Big scores, a close race for qualification and a fired-up crowd made for an action-packed day at Scamander on Saturday 24 October, as Tasmania’s Boardrider clubs went head-to-head in the Australian Boardriders Battle (ABB) Regional Series 14 qualifier.
South Arm Boardriders rose to the top, delivering a commanding performance in the final to claim the Tasmanian title. Park Beach Boardriders finished second, securing the other qualifying spot alongside South Arm for the 2027 NRMA Insurance Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final, which will be held at the iconic Burleigh Heads in QLD.
South Arm posted a combined final score of 31.43 points, taking the win by an impressive 10.16-point margin over their closest rivals, who finished on 21.27 points.
Park Beach faced a strong challenge from North West Boardriders in the race for the second qualifying position. North West finished third, with Matt Gaby a standout throughout the event, consistently posting high scores across both his heats and keeping his club in contention.
Despite surfing strongly throughout the event, two-time defending champions North East Boardriders finished fourth after the ocean fell quiet in the closing minutes of their quarterfinal, leaving them without the waves needed to post the score required to advance.
The onshore conditions didn’t stop the action, with surfers continuing to find scoring opportunities throughout the day. The crowd came out in force to support their clubs, with mascots adding to the atmosphere and plenty of club spirit on display.
Sienna Lawrence recorded the highest female score of the event with a 7-point ride, while Rudy Davis claimed the Boost Mobile Wave of the Day for his 7.77-point ride in the final.
All teams were swift in completing their required rotations, with no time penalties handed out throughout the event.
Surfing Tasmania CEO Jono Mereszka said the Australian Boardriders Battle was a favourite on the calendar for competition surfers, thanks to its focus on teamwork and club culture.
“The team aspect really brings out the camaraderie between surfers. While the surf could have been better, the beach vibes were super high. Congratulations to South Arm Boardriders on an impressive win — they were the best team all day and thoroughly deserved their place at the National Grand Final at Burleigh Heads early next year,”
— Jono Mereszka
A South Arm Boardriders representative said the team was thrilled to take the win in such a competitive field.
“We’re all really stoked with the win, especially in a field packed with wildcards. We’re super proud of our team and how everyone played their part. We’re frothing to battle it out at the finals, but for now we’re SABRing that sweet winning feeling.”
Both South Arm and Park Beach will now represent Tasmania at the 2027 NRMA Insurance Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final at Burleigh Heads, Queensland, where they will line up against the country’s leading boardriders clubs.
RESULTS:
- South Arm Boardriders Club
- Park Beach Boardriders Club
- North West Boardriders Club
- North East Boardriders Club
AWARDS:
- Boost Mobile Wave of the Day: Rudy Davis – 7.77 points
2027 AUSTRALIAN BOARDRIDERS BATTLE GRAND FINAL QUALIFIERS:
- South Arm Boardriders Club
- Park Beach Boardriders Club
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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