The last eight teams have been decided for the Jim Beam Surftag Australian Championships with competition set to wrap up this afternoon. It’s been a whirlwind event so far with competition forced to relocate to Greenmount after Saturday’s horrific weather and giant seas. But Queensland turned on its classic conditions for finals day with 3 to 4 feet peaks grinding into Duranbah Beach, providing an ideal setting for an electric wrap up to the 2014 Jim Beam Surftag Australian Championships.
Semi-final number one will see North Narrabeen, Coolum, LeBa (Lennox Head & Ballina) and Bronte Boardriders contest for two positions in the final. North Narrabeen are hunting down their sixth Australian Championship and have come into the meet as Defending Champions. Bronte Boardriders are desperate to rectify a last-minute loss in 2013. LeBa are no strangers to the top spot having taken out the title in 2011 while Coolum are on a hot-streak with their best result to date.
Semi-final number two consists of local boys Duranbah Beach Boardriders up against Merewether Blue, Queenscliff and Avoca Boardriders. Despite only being formed five years ago, D-Bah have become an establish force in teams events while Merewether Blue are hunting down the trifecta after winning the Kirra Teams event two weeks ago and were awarded the Simon Anderson Boarderiders Cub of the Year. Queenscliff have been in scintillating form and top scored day one action and Avoca will be lead by WQS stand-out Wade Carmichael.
32 clubs arrived in Coolangatta on Thursday for three days of the best grassroots surfing. Local shredder Mitch Parkinson took out the Boardriders Cup on Thursday in junky 4 to 6 feet conditions at D-Bah. This specialty event sees every winner of each club’s competitive calendar year compete in individual competition. Parkinson went home with a massive $2000 courtesy of Jim Beam.
For the first time in Australian Championship history, the Tee Ink Tee Off was held. This speciality event saw the Man of the Match from the six Jim Beam Surftag Qualifiers compete in a 15-minute heat with each surfer only to catch one wave. James Wood (LeBa) looked to have the heat sewn up in the first 30 seconds locking in an 8.83 but someone forgot to tell Narrabeen’s Jordy Lawler. The young talent paddled out and after a series of critical backhand manoeuvres scored a 9.5 and won a $500 cheque.
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