He put on an unstoppable performance in epic conditions.
More than 80 competitors received clean winds and high performance waves, and the opening heats of the open men’s competition set the tone for what was to come.
Local rider and former national champion George Humphreys (Falcon) set about stamping his authority on the event with some huge inverts and rolls.
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READ NOWHumphreys was joined in the final by strong performers Jake Metcalfe (Wembley Downs), Boden Hay (Mullaloo), and Ryan Hardy.
A super consistent and seemingly relaxed Hardy made a welcome return to the grassroots events which helped launch his career with an emphatic win.
He showed his experience for challenging waves, posting one of the highest combined heat scores of the weekend.
Hardy’s 15.17-point total (from a possible 20) included an 8.00 and a 7.17.
Hardy’s mix of critical manoeuvres and clean execution in the final gave him the win ahead of Humphreys in second, Metcalfe in third and Hay in fourth.
In other results from the weekend, Ben Veitch (Margaret River) took out the O/24 Senior Men’s division ahead of Brendan Gabel (Mandurah) in second, Ryan Hardy in third and John Barker (Mandurah) fourth.
Veitch took a lot from the win against some quality opposition.
The drop knee division was won by Mark Boehm (Doubleview) who picked off the best waves to pip Declan Genge (Margaret River) for the win, with Matt Rakich (Mandurah) in third and Ross Bruner (Mandurah) in fourth place.
Matt Budiselik (Busselton) picked up a new Found bodyboard and Reeflex wetsuit for his efforts in the U/18 junior men’s division.
In his first final at state level, Budiselik scored a heat high 7.00 (from a possible 10) to defeat highly fancied Davis Blackwell (Port Bouvard) ahead of Blake Gerrard (Mindarie) in third and Lee Wilson (Margaret River).