Duct Tape Invitational champion Harrison Roach takes the stage with his local Noosa comrades Matt Cuddihy (4th) and Jai Lee (2nd), along with SoCal stylist Alex Knost (3rd). Photo: Nikki Brooks

"Perfect longboard waves," said Roach of the conditions. "[Winning this] is so special... To win one of these events is the best thing to do as a longboarder." Photo: Nikki Brooks

Eastern Australia got riled by cyclones prior to the contest. Luckily, the week of the festival saw the sun coming out, the winds staying light and Cyclone Sandra stationed in just the right place to send swell, but not weather. Photo: Nikki Brooks

Noosa is one of the most perfect longboard waves in the world. It's rarely, if ever, huge but the perfectly tapered sections allow for some fine speedlines, as illustrated by Al Knost. Photo: Nikki Brooks

Knost, a former Duct Tape winner himself, takes a moment between heats to soak up the ambiance. Photo: Nikki Brooks

The hand jive, the cocked back knee, the groovy body english... Runner-up Jai Lee racks up the style points while trimming across Little Cove. Photo: Nikki Brooks

"It was such a pleasure to bring the Duct Tape to Noosa and be a part of a festival with so much history," said event founder Joel Tudor. "I've been coming to Noosa for many years and always enjoy seeing my friends and the local surf community. This event showcased the local talent and brought traditional loggin' back to its roots." Photo: Nikki Brooks

Jared Mell was far from penalized for taking a traditional line; in fact, he was probably rewarded for it. Photo: Nikki Brooks

Duct Tape finalists Matt Cuddihy, Alex Knost, Jai Lee and Harrison Roach, along with event chief Joel Tudor. Photo: Nikki Brooks

Mitch Surman is a local surfer/shaper that excels at riding Noosa Heads on multiple crafts, from logs to alaia. No matter how crowded it gets, he always stands out. Photo: Nikki Brooks

Squalls from Cyclone Sandra filtered through earlier in the week, but conditions on the water stayed clean while sand was deposited, forming really nice sandbars that allowed for dredging little zippers on the lower tide. Harrison tucks in. Photo: Nikki Brooks

"Each contest the level rises higher and higher, and Noosa is the reward," said Tudor. "This is the Antichrist of competitive surfing. The fact that these guys are collecting a check and graduating at the end of the day to a party is awesome." Photo: Nikki Brooks

"I had mentors," Tudor explained. "Nat Young, Donald Takayama, David Nuuhiwa... They didn't do it for the money. And I'm not getting paid a cent. I do it because I care. It's hard to pull yourself from the competition. I know I had my day. Now I need to step back and support the kids. I want to watch them be able to travel and buy a house someday..." Photo: Nikki Brooks

Noosa standout and 4th-place finisher Matt Cuddihy clocked up some tip time that was as likely as valuable to him as the cash. Photo: Nikki Brooks

Style on the beach and style in the water, female surfers from Australia and beyond graced the Noosa lineup with some much-welcomed estrogen. Photo: Nikki Brooks

Jai Lee and Harrison Roach share a wave, and a board, in the finals. They duo won $1,000 for their combined efforts. Photo: Nikki Brooks

One of Tudor's proteges, Tyler Warren, trots to the nose of his hand-shaped 9'4" longboard. Walking the board well here is as imperative as doing an air-reverse is in a pro shortboard comp. Photo: Nikki Brooks

"Webcast? What webcast?" Photo: Nikki Brooks

Dig this: Noosa Heads is a national park... and one of the dreamiest surf spots on the planet. Photo: Nikki Brooks

Alex Knost hangs five in the semis. Photo: Nikki Brooks

No shortage of crispy waves or frothing surfers from dawn 'til dusk. That's Noosa. Photo: Nikki Brooks

Tyler Warren, Wade Goodall and Leila Hurst search out some little treats to satisfy their diverse palettes. Photo: Nikki Brooks