Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final is moving to Burleigh Heads

Surfing Australia is thrilled to announce that the Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle (ABB) Grand Final is moving for the next three years to Burleigh Heads, a world-famous point break on the Gold Coast.

Tourism Events Queensland and Major Events Gold Coast will host the Grand Final of the series on March 9-10, 2024, while the series is set to kick off this Sunday with the first of eight qualifying rounds taking place at Trigg Beach in Western Australia.

The Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle is one of the most highly anticipated events on the Surfing Australia calendar. Each year, the ABB pits the best boardrider clubs from each state against one another in an epic surfing battle that culminates in a world-renowned Grand Final where Australia’s best boardrider club is decided.

The series has always held prestige among the surfing community with the likes of Joel Parkinson, Danny Wills, Jay Thompson, Josh Kerr, Ace Buchan, Stephanie Gilmore, Tyler & Owen Wright and Sophie McCulloch having competed in previous years, as well as Challenger and Qualifying Series athletes.

Surfing Australia CEO, Chris Mater said: “This is an opportunity to showcase a world class wave with the Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final moving to the Gold Coast. Burleigh headland is the perfect vista to create the festival atmosphere that the ABB is well-known for. I can’t wait to see thousands of old and new fans coming together at Burleigh Point to watch the greatest grassroots event in the world.”

Queensland’s Tourism and Sport Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe said major events continue to choose Queensland.

“Burleigh Heads with its famous coastline is the perfect location to host this epic battle.

“Securing the Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final shows yet again that Queensland is the home of world-class major sporting events.

“It’s a win for local businesses too with visitors to the iconic Burleigh Heads surf break expected to generate more than 6,000 visitor nights and approximately $1.2 million in economic benefit for the Gold Coast region.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said: “What a coup. The perfect three-year partnership between Surfing Australia, Major Events Gold Coast and Tourism and Events Queensland.

“Burleigh offers incredible vantage points for fans and regularly turns on point break waves, ensuring quality surf and high energy action to determine the 2023 championship. See you in March.”

Additionally, the Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle has an exciting new format. Surfing Australia has expanded the teams format to include 32 boardrider clubs (previously 24) from across Australia with more than $115, 000 in total prize money up for grabs throughout the series.

In more exciting news for the upcoming ABB season, four of the regional events (Phillip Island, Coffs Harbour, Sunshine Coast and North Narrabeen) as well as the Grand Final will be live-streamed on the mySURFtv YouTube channel and Kayo Sports.

Since the inception of the Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle in 2013, Surfing Australia has injected more than $1.2 million into the boardrider club network.

2023/24 Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle series:

EVENT 1 – TRIGG, WA – SEPT 10, 2023
EVENT 2 – PHILLIP ISLAND, VIC – SEPT 24, 2023
EVENT 3 – FLEURIEU PENINSULA, SA – OCT 1, 2023
EVENT 4 – NSW NTH – COFFS HARBOUR, NSW – OCT 15, 2023
EVENT 5 – CLIFTON BEACH, TAS – OCT 22, 2023
EVENT 6 – SUNSHINE COAST, QLD – OCT 29, 2023
EVENT 7 – NSW CENTRAL – NORTH NARRABEEN, NSW – NOV 11, 2023
EVENT 8 – NSW SOUTH – KIAMA, NSW – NOV 18, 2023
GRAND FINAL* – BURLEIGH HEADS, QLD – MAR 9-10, 2024

*entry by qualification

The 2023/24 series is proudly sponsored by Hyundai, Le Tan, ACCIONA, Jim Beam, BC™ Bars and Oakley.

The Australian Boardriders Battle is supported by Major Events Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.