Surfest: Russ Molony looks to future at Indigenous Classic

ON TOP: Russ Molony in action at Surfest's Wandiyali ATSI Indigenous Classic.

Russ Molony will be focused on the next generation in more ways than one this weekend when he tries to win a 13^th Wandiyali ATSI Indigenous Classic.

The 43-year-old from Berkeley Vale on the Central Coast is set to defend his title at Merewether, but only if he isn't called away for the birth of his third son.

"I still feel like I'm surfing better than ever, it's just having the time to surf," Molony said. "The family has taken over and we have another baby due any day.

"My partner [Angela] is going to come up with us just in case we have to duck up to hospital.

"It would be nice if she doesn't have the baby while I'm out surfing," he laughed.

"But there's heaps of aunties there so I'm sure she'll be in good hands if we need a quick delivery."

Molony has been so dominant in the Surfest event that the perpetual trophy for the male winner is named in his honour.

He claimed the title last year with a last-minute wave and will be among the contenders again for the $6000 first prize.

For Molony, though, the event's value goes far beyond the cash on offer across men's, women's, junior and longboard divisions.

"That's kind of why I still do it, just catching up with everyone and then trying to inspire the next generation of young indigenous kids coming through," he said.

"One of my main goals is just to show them that you can kind of achieve anything if you put your mind to it.

"The stepping stones are there. We have the events, so hopefully the next generation can get on tour. That's my goal, to guide them along the way.

CHAMPION: Jasmine McCorquodale winning the Wandiyali Indigenous Classic junior in 2017. She went on to claim the next two women's titles. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

"I'm excited to catch up with all the mob and have a couple of days of surfing.

"But I'm not focused on competitions anymore. I love doing the indigenous events and the teams, but that's it for me. I just want to do the fun ones."

He said he'd "always just got lucky in the final" at Surfest but there were always quality challengers.

He expected Joe Haddon, Simon Knox, Otis Carey, Taj Simon and reigning national indigenous champion Finn Hill to be among his main opposition.

The carpenter was also hoping to overcome a back problem that flared up at work late in the week.

Jasmine McCorquodale will shoot for a third women's title.