One man from Bondi, New South Wales, made history at the Australian Surf Festival in Port Macqaurie, down the cost from Brisbane, this August when he won the first ever Alaia Titles competition, most likely wearing a summer wetsuit under his white short-sleeved rashguard.

Competing on Alaia surfboards, which are carved wooden boards of Hawaiian origin, there were four entrants in total.

The surfers experienced good weather conditions for the competition despite reportedly suffering some rain, and the winner managed to earn points totalling 10.25 from the four presiding judges in just two waves.

The Alaia champion stated, “It feels extra special knowing I am the first person to win the Australian title in the Alaia, I’ve been lucky enough to ride one for a couple of years after a friend of mine helped me shape it.

“I like to think of it as a combination of longboard, body surfing and body boarding, being a surfer that’s surfed a lot of different waves for a few years on the Alaia, it’s great to see the Australian Surf Festival open the division.”

Thanks to events such as this one, the popularity of Alaia boarding is increasing in Australia. Would-be surfers should remember that purchasing a winter or summer wetsuit according to their personal preference and the climate, as well as a good-quality board, may help them perform better in the water.