The annual Port Macquarie Bodyboarding Association (PMBA) event was awash with competitors and spectators at Town Beach in Port Macquarie on October 31.

Association president Daniel Little said despite challenging conditions in the morning, the event picked up with a run out tide in the afternoon.

"We have had a maximum of about 60 competitors during the 30 heats over the day," he said.

"That's a big day and equates to about 10 hours worth of competition.

"We have got over 15 people from Newcastle, Forster and we had a photographer coming up from Ballina just for the event to photograph for us. A couple people have come up from Sydney and across the board there's people coming from all over the place. It's great for the local tourism and the accommodation here.

"We have had to move the event four times and in our set up here today we are following a lot of rules and guidelines from the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. They have been great with us and Council has given us all the bollards and tents, overall it's been a great day."

Read more: All the highlights from the David 'Goose' Gosby Memorial in 2019

Port Macquarie boardrider Jones Russell was one of many bodyboarders challenged by the tough surf earlier in the day.

"I went alright, the conditions are hell tough but not too bad once you got out there. I'm mainly here to have a good time and hang out with the boys. Was fun out in the surf, a good day," he said after his first heat.

"Just the wind basically today (was challenging). When the tide runs out it gets a bit cleaner, the tides are going that way and the onshore makes it more chunky.

"The cash prize has brought heaps of interest. Just that alone brings people up and down the coast as a good incentive to come here and try and win a bit of money. It gets everyone going a bit harder too."

Troy Taylor, president of the Headlanders Bodyboard Club in East Ballina, said he attended the memorial competition and was thoroughly impressed.

"I've come down myself to compete and Richy has come down to shoot (photos)," he said before a bodyboarding heat.

"We've actually just got the club in Ballina going again this year after four years out. So I've just come down to sort of get the name of the club around, and have a look at how they set up the competition and see where we're at.

"Just making a bit of comparison has been very handy. It's a shame about the waves but that's surfing.

"Size of the association is definitely a factor in competition success. Like these guys have got lots of volunteers and lots of facilities available, whereas we've got 30 members, a couple of tents and that's about it.

"(Being here) sets the standard. I think Port Macquarie are probably one of the better clubs in Australia if not the world so they really set the benchmark. That's why I'm here to check it out."

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