The humble beginnings of the Woorrangalook Victorian Koori Surfing Titles appeared in stark contrast to the celebrations over its 25th anniversary.

Urquhart's Bluff showcased a plethora of Indigenous surfers at the weekend, riding the gnarliest swells and pulling out all the tricks on their boards.

The most impressive men and women would be left vying for wildcard entry into the 2023 Rip Curl Pro trials held over Easter to face the world's best at nearby Bells Beach.

That wave was far from what was presented to Torres Strait Islander and Yorta Yorta man Steve Parker back in 1998 to first attract the mob to the beach while also getting the event off the ground and into the surf.

One of the first Indigenous persons to complete a Surfing Victoria level-one coaching certificate, Parker was then approached to deliver an Indigenous surfing program to turn nervous kids into chilled grommets.

The funding was barely $1000 to run initial surf tours up and down the coast that also included Warrnambool where these titles once called home on Gunditjmara country.

"We were happy to start it off small, and with our Koori titles, we were able to make it stretch with the kids," Parker said.

They winged the very first titles a bit, and the brave 35 Koori Victorians that headed out into the deep waters with surfboards in tow set up a legacy that peaked at more than 200 competitors less than a decade later.

The titles are much more than a surfing competition these days, according to Surfing Victoria Indigenous Aquatics Manager Jordie Campbell.

It's about mentoring, understanding culture, sharing stories, and enjoying the ocean.

"So, this has become one of the hallmark events on the Victorian Indigenous sporting calendar," Campbell said.

"Community come down to Wadawurrung Country from all across the state and the event is now a real gathering of First Nations' community members."

The two days of surf deteriorated late on Sunday afternoon to the point that the open men's final had to be postponed until February 25.

Finalists Jordie Campbell and Anthony Hume, both from Torquay, Rhys Collins, of Red Hill, and Rylee Duell, of Phillip Island, will contest the Indigenous men's title during the Victorian Open Series event off Phillip Island ahead of the Rip Curl Pro trial.

Collins had earlier taken out the men's masters category in more calm conditions.

While knowledge of the surrounding surf guided Torquay local Elly Muir to the open women's title.

Torquay grandmother Corrina Eccles claimed the women's masters crown after the Wadawurrung elder had earlier cleansed the event with a traditional smoking and mixing of the waters opening ceremony.

Surfing Victoria handed encouragement awards to Arlee Livesey and Indie Peverill, both of Ballarat, and Derek Wilson, from Melbourne, after the titles.

In the junior divisions, Jamie Box, of Geelong, was the under-18 boys winner, Lauren McKay, of Melbourne, took out the under-18 girls, Tyler Duell, of Phillip Island, won the under-16 boys, Grace Tournier, of Geelong, claimed the under-16 girls, Daylan Rodaughan, on the Bellarine Peninsula, won the under-13 boys, Shaleka Wellington captured the under-13 girls, Cooper Bysouth was the under-10 boys winner, Willow Burns, of Ballarat, claimed the under-10 girls, while Lili Lovett earned the under-8 mixed title.