Roach will surf in the Australian Titles in Coffs Harbour on July 31. 

He competed in the over 60s division of the NSW Titles recently for a chance to secure the spot. 

Surfing at Forster in three-to-four foot conditions, Roach thought he needed to finish first to qualify.

“I want to qualify, for me it’s about bettering myself,” Roach said in the lead up. 

He had been swimming laps and doing martial arts to maintain his fitness and focus. 

Roach took on Byron Bay’s Neil Cameron in the semis and finished a close second. 

The final played out between six surfers in three to four foot swells. 

With an Australian title spot up for grabs it was a no-holds barred affair. 

Roach said he came painstakingly close to winning with a high scoring wave in the dying stages, but finished second overall.

“The support from the crowd was phenomenal,” he said. 

“For me it is a great result against the strong field, who represented from all over the state.”

However, at presentations after the final, organisers declared the top two finishers would qualify, earning Roach a spot in the upcoming Australian Titles. 

He now has seven weeks to prepare for the event to be held in Coffs Harbour. 

Roach said he was thrilled to qualify.