Sunova Surfboards - Beau Walker Profile

Beau Walker is a young pro surfer from Queensland who has represented Australia in all national and international competitions. Bert Burger met Beau in February 2005 when Beau was only 17, free surfing at Snapper rocks one of Queensland’s famous point breaks. Beau had managed to get his hands on one of 3 demo boards I had brought to Queensland for surfers competing in the Quiky Pro that year. The board was passed on to him so my first sight of Beau was an insane triple aerial combo as I was paddling back out. A few waves later Beau came and introduced himself, after I surfed a wave passed him and he noticed I was riding a board made the same way.  I instantly recognized Beau’s lively and vibrant personality, and I saw a powerful style that fully suited Sunova’s unique flex and ability to launch and spring out of mid faced aerial maneuvers.

I started thinking about shortboard designs to suit Beau.  With recent feedback from Kelly about the same board and having both their comments match, I figured I would make what I had found to be most

functional design to date in sandwich surfboard construction. (This was the board Beau would later ride to the finals of the World Junior Titles).The first boards taken to Queensland were close replicas of what most of the Pros were riding. All made comments about how the board felt, which was the materials they were feeling under their feet doing different things to a normal board. In response to solid feedback the Nitro model was first born.

Beau’s electric personality has been a huge hit in both surf media and television networks alike. This led Beau to be cast as one of the regular presenters on the Channel Nine Television Series called 'The Shak'.

Beau has worked very hard on the program as ‘Nitro’ to become one of the most loved children's personalities on television. Nitro is known as the 'sporty, fun, and adventurous' one, which as seen him bungy jumping, sky diving, skating, and surfing amongst many other exiting sports and games.

"Daredevil" is Nitro's middle name, facing challenges is his game. Nitro has no fear ... well, except for heights ... oh, and snakes. His personality is almost as big as his naturally dreadlocked, sun-bleached hair. If Nitro had to be described in five words they would be ... Athletic, boisterous, fun-loving, competitive, loyal.

On the more serious side, Beau’s involvement in the media has led him to be involved in many local community projects, as well as multi-national projects such as helping to protect whales from Japanese harpoons.

The early days:
Beau grew up in Queensland, an only child, and had the typical Aussie childhood. He has basically grown up a part of the sand and surf. He received his first surfboard when he was seven and hasn't looked back since. His love of surfing soon extended to a wide variety of sports. Just some of Nitro's idols when he was growing up included Kelly Slater, Adam Gilchrist, Mick Doohan, and Harry Kewell.

Beau is known as a power surfer who can throw loads of spray but also has the ability to off some amazing airs in all types of conditions. His favourite waves are point breaks, from clean barrels to messy faces, this is where he shines.

Past Results

  1. 2x 4th in Australian Titles U16 + U18's
  2. 5th Quik World titles U18’s
  3. The Australian Captain

Snapshot of Beau Events

Billabong World Junior Championships
ASP Junior Championship
North Narrabeen, Sydney, NSW, Australia
1 - 8 January 2005

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 31 December, 2005 : - - Despite the conditions being somewhat tiny at North Narrabeen

Beach, Sydney, Australia, the action was hot as competitors in the Vonzipper Trials put on a tremendous display of small wave surfing as the waves slowly built throughout the afternoon.

The Vonzipper Trials event is held prior to the main event – the men’s Billabong World Junior Championships – and determines the four remaining wildcards to join the best 44 under-20 surfers on the planet, who are already slotted into the first round draw.
The four finalists, and now main event competitors, included Bobby Hansen (NZ), Beau Walker (AUS), Blake Thornton (AUS) and Jean Estienne (FRA).

They finished the final in that order with Hansen claiming the victory after dominating all day. Showing brilliant flair he demolished almost every wave he rode and will certainly be one to watch when he attacks round one of the main event. 

The four finalists in the VZ Trials - Bobby Hansen, Beau Walker, Jean Estienne and Blake Thornton.
Photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

Heats
Byron Bay surfer Beau Walker has set up a man on man quarter final clash with Mitch Coleborn tomorrow (Maroochydore) following his decimation of Wade Goodall (Caloundra) and Yadin Nicol (Margaret River) in his round six heat today.

The powerful natural footer put on a class display, scoring a 9.00 ride late in the decider to post a combined two wave total of 17.77.

“That nine point ride just set it up for me,” said Walker. “I saw Yadin paddle for a wave and I knew there was a better one behind it. Luckily he took the first one and left me with a long left to get that score.”

“I’m really psyched to surf man on man tomorrow, I have only surfed in that format once and I blew it so hopefully I can do a bit better tomorrow.”

WALKER STEPS TOWARDS JUNIOR SUCCESS
BBC Cornwall Surfing Correspondent Simon Alexander reports from the line-up.
Australian Beau Walker toppled fellow countryman and number one seed Ben Dunn to secure a round three berth at the Billabong World Junior Championships in Sydney.
Beau Walker powered his way to a heat victory by five clear points at Narrabeen Beach with some incredibly tight and exciting moves.

Never phased by Dunn who has gained the reputation for being the ultimate competition machine, Walker opened up early with a very strong ride and managed to put himself in the perfect position to take the heat as his opponent opted to be patient, and as result was dragged by the current out of the way of the best waves.

"I've been dreading this heat and when the event was called off yesterday it just dragged my anxiousness out a bit more," said Walker.

"And now to come through with the win is great. I had to get off to quick start out there against Dunn because he is such a great surfer. I wanted to apply the pressure straight up. I went out there with the attitude that I had nothing to lose so I have to keep that all the way through," he added.

Beau Walker in action. Pic by ASP

   

 

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