HOBART/TASMANIA (Saturday, October 26th, 2024): After several years in the wilderness, North East Boardriders Club today returned to the winner’s circle, beating rivals South Arm Boardriders Club on their home turf in this year’s Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle state qualifier.
Andy and Mel Hoult, Dustin and Sunny Hollick, and Benn Richardson worked together to complete the job for the East Coast at Rebounds on the South Arm Peninsular.
“We’ve got no shortage of talent on the East Coast but we struggle to put competitive events on because everyone just surfs for the love of it. It’s great that we could get a team together and show what we are capable of today when we get the chance to compete!” said Andy Hoult.
Despite some heroics from Marti Paradisis, who scored a 9.5-point tube ride for South Arm earlier in the day, the consistency of North East’s athletes proved the difference in the final. Benn Richardson (7-point ride) and Dustin Hollick (6-point ride) set the team up for victory.
With the final result still up for grabs, young gun Cowan Duncan could have thrown a spanner in the works with two minutes left in the final had he been able to access a set wave. The Park Beach Boardriders Junior only needed a 6.01-point ride to relegate South Arm to third.
South Arm Club Legend Luke Johannesen was stoked to see East Coast qualify for the Grand final in Burleigh, to be contested early in 2025.
“It’s great to see East Coast field a team and go on to win the event! Having all four of our premiere clubs battle it out is only doing good things for the level of surfing in Tasmania. Congrats to them, and we look forward to representing Tasmania alongside them at the Grand Final next year up in Burleigh,” said Johannesen at the presentations on the beach.
FINAL STANDINGS
North East Boardriders 1st
South Arm Boardriders 2nd
Park Beach Boardriders 3rd
North West Boardriders 4th
The Jim Beam Club Spirit Award – South Arm Boardriders
Oakley Prizm Performer Award – Cowan Duncan ( Park Beach Boardriders)
Boost Mobile Wave of the Day – Marti Paradisis
Surfing Australia last year expanded the Grand Final format to include 42 boardrider clubs (previously 24) from across Australia, with more than $115, 000 in total prize money up for grabs throughout the series.
The Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Series is proudly supported by naming partner Hyundai and support partners Jim Beam, ACCIONA, Ruffie Rustic Foods, BC™ Protein Snacks, Kennards Hire, Oakley, Dometic, Boost Mobile, Blackroll and Surfers for Climate.
The Hyundai ABB Gold Coast Grand Final is supported by Experience Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
For more information, please visit australianboardridersbattle.com.
2024/25 Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Series 12:
Event 1 – ABB WA – 14th Sept – Trigg Beach, WA
Event 2 – ABB VIC – 6th Oct – Phillip Island, VIC
Event 3 – ABB QLD -12th Oct – Sunshine Coast, QLD
Event 4 – ABB South Aus – 19th Oct – Fleurieu Peninsula, SA
Event 5 – ABB Tas – 26th Oct – TBA, TAS
Event 6 – ABB NSW South – 2nd Nov – Wollongong, NSW
Event 7 – ABB NSW Central – 9th Nov – North Narrabeen, NSW
Event 8 – ABB NSW North – 26th Sept – Coffs Harbour, NSW
Grand Final – 8th – 9th Mar – Burleigh Heads, QLD (entry by qualification)
About Australian Boardrider Clubs:
There are more than 230 boardrider clubs across the country, where members gather regularly, often monthly, to organise grassroots competitions at world-class waves such as Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast. 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.
