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