Broulee surf coaches Shane Wehner and Rob Nedwich qualified for the national titles after scoring well at the NSW titles in June with semi-final and final appearances respectively.  

The festival will also be a chance for old foes and friends to catch up as the event combines the national titles of shortboard, longboard and bodyboard divisions. 

Wehner, a former world tour surfer who competed for 10 years, and whose career highlight was second to Kelly Slater at Pipeline, Hawaii in 1999, will paddle out in the shortboard competition on Monday. 

He returned to competition this year after a few years off as he felt “a bit of enthusiasm and fitness” had returned.

It will be the first time in more then 20 years Wehner will drop in at the national titles and this time he’ll be in the masters men’s over 35s division.

“It’s a really good event with guys from different walks of life including longboarders, shortboarders and bodyboarders,” Wehner said.

“There is plenty of former semi-pro and professional surfers who just like to catch up but shortboarders can get very competitive in the water.” 

Wehner knows he can to adjust to the conditions on the North Coast of NSW; he has loved surfing hollow left-hand reef breaks at exotic locations throughout his career.

“I don’t think Coffs Harbour has any of those,” he added.

“I’d like something in the three- to five-foot range which is hollow and punchy.”

Nedwich opts for the longboard these days and takes the plunge next Thursday; however, he will also assist with on-beach commentary and judging throughout the festival.

He hadn’t competed for nine years before this season and he thought it would be a good time to jump back into competition.

He finished fourth at the NSW titles and will be surfing in the over 55s men’s longboard division. 

“It’s just a way to catch up with a whole lot of mates and there are only four guys in the water so it’s usually pretty good, pretty mellow,” Nedwich said.

Nedwich also wanted a swell that was a bit more relaxed than Wehner’s request. 

“I’m looking for something a bit smaller and mellower for an older bloke,” he said. 

If either of the pair finishes in the top two they will receive an initiation to the World Championships. 

“Anything’s possible,” Wehner said.