Charles Justin ‘Snowy’ McAlister

is the ‘father of Australian Surfing’ who nurtured the sport for over 70 years. Snowy saw it all…. Changing surfboard riding styles, progressive board shapes, the birth and development of competitive surfing and the growth of surfing from fad to mainstream support.

In 1915, he witnessed the legendary Duke Kahanamokus display of surfriding at Sydneys Freshwater Creek. Inspired by the Hawaiians grace and style on the board, the young Sydneysider threw himself headlong into the sport of surfing.

He soon developed a strong affiliation with the ocean and joined the manly R&R team in 1920 which won titles in 1924, 1825 and 1926. He also became a member of the Freshwater Lifesaving Club a year later.

During this time he participated in surfboard riding exhibitions at the Newcastle Surf Carnival up until 1936. His payment of these exhibitions was a gift voucher worth 10 shillings and sixpence, the equivalent of three weeks wages.

In 1924 he built his own hollow timber surfboard, 12 feet long, 2 wide and 3 inches thick with a solid nose for a cost of 2 pounds. With great enthusiasm he embarked on a career as a competitive boarder, holding the National Surfboard Riding Champion title for four consecutive year beginning in the late 1920’s.

With the sudden popularity of the sport along Australia’s eastern beaches it soon became apparent that more scope was required for competitions. With this in
mind Snowy began to erect signs on the beaches around Manly advertising
surfboard rallies. These rallies were nomadic relying on available swell and
attracted a small crowd of 12 to 15 surfers. The meetings marked the beginning of
a surfing competition structure which has produced more World Champions than
any other country.

In 1962 Snow became a founding member of the Australian Surfriders Association, an organisation that today is the recognized governing body of surfing in this country.  Snow was known for his active interest in our young surfers and was a visitor to most surfing events in Sydney. It was snow who often accompanied budding professionals to the airport to see them off overseas on the World Tour.

He was also a founder of the Australian Surfski Association and was an avid surfski rider in his later years.

The 1920’s saw Snowy throw himself into competitive surfing where he held the National Surfboard Riding Champion title for four consecutive years. Following his success and the ever growing popularity of surfing along Australia’s East Coast he constructed surf rallies at Manly beach attracting a small crowd of 12 to 15 surfers.  This first meeting marked the beginning of a competitive surfing structure which today attracts over 200 professional surfers each June.


Full past results


Past Winners

Open Men

2023
Max Weston

2022
Declan Wyton

2021
Christian Pimm

2020 - NA

2019
Christian Pimm

2018
Christian Pimm

2017
Nic Jones

2016
Paul Scholten

2015
Jack Entwistle

2014
Jack Entwistle

2013
Lawrence Harkness

2012
Jack Entwistle

2011
Lawrence Harkness

2010
Christian Pimm

2009
Cam Gray

2008
Christian Pimm

2007
Dane Wilson

2006
Christian Pimm

2005
Christian Pimm

2004
Jye Byrnes

2003
Dane Wilson

2002
Ian Bell

2001
Cam Gray

2000
Dane Wilson

1999
Ian Bell

1998
Cam Gray

1997
Ray Gleave

1996
Josh Ferris

1995
Lynden Riley

1994
John Hawkins

1993
Mark Hancock

1992
Roger Clements

1991
Chris Judd

1990
Russel Phillips

1989
Rob Holt

1988
Ian Goodacre

1987
Chris Judd

 

