mobile handsets.

Along with the serious side of competition, the Arnette Roulette also allows plenty of time for fun and good times with onsite giveaways and instant cash grabs for surfers during the event.

The two event series, which will be managed by Surfing Australia in conjunction with their state branches of Surfing Queensland and Surfing New South Wales is open to all surfers under 25 years of age.

Aerial events have created a sub-culture for the world’s most innovative and futuristic surfers and have attracted a strong cult following around the world.

In this specialised series of aerial events, competitors attempt to launch themselves as high as possible off a wave into the air, completing a technical aerial ´move´ at the same time.

The Arnette Roulette is proudly supported by Boost Mobile, Insight, Haydenshapes, FCS, Surfing World and Surfing Australia.

special thanks surfingnsw.com