ELITE Port Stephens bodyboarders Kane Brewer, Hayden Pisani, Nathan Price and Hamish Jenkins continue to rule the waves at Box Beach.

The talented quartet remain in the mix for the Port Stephens District Bodyboarders Club Opens championship series title after skilful performances in the preliminary rounds.

Prominent Boat Harbour surfer Pisani, who was crowned the Port Stephens District Bodyboarder of the Year for 2023, finished fourth in a recent round five Opens showdown at Box Beach behind winner Tyson Campbell, runner-up Johnny Cruickshank and third-placed Lloyd Ogden.

Will Crawford finished in fifth spot.

Twenty-year-old Hayden claimed the Open Division Champion trophy for his outstanding feats on the regional bodyboarding circuit during 2023.

It was a deserved honour for young Pisani who demonstrated his natural ability by clinching the prestigious Overall Triple Crown award

A highlight was his impressive victory at the Baron Biner Memorial event on the Central Coast – the first leg of the Triple Crown – and third placing at the Jeff Wilcox Memorial at Forster.

Club Person of the Year Scott Kitchen of Boat Harbour won round five events at Box Beach in both the Drop Knee and Grand Masters categories.

Jenkins (second), Hayden Pisani (third) and Luke McGeachie (fourth) also secured top four spots in the Drop Knee division with runner-up Chad Pisani, Richard Chippendale (third), Keith Hunter (fourth) and Mark Atkinson (fifth) leaving their mark in the Grand Masters section.

In Masters action, Johnny Cruickshank achieved top spot from Daniel Isles, Chad Pisani and the capable McGeachie.

Emerging bodyboard star Cooper Chippendale finished first in the Juniors category from Crawford, Jaxon Cruickshank, Kobi Buechner, Tom McCullough-Hendriks and Nick Holz.

Young gun Nate Hunter won the Groms section and placed third in Cadets behind winner Nate Chippendale and runner up Brodie Hunter.

Port Stephens District Bodyboarders Club President Chad Pisani told News Of The Area that the 2024 competition series has featured “incredible skill and surf craft from local competitors.”

“All sections have proved competitive with a wealth of talent on show,” he said.

The Bodyboarders will hold their Club Presentation on 19 January,at Shoal Bay Country Club before stepping up plans for the annual Boxfest extravaganza at Box Beach from 21 – 23 March.

Entries go live on 1 January.

Changes to Boxfest 2025 include the removal of the Opens division for Elite’s only.

Elites can now enter other divisions.

Juniors will now be an Under 21 years competition, for bodyboarders turning 20 in 2025 or younger.

By Chris KARAS