Open Women

2023
Tully White

2022
Tully White

2021
Sammy Walker

2020 - NA

2019
Sammy Simmons

2018
Tully White

2017
Kirra Seale

2016
Kirra Seale

2015
Laura Murphy

2014
Roisin Carolan

2013
Honolua Blomfield

2012
Claire Norman

2010
Isabelle Braley

2009
Bianca Anstiss

2008
Emma Wilson

2007
Claire Norman

2006
C. McGrath

2005
C. McGrath

2004
Sue McComb

2003
Kath Robinson

2002
Sue McComb

2001
C. McGrath

2000
G. Jorgenson

1999
Sue McComb

1998
Marina Four

1997
J. Ishawood

1996
Denise McCabe

1995
Jenny Sheehan

1994
Jenny Sheehan

1993
Jenny Sheehan

1992
Pam Burridge

1991
Jenny Sheehan

1989
Julie Lundberg

1988
Terri Mares

1987
Donna Elliot

Over 35s

2023
Rahn Goddard

2022
Christian Pimm

2021
Christian Pimm

2020 - NA

2019
Christian Pimm

2018
Christian Pimm

2017
Christian Pimm

2016
Jason Livingston

2015
Hayden Swan

2014
Christian Pimm

2013
Sean Dry

2012
Rod Alburn

2011
Christian Pimm

2010
Christian Pimm

2009
David English

2008
Michael Gregory

2007
Matt Fleming

2006
Sen Dry

2005
Sen Dry

2004
Brett Keast

Over 45s

2023
Rob Smith

2022
George Noonan

2021
Sean Dry

2020 - NA

2019
Sean Dry

2018
Jason Livingston

2017
Jason Livingston

2016
Jason Livingstone

2015
Jason Livingstone

2014
Jason Livingstone

2013
Paul O'Grady

2012
Dave English

2011
Rob Smith

2010
John Fraser

2009
John Fraser

2008
Paul O'Grady

2007
Paul O'Grady

2006
Paul O'Grady

2005
Paul O'Grady

2004
Mike Pimm

2003
Dave Adams

2002
Mike Pimm

2001
A McKinnon

2000
P. Ibbotson

1999
Sput Keevers

1998
John Giles

1997
John Brennan

1996
John Brennan

.

Over 55s

2023
John Fraser

2022
John Fraser

2021
Rob Smith

2020 - NA

2019
John Fraser

2018
Paul O’Grady

2017
Paul O’Grady

2016
David Adams

2015
Mike Pimm

2014
Mike Pimm

2013
Lynden Riley

2012
Lynden Riley

2011
Lynden Riley

2010
Lynden Riley

 

Open Junior

2023
Jack Tyro

2022
Lachie Meeks

2021
Lachie Meeks

2020 - NA

2019
Harry Maskell

2018
Tully White

2017
Jackson Detmold

2016
Jonah Putaansuu

2015
Declan Wyton

2014
Declan Wyton

2013
Jarred Eason

2012
Nick Jones

2011
Jack Entwistle

2010

Jake Bevan

2009 Adam Lynch

2008 Beau Nixon

2007
Dan McComb

2006
Bryce Young

2005
J.J. Debenham

2004
Lawrence Harkness

2003
Matt Chojnacki

2002
Dane Pioli

2001
David Harper

2000
Cory Neil

1999
Heath Norrish

1998
Leigh Davidson

1997
Matthew Kaw

1996
Kim Epe

Old Mal

2023
Isaac Fields

2022
Lawrence Harkness

2021
Tom Bennett

2020 - NA

2019
Lawrence Harkness

2018
Lawrence Harkness

2017
Lawrence Harkness

2016
Matt Chojnacki

2015
Jack Entwistle

2014
Lawrence Harkness

2013
Matt Chojnacki

2012
Matt Chojnacki

2011
Beau Nixon

2010
Isaac Fields

2009
Beau Nixon

2008
Matt Chojnacki

2007
Andy MacDonald

2006
Josh Dunn

2005
Paul O'Grady

2004
Paul O'Grady

2003
Jayce Pioli

2002
Bill Morris

2001
Hayden Swan

2000
Dane Wilson

1999
Hayden Swan

1998
Ray Gleave

1997
Ray Gleave

1996
Josh Ferris

1994
Hayden Lewis

1993
Terry Ford

1992
Brett Martin

1991
Mark Butler

1990
Bob Strong

1989
Rob Holt

1988
Ron Rudder

1987
Duncan Herbert

Open Log

2023
Max Weston

2022
Lawrence Harkness

2021
Tom Payne

2020 - NA

2019
Lawrence Harkness

2018
Tom Payne

2017
Christian Pimm

2016
Nick Jones

2015
Matt Chojnacki

2014
Ben Considine

2013
Harrison Roach*

2012
Cam Gray*

Over 45 Womens

2023
Sue McComb

2022
Sue McComb

2021
Sue McComb

 

Junior Log

2019
Harry Maskell

2018
Fred Stovin-Bradford

2017
Keyo Rhodes

2016
Keyo Rhodes

2015
Tom Payne

2014
Will Crowe

2013
Ben Considine

Over 65s

2023
Blaise Griffin

2022
Neil Frederiksen

 

Noserider

2023
Declan Wyton

 

Over 50 Log

2021
Peter English

2020 - NA

2019
Sam Mrkic

2018
Paul O’Grady

2017
Lynden Riley

2016
Lynden Riley

*In 2012 and 2013 this division was called the Professional Log