The Australian Boardriders Battle Returns for 14th Season — Regional Series Running September-November 2026.

Australia’s biggest grassroots surfing series, the Australian Boardriders Battle (ABB), is back for its 14th edition, bringing together the beating heart of Australian surfing: its boardriders clubs.

This year’s ABB Regional Series events will run across every surfing state, starting at Trigg Point, WA, this September before moving through NSW, VIC, TAS, SA and QLD. From iconic point breaks to raw beachies, qualifying rounds will showcase club pride and performance as teams fight for a spot in the prestigious Grand Final.

A Format Like No Other

Across eight Regional Qualifiers, more than 100 boardriders clubs from across Australia are expected to hit the water in one of the country’s most exciting grassroots sporting competitions. Since its inception, the Australian Boardriders Battle has earned a reputation for its unique and action-packed tag-team relay format, where club teams of five surfers comprising of Open Men, Open Women, Junior, Masters and a Power Surfer, race the clock, with each surfer catching their scoring waves before sprinting up the beach to tag the next teammate. Strategy, endurance and surf skill combine to create some of the most intense and dramatic heats in competitive surfing.

Dane Henry, 2025 ISA & WSL World Junior Champion & 2026 Gold Coast Open Champion, believes the event’s team format is what sets it apart from every other surfing competition:

“The format is totally different to anything else in surfing. It’s a tag-team event, and surfing is usually such an individual sport, so it’s a really special opportunity to work together with your mates and represent your community as a team.

Australia has such a strong team sport culture, with footy and so many other sports, and bringing that spirit into surfing, which is such a huge part of life along the coast, is really incredible. It fires everyone up and makes you proud to represent where you’re from.”

Surfing Australia CEO Chris Symington said the Australian Boardriders Battle continues to showcase the strength of Australia’s boardrider club community:

“The Australian Boardriders Battle is where Australia’s grassroots passion meets world-class competition. The pride, the rivalries and the atmosphere are what make this series so special. Boardriders clubs are at the heart of surfing in Australia, and the ABB is a celebration of the people, passion and community that make our sport unique.

The series continues to grow year after year, and we’re excited to launch Series 14. We can’t wait to see clubs from across the country battle it out for the chance to be crowned Australia’s best boardrider club.”

World Champions, Olympians and Future Stars Collide

The ABB is a stage where former World Champions like Layne Beachley, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and Mark Occhilupo, alongside Olympians such as Owen Wright and Ruby Trew, go head-to-head with Australia’s rising juniors and today’s top professionals. The mix of legends and future stars makes every heat more than just a contest—it’s a multi-generational battle for club pride and community.

Seven-time World Champion, Layne Beachley, described the format as one of the most intense and team-focused experiences in the sport.

“Every World Champion in Australia has come through a boardriders club, so investing back into them really matters. The team format brings out so much passion and club pride, and it creates a really special atmosphere.”

Reigning Champions Return

Last year’s NRMA Insurance ABB Grand Final saw North Shelly Boardriders (NSW) claim national glory for the second time, in front of a packed Burleigh Heads crowd, in what many have called the greatest grand final in ABB history. The victory cemented their place as one of the most formidable clubs in the country. They’ll return in Series 14 as defending champions, with powerhouse clubs from across Australia gunning to take them down.

Further details on the 2027 Grand Final will be announced in the coming months. Until then, more than 100 boardriders clubs from across Australia will turn their focus to the ABB Regional Qualifiers as they begin their campaign for national glory.

Series 14 ABB Regional Qualifier Schedule

• Event 1 – ABB WA – 12th /13th Sept – Trigg Point
• Event 2 – ABB NSW Central – 19th Sept – North Narrabeen
• Event 3 – ABB VIC – 4th Oct – Phillip Island
• Event 4 – ABB QLD -10th Oct – Sunshine Coast
• Event 5 – ABB SA – 17th Oct – Fleurieu Peninsula
• Event 6 – ABB TAS – 24th Oct – Scamander
• Event 7 – ABB NSW South – 31st Oct – Cronulla
• Event 8 – ABB NSW North – 7th Nov – Tweed Coast

Full schedule, dates and further info: www.australianboardridersbattle.com

About the Australian Boardriders Battle

The Australian Boardriders Battle is Australia’s biggest grassroots surfing series, involving over 100 boardrider clubs in eight state qualifying rounds before culminating in the epic Grand Final showdown. The event has been instrumental in strengthening club culture, fostering future champions, and celebrating Australia’s deep connection with surfing.

The Australian Boardriders Battle Regional Series 14 is proudly supported by NRMA Insurance, Ford, Babybel, SafeStyle, Fujifilm Photos, Southern Cross University, Ampd Bros, St Ali, Boost, Blackroll and Surfers for Climate.

This Surfing Australia event series is delivered in partnership with the state branches, Surfing WA, Surfing NSW, Surfing VIC, Surfing QLD, Surfing SA and Surfing TAS.

About Australian Boardrider clubs

There are more than 250 boardrider clubs across the country, where members gather regularly, often monthly, to organise grassroots competitions at world-class waves such as Burleigh Heads, Margaret River, Bells Beach and more. 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.

For more information, visit www.australianboardridersbattle.com