The annual Live Like Toby Retro Tag Team Memorial surf competition, in honour of late local surfer Toby Flew, was held on Saturday December 9 at Tuncurry Beach.
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Flew passed away in March 2014 after a battle with cancer.
The competition is now in its third year and has gone from strength to strength and continues in remembrance of Toby, demonstrating the respect of the surfing community – from locally and afar – for a surfing legend.
“Toby shone down us and provided conditions that were nothing short of perfect,” said Forster Tuncurry Boardriders Inc club president Darren McDonagh.
“The main reason we do the comp is out of respect for Toby and his love of the ocean.”
The competition is a tag team format. There are 16 teams of five with contestants only allowed to surf retro boards.
The highlight of this year’s competition was Byron Simon’s radical layback snap and Bob Brown’s classic, handshaped, single fin Shooter, which raised close to $4,500.
“Toby was a massive mal and retro surfboard enthusiast,” McDonagh added.
“It is natural to continue as a retro comp as it is grass roots surfing at its core.”
At the completion of the competition, there was the traditional presentation and auction night at Club Forster, which included entertainment by local band The Girl Folder and a special performance by Jack River’s Holly Rankin.The club is eagerly awaiting the final tally of money raised.
The money will be presented to both the oncology unit of the Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital (where Flew was treated) as well as the cancer treatment ward at Cape Hawke Hospital.