COOLANGATTA LOCAL Phil Wyper, 60, is all smiles after being the “old man” in his division and winning gold in the beach flags at the Australian Surf Championships at Scarborough Beach, WA.

The specially built million-dollar amphitheatre proved to be a happy hunting ground for Wyper, who also won gold in the masters flags the last time he competed there in 2009.

“I turned 60 in March and was the oldest of about 20 competitors in the 54 to 60 years division,” the registered surveyor from Tweed Heads said, who’s fit as a fiddle.

“The young blokes are really keen and let you know they are there to win.

“We all train really hard and put in the extra time as we all want to win gold.

“Michael Getz, of Queenscliff, was a bit younger and was the defending champion. I won gold and he collected the bronze.

“Adam Mills, from Cudgen Headland, is probably in his mid-fifties and looked a bit unlucky when he was controversially knocked out to finish fourth.

“He could easily have finished with a medal.”

This year his wife Karen accompanied him and proved to be his lucky charm.

After collecting his coveted gold gong they had a few days exploring the Margaret River holiday paradise.

Wyper gained his bronze medallion at Coolangatta in 1981 and has done patrols ever since.

The flags specialist first competed at Christies Beach, South Australia, in 1983 and battled in the opens till 1990 when he had a break before returning to do battle in the masters.

Linda loves riding on the Tweed back roads

“It’s all very serious with training programs and lead-up competitions, but once competition is over the camaraderie takes over with a few beers and plenty of tales,” says.

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