Curl Curl, NSW (Saturday, September 19th, 2026) – North Narrabeen has claimed victory at the NSW Central leg of the Australian Boardriders Battle (ABB) Regional Series, securing the regional qualifier title and a place at the 2027 ABB Grand Final at Burleigh Heads.
The day was packed with stacked heats and high-level surfing at Curl Curl, with eight-time World Champion Layne Beachley (Fresh Water), big wave world record holder Laura Enever (North Narrabeen), QS surfer Izzy Higg (North Steyne) and WSL coach, former World Championship Tour surfer and North Narrabeen Boardriders Team Manager Nathan Hedge among the standout names in the water. The depth of talent made for tight matchups throughout the day, with North Narrabeen, North Steyne, Avoca and Long Reef emerging as the standout teams from the opening rounds and progressing through to the final. The final came down to a tense battle between North Narrabeen and North Steyne, with just 1.1 points separating the teams as the clock wound down. North Narrabeen held their nerve to finish on 29.60, securing the NSW Central Regional Qualifier title in the final moments.
Adding to the action, Jagger Phillips claimed the Boost Mobile Wave of the Day with some epic cutbacks making the most of the offshore conditions earning a 8.83 point ride for the event’s highest-scoring wave.
With eight spots at the 2027 ABB Grand Final up for grabs from the NSW Central qualifier, North Narrabeen, North Steyne, Avoca, Long Reef, Bungan, Dee Why Fraternity, North Avalon and Freshwater all secured their places at Burleigh Heads in March 2027.
Australian Boardriders Battle Contest Director Matt Anlezark said the quality of competition and conditions highlighted the depth of surfing across the region:
“We had good-sized waves and a really stacked field here at Curl Curl, which made for a great showcase of what grassroots surfing and boardrider clubs are all about. The boardrider clubs are the heart and pinnacle of Australian surfing, and after 14 years of the ABB, it’s great to see the strength of the competition continuing to grow. This qualifier has one of the strongest concentrations of national champions across the ABB Regional Series, which really highlights the depth of talent in the region.”
Leading Australian Junior Jagger Phillips Wins Boost Mobile Wave Of The Day for North Narrabeen Boardriders Club.
Credit: Andrew Christie / Surfing Australia
World Tour coach, former World Championship Tour surfer and North Narrabeen Boardriders Team Manager Nathan Hedge reflected on the day and North Narrabeen’s performance:
North Narrabeen Boardriders Team Captain Nathan Hedge said the victory reflected the club’s strong culture and the values they bring to the ABB, while also highlighting the importance of giving different generations of surfers an opportunity to represent the club:
“It’s always an honour to surf for North Narrabeen. There have been generations of great surfers through the club, so it’s awesome to still be able to come out on top. All the clubs have gotten so much stronger, and we had a different team today, so it was great to give a few different people an opportunity. It’s also a really good warm-up heading into Burleigh for the national finals.”
As team captain, Hedge said the result was about more than simply finishing on top, with the team focused on the values that underpin North Narrabeen:
“I think it’s also about how we win. There are certain themes and non-negotiables that we always want to bring to the table for North Narrabeen: grit, determination, never giving up and, most importantly, a real team effort. Someone might get an 8.5 and someone else might get a four, but it’s about moving together as a team and leaving the ego out of it. Those are the key ingredients, and I’m just super proud.”
Layne Beachly for Fresh Water.
Credit: Andrew Christie / Surfing Australia
Jagger Phillips (North Narrabeen) delivered one of the day’s standout performances, earning a 8.83-point ride to take out the Boost Mobile Wave of the Day, showcasing his stylish approach in the clean offshore consistent peaks at Curl Curl.
North Narrabeen junior Jagger Phillips delivered one of the standout waves of the day, earning an 8.83-point ride to claim the Boost Mobile Wave of the Day. Phillips said the result was made even more special by representing a club with such a strong history:
“It feels amazing. Even just being part of such an amazing club, I’m super grateful for it. I found that random left, got two good turns and somehow came away with an 8.83, so I was super stoked.
Coming into the event, I didn’t really have a set strategy. I was asking everyone who went out before me what they thought and taking a bit of advice from them. That always helps, especially surfing a new spot.”
The top eight clubs from today’s ABB Regional Qualifier have now earned their place at the Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final presented by NRMA Insurance, set to take place at Burleigh Heads in March 2027.
NSW Central Qualifying Boardrider Clubs:
- North Narrabeen
- North Steyne
- Avoca
- Long Reef
- Bungan
- Dee Why Fraternity
- North Avalon
- Freshwater
Specialty Awards:
Boost Mobile Wave of the Day: Jagger Phillips (North Narrabeen)
For full results, head to LiveHeats
The Dee Why community out in force.
Credit: Andrew Christie / Surfing Australia
2026 ABB Regional Qualifier Schedule
- WA – Trigg – September 12/13, 2026
- NSW Central – Northern Beaches – September 19, 2026
- VIC – Phillip Island – October 4, 2026
- QLD – Sunshine Coast – October 10, 2026
- SA – Fleurieu Peninsula – October 17, 2026
- TAS – Scamander – October 24, 2026
- NSW South – Cronulla – October 31, 2026
- NSW North – Tweed Coast – November 7, 2026
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 80 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 2026 Australian Boardriders Battle Regional Series is proudly supported by
NRMA Insurance, Ford , Babybel, Celsius, Safestyle, Fujifilm Photos, Southern Cross University, Ampd Bros, St Ali, Boost, Blackroll, 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. 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
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