Indigenous sports people bring to mind AFL, rugby league, athletics and boxing - but rarely surfing.
In reality there is a long and glorious history of indigenous surfers, the most famous of which is Robbie Page, who won the Pipeline Masters in 1988.
“That felt like a spiritual blessing. I didn't feel like the best surfer there at Pipeline but it just felt like a bit of a blessing to get that one,” Robbie said.
A Dunghutti man from Kempsey on the New South Wales north coast, Robbie Page has a colourful past and a famous heritage that goes back to the “Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith”.
“Jimmy Blacksmith was married to my great-great-grandmother, Ethel Mary-Jane Page. So it comes all the way through the bloodline," he said.
For the first time in 16 years, the indigenous championships are being held at Bells Beach.
In the hills behind there are a series of historical campsites, called middens, which have been dated to be thousands of years old.
“It's such an honour to be with all the rest of the lads from every state. I'm probably one of the oldest fellas here, most of the guys are younger, and it's an honour to give them some experience and some coaching." Robbie said.
One of the young guns was Dale Richards, who surfed against and more than held his own against 11-time world champion Kelly Slater in 2007.
“That was a good experience, surfing against Slater, he's such a good athlete, and he's done so much for surfing, I was just stoked to surf alongside him,” Dale said.
Soli Bailey, a Bundjalung 19-year-old from Byron Bay, is currently ranked four on the Australasian tour and was widely tipped to win, but was knocked out in the semi-finals.
Russ Molony from the New South Wales Central Coast took the title.
“It's amazing, it's a really special place. There's a lot of spiritual meaning around Bells, so to surf here and with just a few guys in the water is pretty amazing," Russ said.
The winner from the last championship 16 years ago, Scott Rotumah, was on hand to crown the new champion.
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