IAS LoneStar Athlete Summer Simon has claimed her third consecutive Australian indigenous surfing crown at Bells Beach.

Simon nailed scores of 9.57 and 8.93 in the four person heat to claim the open women’s crown, having also won the junior girls event.

“I am just overwhelmed with the win,” Simon said.

“To get my highest ever heat total here in some great waves at Bells Beach is incredible.”

In a family affair, brother Taj SImon was second in the junior boys final.

Taj won his heat to advance, before being outpointed by Finn Hill, who scored 15.93 to 12.07, with Bellambi’s Rohnin Hanry-Micale third.

Father Mark Simon was in the masters division, as well as Wollongong’s Scott Winch, won by former Pipeline Masters winners Robbie Page. Summer also surfed alongside sister Bohdi Simon in the girls event.

The surfing titles are part of a celebration of indigenous culture, with the iconic Bells Beach situated on the traditional land of the Wada Wurrung people.

Otis Carey, from Coffs Harbour, won the open men’s title, having previously won it in 2014.

 

First printed in the Illawarra Mercury on 30-05-2017

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