Video of Phillip Island recapturing VIC Surftag Title

The Phillip Island boys were tickled pink with their win.

4 December 2011: In blustery conditions at Gunnamatta Beach Phillip Island Boardriders (92.53) have recaptured the Victoria Jim Beam Surftag Title with Carl Wright posting the highest score of the event during the one-hour final. Local club Peninsula Surfriders (75.8) finished second with South Australia’s South Coast Boardriders (74.49) third and Torquay (53.47) fourth.

With the top three teams qualifying to the Jim Beam Surftag Australian Championships last years Victoria JBS Champions Torquay Boardriders have missed out on qualifying with surprise packet South Coast Boardriders (SA) qualifying in their first year of the series.

The Phillip Island team of Stewart Campbell (16.34), Carl Wright (28.7), Glyndon Ringrose (22.63), Sandy Ryan (16.03) and Jarvis Cininas (4.83) opened up a big lead in the final after second surfer Carl Wright unleashed an aggressive combination of back hand manoeuvres on his powerwave to score 8.67 in the 1.5m onshore conditions. Wright backed up his powerwave with two solid scores to post a combined total of 28.7. With Ringrose and Ryan also scoring strongly the Phillip Island team cruised to victory with fifth surfer Jarvis Cininas securing 4 bonus points for finishing before the one-hour time limit.

Wright walked away from the event with a swag of prizes winning $200 for the best powerwave as well as a $1700 boat trip to the Maldives for the highest combined score of the event (3 wave total). Wright will join Margaret River’s Matt Baldock on the luxury boat with 4 further winner’s joining them from the remaining events in the JBS series.

Wright said, “Pretty stoked as the team really pulled together with the main focus being the team win, it’s a bonus to win the other prizes. It’s always good to win a team event as surfing is such an individual sport.”

Big scoring Phillip Island surfer Carl Wright in action.

For the Peninsula Surfriders the second place finish is their best result since winning the VIC Jim Beam Surftag back in 2003. Caiden Fowler (16.77), Hayden Forrest (12.4), Liam Jolly (19.96), Lachy McDonald (16.9) and Peter Watts (6.57) took advantage of their home break with the Gunnamatta rip bowls providing difficult conditions during the mid day low tide.

Competing for the first time in the series the South Coast Boardriders surprised everyone after narrowly advancing thru their opening heat finishing 1.83 ahead of Torquay’s B team and then comfortably finishing in second position in their semi final. The inexperienced team of Max Longhurst (20.0), Khai Adams (18.53), Phillipe Didelot (17.23), Alex Rix (12.1) and Grant Stocker (4.63) improved with each round after struggling early with their time management. First surfer Max Longhurst was the standout for South Coast scoring 15.87 and 18.6 in the earlier rounds.

South Coast President Aaron Woods said, “It was so worth the drive over, the boys surfed really well in rather difficult conditions. I think a few of the boys had to pinch themselves this morning to think we are going to the Nationals in February where the level of surfing is at it’s highest.”

After winning their opening two rounds Torquay had an unhappy final with last year’s standout Cahill Bell-Warren only able to score 8.7 early in the final and with Jack Perry (13.8) unable to find any waves with good scoring potential the Torquay team found themselves in fourth position from start to finish. A disappointed Bell-Warren said, “The boys are not used to surfing rip bowl conditions.”

VIC Jim Beam Surftag Results

1^st Phillip Island 92.53 $1500

2^nd Peninsula A 75.8 $700

3^rd South Coast (SA) 74.49 $600

4^th Torquay 53.47 $500

5^th Peninsula B

6^th 13^th Beach

7^th Torquay B

8^th Seaview Road (SA)

2012 Jim Beam Surftag Australian Championships Qualifiers

1. Trigg Point (WA)
2. Margaret River A (WA)
3. Margaret River B (WA)
4. Phillip Island (VIC)
5. Peninsula (VIC)
6. South Coast (SA)

The top 24 teams from around Australia will contest the Australian Championships.

2012 Jim Beam Surftag Australian Series 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 – Winners – Phillip Island

January 7 – NSW North Championships at Newcastle

January 14 – QLD Championships at Duranbah

January 21/22 – NSW South Championships at North Narrabeen

February 5 – Women’s Championships at Curl Curl

February 21 – Boardriders Cup – Venue TBC

February 22/23 – Australian Championships – Venue TBC

For all Jim Beam Surftag information visit www.globalsurftag.com

For live results follow www.facebook.com/surftag

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