Surfing for a cause at Barney Miller Surf Classic

COFFS Coast surfers have hit the waves for a great cause during this year’s Barney Miller Surf Classic at Sawtell Main Beach.

Since its inception in 1999, the annual event has raised more than $500,000 for people who have suffered from a debilitating injury.

This year’s recipient was Johnny Konings, who after a traumatic surfing incident at Duranbah Beach in 2024, suffered severe damage to his spinal cord which left him with paralysis from the waist down.

He described how much it meant for him to be chosen as this year’s recipient.

“Honestly, it means the world,” he said.

“We fall into a grey area with funding, so we don’t have any support from NDIS, so we are actually quite reliant on events like this.

“When they told us, I couldn’t believe it, it was quite out of the blue, and we’d always wanted to come down for this event.

“A lot of the money raised will go towards my rehab costs, and things like rent and to accommodate my accessibility.”

Konings shared a special moment with event namesake Barney Miller in the surf, with both taking part in an expression session.

“It was so special, it’s the first time we’ve surfed together so that was really cool,” he said.

“I’ve been back in the water a few times after the accident.

“I competed two or three months after I got out of hospital, so eight or nine months post-accident, and I’ve done a few adaptive surf comps since then.”

Attending his first Surf Classic, Konings was very impressed with the Sawtell setup.

“It’s unreal. How perfect is the boardriders club? The perfect competition stage, multiple banks out the front, you couldn’t ask for a better setup,” he said.

“And the surf’s been pumping, it’s been great viewing.”

By Aiden BURGESS