Wilson McShane , Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Marion Bay’s Luke Sykora has won the Yorkes Classic men’s competition for a second consecutive year.

The classic, held at southern Yorke Peninsula on Saturday, August 24, also featured women’s and under 18 divisions.

Despite some inconsistent swell, more than 35 competitors enjoyed offshore wind conditions and blue skies at the Chinaman’s surf break in the Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park.

Event organiser Brian “Squizzy” Taylor said Sykora’s “home ground” knowledge played a factor in helping him secure victory.

“Luke’s got a super smooth goofy foot style out there and it’s his local break that he knows really well,” Taylor said.

“The advantage for local surfers in tricky conditions is really helpful”¦ knowing where to go.”

Sykora also won the Keith Sugars Memorial Trophy (first place in the men’s event) last year.

Taylor’s son Corey Taylor (Marion Bay), who is a professional and has ambitions to qualify for the World Surf League, finished narrowly behind Sykora.

The two, along with Khai Adams and Arley Partridge, battled it out in the final, with the result coming down to the last few seconds when Taylor was unable snatch a final wave, leaving Sykora victorious by 0.59.

In the open women’s event, Allegra Caretti claimed victory and $1000 prize money, finishing 0.6 in front of Poppy Sweetman.

Six women entered the event with Caretti bettering her 2023 judges’ award performance to book a finals appearance.

In tough conditions, she scored well with her first wave in the final and held onto a winning score of 5.00.

King Cairns also improved on his efforts from last year, winning the under 18s event by 1.64.

The first Yorkes Classic was in 1983 and Taylor said this year’s event was well supported, bolstering tourism on SYP.

“It was a good spectator crowd. To drag about 150 people down in August to a remote location like this is pretty good for a surf event.”

Taylor said he was thankful of all the event’s sponsors including The Ding King, Extreme Boardriders, Neptunes Surf Coaching and Yorke Peninsula Council.

Results

• The Ding King Open Men: winner Luke Sykora, runner-up Corey Taylor, 3rd Khai Adams, 4th Arley Partridge. 
• Extreme Boardriders Open Women: winner Allegra Caretti, runner-up Poppy Sweetman, 3rd Lucy Johnston, 4th Aurora Furbank. 
• Neptunes Surf Coaching Under 18s: winner King Cairns, runner-up Leo Torok, 3rd Mitchell Henderson, 4th Arley Partridge. 
• Charger Award: Poppy Sweetman. 
• Judges’ Awards: Lucy Johnston and Miles Blanchard. 
• Spirit of Yorkes Award: Rodney “Weasel” Bedford. 
• Men’s State Champion: Luke Sykora 
• Women’s State Champion: Allegra Caretti

See all the photos in the issue.
This article appeared in  Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 27 August 2024.