Five Tatachilla surfers have claimed the college's first medal at the School Sport SA Team Surfing Championships.
Bernard Forbes (Year 7), Leo Wilson (Year 7), Magnus Thomson (Year 9), Tommy Aldridge (Year 9) and Jesse Ellis (Year 11) have etched their names into the college's sporting history, claiming bronze at the Surfing Finals held at Middleton Point on 12 June.
The result marks the first time Tatachilla has earned a medal in the South Australian Schools Surfing Tag Team Finals, making it a milestone achievement for the college's surfing program.
Competing against some of the state's strongest school surfing teams, the Tatachilla surfers rose to the occasion in challenging and ever-changing conditions. The opening heat was contested in clean surf, allowing the team to showcase their talent, confidence and wave-riding ability. Tatachilla finished the heat in third place behind Encounter Lutheran College and Sacred Heart College.
Year 7 student Leo impressed judges with a standout 6.5-point ride, taking off deep on a solid right-hander before unleashing a powerful top turn and stylish cutback. Year 9 student Magnus also delivered a strong performance, scoring 4.0 points with a series of smooth turns and a well-executed floater on a clean left-hander.
Fellow team members Jesse (Year 11), Tommy (Year 9) and Bernard (Year 7) also surfed exceptionally well, demonstrating excellent wave selection, confident take-offs and a range of impressive manoeuvres throughout the competition.
As the day progressed, strengthening offshore winds made conditions increasingly difficult, demanding greater commitment, paddling strength and technical skill from every competitor.
Despite the tougher surf, each Tatachilla surfer secured a high-scoring wave, helping the team finish second in the final heat and remain firmly in medal contention.
When the final scores were announced, Tatachilla had secured an outstanding third-place finish overall, claiming the bronze medal and narrowly missing second place by just 0.87 points. Encounter Lutheran College took out the championship, with Sacred Heart College finishing second.
While the podium finish was a remarkable achievement, the team's sportsmanship and camaraderie were equally impressive. Throughout the competition, the boys constantly encouraged one another, analysed changing conditions, shared tactical advice and worked together to identify the best opportunities in the surf.
This success is also a reflection of the unwavering support provided by families. Surfing is a sport that requires countless hours in the water, early starts and regular travel to beaches across the state. The commitment of parents and caregivers plays an invaluable role in helping young surfers develop their skills and confidence across a wide variety of conditions.
Congratulations to Bernard, Leo, Magnus, Tommy and Jesse on this historic achievement. Their talent, determination and teamwork were on full display, and this bronze medal performance is a fitting reward for their hard work and dedication.
With such a promising group of surfers coming through the college, the future of Tatachilla surfing looks exceptionally bright.
