And Ulladulla surfers clearly had the conditions mapped out as they took home a swag of placings across the board over the four-day surf event. 

Flying the flag for Ulladulla was Kai Bates, who topped the open mens SUP entries.

Bates is now an international, but made a start SUP boarding at the Classic about five years ago. 

He was already a widely regarded wind-surfer, but borrowed a SUP board on a calm day and went on to win himself a brand new board as the up-and-comer that year. 

“He started surfing the breaks in Ulladulla and now he’s taking on the best in the world, he’s a real credit to the sport,” event director John Smythe said. 

“We’re really proud to have guys like Kai cutting their teeth here.”

Also from up the coast were Cheryl and David Cater, who shone in the wave-sailing events, while Jennie Milton topped the open women’s kite surfing. 

It was a standout effort for the visitors as more than 300 surfers hit the waves off Merimbula in what Smythe said were the best conditions many had seen in 30 years. 

“Guys who have been coming forever said it was the best conditions they’ve seen since the 80s,” Smythe said with a laugh. 

Near three-metre swells opened the event on Thursday, while good winds for kiters picked up early and stayed near-constant before falling off Sunday afternoon. 

Good swells continued throughout Friday, while Saturday dropped a bit, but the winds stayed steady with the kite surfers getting some monstrous hang time off the front of the Main Beach viewing platform. 

Smythe said a large focus for the event was promoting and encouraging up-and-comers.

So local young gun Clancy Mills took out the highly coveted Ben Wilson Kiter of the Future award, which sees him earn a week-long stay on Namotu Island, Fiji.

“It’s a bit of a development camp, there is plenty of wind and waves out there with about a dozen other surfers under the tutelage of Ben Wilson,” Smythe said. 

“Clancy is combining his existing skills on the board and using the kite and he’s doing a damn good job of it. 

“He was out there putting on a great show and this is well-deserved award for him.”

The locals were right up against it with a massive, and talented, field of visiting surfers. But sailboard club president Glenn Brunette did fly flag for the local team, picking up a win in the grand masters kite surfing event. while Martin Brown and Ginna Graham also represented well.