The search for the country’s best boardriding clubs will commence at Trigg Beach in Western Australia this Sunday as the Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle kicks off its 2023/24 season.
Local rivalries will intensify with WA pride on the line, as five West Australian boardrider clubs battle it out along Perth’s metropolitan beaches.
It comes after the ABB series was officially launched yesterday at Burleigh Heads, where the Grand Final will be held for the very first time in March 2024.
2012 World Champion, Joel Parkinson joined World Tour athletes Liam O’Brien and India Robinson at the iconic headland to celebrate a new three-year deal with Tourism Events Queensland and Major Events Gold Coast.
Parkinson said: “I can’t imagine any better venue than Burleigh, the birthplace of Australian professional surfing.
“I love the pressure of it. I love seeing how they go under pressure in those heats whether it’s the women or the juniors and the masters. You get to see what clubs have that depth in their surfing.”
Yallingup, Trigg Point, Margaret River, Trigg Junior and Albany are vying for $3,000 in prize money and for two spots into the ABB Grand Final in March 2024.
Clubs will nominate a team of five of their best surfers including; 2x Open Males, 1x Open Female, 1x Over-35 Master (male or female) and 1x Under-18 Junior (male or female), who will compete in an exciting and dynamic ‘tag team’ format.
The defending event champions Yallingup, will spearhead an impressive field of regional clubs competing, with an exciting mix of youth and experience set to come together at Trigg Beach this Sunday.
Yallingup’s Matt Wiseman said: “The national final was a pretty awesome experience for our club, it was great to mix it up with all the top boardriders clubs from around Australia.
“We learned at lot last year and we think the key to success is keeping the same team, we took out the win last year and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Trigg Point also represented WA at last years Grand Final and will be looking to use their home ground advantage.
Trigg Point’s Luke Campbell said: “It was a really rad event to be a part of, it great to catch up with old friends and new ones from all over the country at the national final.
“We love this competition and we are always ready to go, especially on our local beach.”
Margaret River Boardriders Club will come into the event hungry for success after missing out on a spot in last years Grand Final.
Margaret River’s Jerome Forrest said: “The team is really excited compete this weekend we’ve got some amazing talent spread across the age groups.
“We’ve not done as well as we hoped the past couple of years, so we’re coming there to win.”
Trigg Junior Boardriders Club will field a younger but exciting group of surfers, while Albany Boardriders Club will make their ABB debut this weekend.
The Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle will kick off on Sunday morning at approx. 8:30am with finals concluding by the early afternoon. A good sized ground swell and favourable winds will provide the perfect setting for some epic surfing and enthralling battles for everyone that hits that water.
Previous results, images and video highlights HERE.
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.
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