THE Currumbin Barbarians have returned atop of the Australian Surf Rowing pedestal.

Big seas created havoc at Wollongong for nearly 400 crews during the countries biggest surfboat carnival, the Australian Surf Rowers League Open.

But while many crews came to grief in the thumping two-metre surf, the reigning national champions flexed its muscle.

Swept by the experienced Lyle Lark, the Barbarians conquered the savage seas in style to beat home Palm Beach (Northern Beaches Sydney) and Moruya Heads (South Coast).

Adding the Navy ASRL Open title to their impressive collection, the rejuvenated Barbarians further sparked claims that the crew is the best there has been since the 1990s.

“Their remarkable form both in the Queensland and Australian series is exactly why many surfboat pundits are saying this is possibly the best surfboat crew in the past decade,” event spokesperson Sean McKeown said.

“For mine, they’re not far off.”

Equally impressive was the Alexander Headland under-19 crew, who under the guidance of Steve Davies, managed to handle the conditions well enough to win in front of Broulee (South Coast) and fellow Queenslanders the Currumbin Highlanders.

In the under-23 men it was Woonona crossing ahead of Avoca and Alexander Headland, while in reserve grade it was Austimer over Queenscliff and Northcliffe.

Avoca won the women’s division ahead of South Curl Curl and Bilgola.