East Coast Boardriders storm home to win Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Tasmanian qualifier

After several years in the wilderness, East Coast Boardriders Club today returned to the winner’s circle, beating rivals South Arm Boardriders Club on their home turf in this year’s Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle state qualifier.

Andy and Mel Hoult, Dustin and Sunny Hollick, and Benn Richardson worked together to complete the job for the East Coast at Rebounds on the South Arm Peninsular.

“We’ve got no shortage of talent on the East Coast but we struggle to put competitive events on because everyone just surfs for the love of it. It’s great that we could get a team together and show what we are capable of today when we get the chance to compete,”  Andy Hoult said.

Despite some heroics from Marti Paradisis, who scored a 9.5 tube ride for South Arm earlier in the day, the consistency of East Coast’s athletes proved the difference in the final. Richardson (7.00 ride) and Dustin Hollick (6.00 ride) set the team up for victory.

With the final result still up for grabs, young gun Cowan Duncan could have thrown a spanner in the works with two minutes left in the final had he been able to access a set wave. The Park Beach Boardriders Junior only needed a 6.01 ride to relegate South Arm to third.

South Arm Club Legend Luke Johannesen was stoked to see East Coast qualify for the Grand final in Burleigh, to be contested in March, 2025.

“It’s great to see East Coast field a team and go on to win the event. Having all four of our premiere clubs battle it out is only doing good things for the level of surfing in Tasmania. Congrats to them, and we look forward to representing Tasmania alongside them at the Grand Final next year up in Burleigh,” Johannesen said.

Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Tasmanian qualifier – Final
1st – North East Boardriders
2nd – South Arm Boardriders
3rd – Park Beach Boardriders
4th – North West Boardriders

Jim Beam Club Spirit Award – South Arm Boardriders
Oakley Prizm Performer Award – Cowan Duncan (Park Beach Boardriders) 
Boost Mobile Wave of the Day – Marti Paradisis (9.50 ride)

2024/25 Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Series 12:
Event 1 – ABB WA – 14th Sep – Trigg Beach, WA
Event 2 – ABB VIC – 6th Oct – Phillip Island, VIC 
Event 3 – ABB QLD -12th Oct – Sunshine Coast, QLD
Event 4 – ABB South Aus – 19th Oct – Fleurieu Peninsula, SA
Event 5 – ABB Tas – 26th Oct – Clifton Beach, TAS
Event 6 – ABB NSW South – 2nd Nov – Wollongong, NSW
Event 7 – ABB NSW Central – 9th Nov – North Narrabeen, NSW
Event 8 – ABB NSW North – 16th Nov – Coffs Harbour, NSW
Grand Final – 8th – 9th Mar – Burleigh Heads, QLD (entry by qualification)

About Australian Boardrider Clubs:
There are more than 230 boardrider clubs across the country, where members gather regularly, often monthly, to organise grassroots competitions at world-class waves such as Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast. The boardrider club phenomenon in Australia has made a significant contribution to the nation’s competitive success on the global stage, fostering close-knit communities that support young surfers on their journeys to becoming the next World Champions.

Surfing Australia last year expanded the Grand Final format to include 42 boardrider clubs (previously 24) from across Australia, with more than $115, 000 in total prize money up for grabs throughout the series.

There are three specialty awards presented at each regional round: The Jim Beam Club Spirit Award, Oakley Prizm Performer Award and Boost Mobile Wave of the Day.

The Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Series is proudly supported by naming partner Hyundai and support partners Jim Beam, ACCIONA, Ruffie Rustic Foods, BC™ Protein Snacks, Kennards Hire, Oakley, Dometic, Boost Mobile, Blackroll and Surfers for Climate.  

The Hyundai ABB Gold Coast Grand Final is supported by Experience Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.

For more information, please visit australianboardridersbattle.com.