Adin's first contest win in 21 years of trying

That's the mantra of Saltwater Boardriders member Adin Stanley after his breakthrough win in the club's first contest for 2020 last Sunday.

Stanley is 30. He's surfed with the boardriders since he was eight or nine. Last Sunday was the first time he's won a contest.

"It's been about 21 years coming,'' Stanley laughed.

"I've been with the club every year since I was eight or nine, apart from a couple of years when I was in WA. I'd made the final a few times - but I nearly always finished fourth (there are only four finalists).''

The win last Sunday was even sweeter because his brother Kai and brother-in-law Brock Monkley were also finalists, so it was a real family affair.

Kai is the club president.

"So Kai had to read out the results. That was good,'' Stanley said.

Stanley won from Monkley with another close mate, Brock Simpson third and Kai Stanley fourth.

Adin said conditions were good early last Sunday at Old Bar, particularly early in the morning.

"It did get a bit tricky later on around 11am when the wind came up,'' he said.

He thought he was surfing pretty well in the heats but he wasn't over-confident about breaking his duck when the final rolled around.

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"It was just a bit of fun really. I thought I surfed okay in the final, but I didn't think I'd won it.''

Observers noted that Stanley, a natural footer, was 'throwing buckets,' while he also produced a 'strong rail game' in the final.

These things, apparently, are important. The judges obviously thought as much.

Stanley said he certainly hadn't been dwelling on his lack of competition success.

"I guess I was starting to think I'd never win one, but that didn't worry me,'' he said.

However, his maiden win wasn't followed by a night of heavy celebrating.

"It was pretty quiet, I had a bit of a cold, so I didn't want a big night,'' Stanley said.

By any measure it was a successful day out for the family. Stanley's sister, Jade won the women's division and her daughter, Ruby McNeil gained the grom encouragement.

The next championship round will be on April 5. Stanley's not expecting to add to his number of wins, saying there's plenty of depth in the club, led by defending champion, Oscar Scanes.

"I think Oscar has the record for the most number of championships in the club,'' Stanley said.

Scanes didn't make the final last Sunday and Stanley believes that'll make him more determined on April 5.

However, Stanley said there's plenty of potential among the club's younger members and he tips them to start dominating soon.

"Once they get a bit more power in the surf it will be all over for us old blokes,'' he predicted.