Wildcard Clubs Set To Bring The Blow Torch To nudie Australian Boardriders Battle Final

NEWCASTLE/NSW(April 15th/2021):Twenty four of Australia’s best Boardrider Clubs are set to explode into action at Newcastle Main Beach on May 15th and 16th as the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle Series National Final lands in the steel city.

Five top tier wildcard clubs will join eighteen qualified clubs and the nudie Trials Winning club over two days of crazy surfing action to be broadcast live on FoxSports and Surfing Australia’s media platforms.

Former Champions North Narrabeen Boardriders Club will also look to shake up the competition, led by the ultimate club competitor Nathan ‘The Hog’ Hedge.

Nathan Hedge said: “ There’s nothing better in the world of team surfing than the nudie ABB Final. We’ve won it before and we can definitely win it again! We won’t die wondering as a wildcard club, expect us to come all guns blazing.” 

One club always in the mix, and hungry for their first national title is North Stradbroke Island’s Point Lookout Boardriders Club, led by former WSL World number two and triple crown champion Bede Durbidge.

Durbidge said: “ We always rate ourselves every chance of winning the big show in Newcastle. Our team is a strong one with the likes of Timmy Macdonald and Lincoln Taylor joining forces with the Jenner’s (Zane and Ash) and Stacey Baxter. The last couple of years we have looked really good and just pulled up short in a few critical heats, so if we get it right I think we can be there for the final heat on the Sunday.”  

Kobie Enright is weary of the wildcard threat and will lead the way for qualifiers and two-time champions Snapper Rocks Surfriders in 2021.

Enright, on a run of WSL QS results, said: “ There’s so much talent in those wildcard club team lists. Every one of them can potentially play spoiler over the weekend so we won’t be taking anyone lightly at all. When you have former event winners in as wildcards, it’s always alarm bells.”

nudie Australian Boardriders Battle National Final WildcardClubs: 

NORTH SHELLY BOARDRIDERS

NORTH NARRABEEN BOARDRIDERS CLUB

POINT LOOKOUT BOARDRIDERS CLUB

TORQUAY BOARDRIDERS CLUB

ELOUERA BOARDRIDERS CLUB

nudie TRIALS WINNER

nudie Australian Boardriders Battle National Final Qualified Clubs:

NORTH SHORE BOARDRIDERS CLUB

SNAPPER ROCKS SURFRIDERS CLUB

NOOSA BOARDRIDERS CLUB

BURLEIGH HEADS BOARDRIDERS

MEREWETHER SURFBOARD CLUB

AVOCA BOARDRIDERS

LONG REEF BOARDRIDERS CLUB

LE-BA BOARDRIDERS

COFFS HARBOUR BOARDRIDERS

KINGSCLIFF BOARDRIDERS CLUB

SCARBOROUGH BOARDRIDERS CLUB

BONDI BOARDRIDERS

MAROUBRA UNITED BOARDRIDERS

TRIGG POINT BOARDRIDERS

SEAFORD BOARDRIDERS

SOUTHARM BOARDRIDERS

PHILLIP ISLAND BOARDRIDERS CLUB

PENINSULA SURFRIDERS CLUB

For more head over to www.australianboardridersbattle.com​

nudieAustralianBoardriders Battle Series Eight Schedule:

ABB – EVENT 1 – Gold Coast, QLD – August 22, 2020

ABB – EVENT 2 – Fleurieu Peninsula, SA – Sept 5, 2020 

ABB – EVENT 3 – Trigg, WA – Sept 19, 2020

ABB – EVENT 4 – Clifton Beach TAS – Oct 3, 2020

ABB – EVENT 5 – NSW Sth – Kiama, NSW – Nov 21, 2020

ABB – EVENT 6 – NSW Nth – Coffs Harbour, NSW – Nov 28, 2020

ABB – EVENT 7 – NSW Central – North Narrabeen, NSW – Dec 12, 2020

ABB – EVENT 8 – Phillip Island, VIC – Jan 30, 2021

ABB – National Final – Newcastle, NSW – May 15th-16th, 2021

Now in its eighth season, the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle is the country’s biggest grassroots boardriders event, involving more than 60 of Australia’s best boardrider clubs and $112,700 in prize money.

Adding to the high stakes at the State qualifying events will be two speciality awards. The Oakley Prizm Performer will be awarded to the standout surfer, while the Surfing Australia Innovation Award ($1000) will be presented to the surfer who performs the most innovative manoeuvre.

Other Awards at the National Final include: 

 Hyundai Electric Air Show – $1000

 Surfing Australia Club Spirit Award – $1500

Woolworths Fresh Wave Award – $500

Hyundai ‘She’s Electric’ Award

Layne Beachley Medal

Wayne Rabbit Batholomew Medal

NOTE: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation and Surfing Australia’s commitment to comply with all State and Federal regulations, series dates are subject to change at any time. 

The 2020/21 nudie Australian Boardriders Battle is proudly supported by nudie, Oakley, Woolworths, Hyundai, Destination NSW, City of Newcastle, ACCIONA 2XP, Surfrider Foundation, mySURFtv and Surfing Australia.