TRIGG BEACH – WA/AUS (Saturday 27th October 2018), Margaret River have triumphed at the fifth event of the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle, overcoming five of Western Australia’s best boardriders clubs to claim victory in one of the closest and most hotly contested battles in recent years.
The win for Margaret River marks the club’s third since the Boardriders Battle series begun back in 2013 and sees them now qualify for the National Final in Newcastle in February 2019, where they’ll take on the country’s leading boardriding clubs.
The Margaret River squad was brimming with talent and featured multiple State Champions including; Jerome Forrest, Jack Haslau, Mia McCarthy, Brock Launders and Andrew Sheridan.
Margaret River dominated the tricky and wind swept conditions, winning each and every heat they paddled out for. All of Margaret River’s surfers impressed, completing a variety of spectacular top turns, carves and snaps to post a massive combined heat total of 56.30.
“We’re so stoked to have won here today and qualified for the National Final once again,” said club captain Andrew Sheridan. “We really want to ensure our A-Team of surfers is available and ready to compete in Newcastle, we’re really to fly the flag for WA over there and can’t wait to represent our club but also our state.”
Fellow finalists Trigg Point, Yallingup and Scarborough all showed glimpses of brilliance and challenged Margaret River at every opportunity, but ultimately they had to settle for second, third and fourth respectively.
Trigg Point posted their best result at the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle and have also qualified for the National Final on the strength of a combined team total of 52.20.
“That was a crazy close final and it could have gone either way for us out there,” said club spokesman Nick Muntz. “This is a big day for our club, we’ve never qualified for the National Final before and I’m sure that everyone will be putting up their hand to come away and represent TPB.”
Mia McCarthy (Margaret River) and Luke Campbell (Trigg Point) captured the Oakley Prizm Performer Awards for their stellar performance across all their heats. Nick Muntz (Trigg Point) was awarded the AirAsia Wave of the Day for a sequence of high-speed forehand carves that earned him an 8.50 (from a possible 10).
The nudie Australian Boardriders Battle is officially sanctioned by the World Surf League (WSL), which allows Australian WSL Championship Tour surfers (men and women) the opportunity to represent their local boardriders club at respective state qualifying events as well as the national final.
The purpose of the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle program is to build the profile and capacity of community boardriders clubs Australia-wide. In the past five years, Surfing Australia has invested over $750,000 into Surfing Australia affiliated boardriders clubs as part of the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle series.
The 2018 nudie Australian Boardriders Battle is Australia’s biggest grassroots boardriders event and involves more than 60 of Australia’s best boardrider clubs across eight state qualifying rounds with 24 clubs competing at the National Final in Newcastle.
Major sponsors of the 2018/19 series include the naming rights partner nudie and supporting sponsors Oakley, Woolworths, Hyundai, AirAsia, Destination NSW, Localsearch, Newcastle City Council, World Surf League, mySURF.tv, XXXX Summer Bright Larger, Fox Sports, 2XP and Surfing Australia.
nudie AUSTRALIAN BOARDRIDERS BATTLE FINAL RESULTS WA:
1 – Margaret River Boardriders – 56.30 – $2,000
2 – Trigg Point Boardriders – 52.20 – $1,000
3 – Yallingup Boardriders – 50.87
4 – Scarborough Boardriders – 40.68
Nudie Australian Boardriders Battle 2018/19 calendar:
ABB – EVENT 1 – Gold Coast, QLD – August 25, 2018
ABB – EVENT 2 – Kiama, NSW – Sept 15, 2018
ABB – EVENT 3 – NSW Central – North Narrabeen, NSW – Sept 22, 2018
ABB – EVENT 4 – NSW Nth – Coffs Harbour, NSW – Oct 6, 2018
ABB – EVENT 5 – Trigg, WA – Oct 27, 2018
ABB – EVENT 6 – Fleurieu Peninsula, SA – Nov 10, 2018
ABB – EVENT 7 – Phillip Island, VIC – Nov 24, 2018
ABB – EVENT 8 – Clifton Beach TAS – Dec 15, 2018
ABB – National Final – Newcastle, NSW – TBC
About the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle:
The nudie Australian Boardriders Battle is the biggest grassroots boardriders event in Australian surfing history. It will involve more than 60 of Australia’s best boardriders clubs in eight State qualifying rounds and will culminate in a two day National Final for 24 clubs at Newcastle Beach, NSW. More information on the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle at: www.australianboardridersbattle.com