Narrabeen rock Nathan ‘Noodles’ Webster backs his team 100%.
Sydney will host the Southern NSW event on the Jim Beam Surftag Australian Series calendar this weekend, with local Boardriders ‘North Narrabeen’ eager to qualify to the Australian Championships and defend their title.
The NSW coastline is a breeding ground for Australia’s best Boardriding clubs and Saturday 21st January will see North Steyne, North Narrabeen, Bronte, Sandon Point, Werri and a host of others take on defending NSW South champions Queenscliff for the coveted title.
“Everyone will be watching North Narrabeen this weekend as they will be hard to beat on their home break, they have won the National series four of the past five years but are yet to win a qualifying event”, said Global Surftag Director Steve Harrison.
“They are without Nathan Hedge and Davey Cathels this weekend, but still have a strong team amongst their ranks, defending champions Queenscliff and South Coast’s Ulladulla Boardriders are also missing a few key surfers”, said Harro.
Sam Wrench will be competing with fellow team mates from Ulladulla Boardriders. Pic: Renee Miller
Team Captain for North Narrabeen, Nathan ‘Noodles’ Webster, is confident his team will perform on their home break yet again and eagerly awaits the series which the Narrabeen community will host this weekend.
“One of the reasons we always do really well is we look at ourselves and what we do, not focus on other clubs and how they are going, we have a lot of depth within the club and I am confident the boys will make it through to the National finals”, said Noodles.
“Everyone is really proud of how the club performs, its not just the 5 guys on the team it’s the spectators, the families, it’s a real celebration for locals who surf at Narra every day”.
North Narrabeen Boardriders have gone from strength to strength, entering two teams this year along with Bondi, Long Reef, Werri Beach and Dee Why, to make it a two day mammoth event.
Luke Cheadle is surfing for defending event champions Queenscliff this weekend Pic: Renee Miller
“Guys like Christo Hall who has been a solid rock for the club and Chris Davidson inspire the locals to join up and surf for their local club, so the series is great for the community, it’s a real celebration of your surfing”, said Noodles.
With the Australian Championships in their sites, North Narrabeen are confident they will qualify and defend their title in Ballina on the 22nd and 23rd February.
A mammoth thirty clubs from the NSW South and Sydney Coast will compete in the tag team format, which pits teams of five surfers against each other in one-hour heats. Each surfer has 12 minutes to catch three scoring rides with their second wave score doubled as a ‘powerwave’.
The National series is Australia’s largest team surfing competition featuring a combined prize pool of over $130,000. The Jim Beam Surftag Australian Series provides a national competition for over 80 boardriding clubs to determine Australia’s No.1 club
The 2012 Jim Beam Surftag Australian Series is supported by FCS, Tracks and www.theperfectwave.com.au
The 2012 Jim Beam Surftag Australian Series is a supporter of Surfaid International www.surfaidinternational.org
2012 Jim Beam Surftag Schedule:
October 21 – Surf Industry Challenge – Winners – O’Neill
October 22 – Trade Off – Winners – The Labourers
November 19 – WA Championships – Winners – Trigg Point
December 3 – VIC Championships at Gunnamatta – Winners – Phillip Island
January 7 – NSW North Championships at Newcastle
January 14 – QLD – Winners – Snapper at Duranbah
January 21/22 – NSW South Championships at North Narrabeen
February 5 – Women’s Championships at Curl Curl
February 21 – Boardriders Cup at Ballina
February 22/23 – Australian Championships at Ballin
