Torquay Boardriders have claimed the Jim Beam Surftag regional qualifying event at Jan Juc in Victoria, cementing their position in the national final next February.
The talent packed team of Nic Muscroft, Jack Perry, Troy Brooks, Cahill Bell-Warren and Peter Hughes were simply too good for six rival clubs from Victoria and South Australia.
In less than ideal 1m conditions, it was Torquay and their second team Torquay B who dominated early proceedings, both posting strong wins to reach the final. Posting a massive combined total of 106.02 in the decider, the Torquay A team easily outpointed Phillip Island on 84.54, Seaford on 78.43 and Torquay B on 55.71.
“We entered two teams for the first time this year and we both won out opening heats and made the final,” said standout Torquay club surfer Cahill Bell-Warren. “I guess I had a bit of a blinder in the final but all the boys surfed so well, everyone stuck to the plan, found some scores and managed not to fall off.”
“There has always been a pretty healthy rivalry between Torquay and the clubs from the East Coast but we were just really stoked to get past Phillip Island at the end.”
Bell-Warren set up the victory for the local team, his combined score of 28.83/40.00 the highest of the final.
“The waves were pretty standard for Jan Juc, pretty much just 3ft slop, but I guess we surf it like that everyday so we had the advantage,” he said. “Our club motto is go hard or go home and pretty sure we sent all the other clubs home today.”
Despite finishing runner up and third respectively today, Phillip Island along with Seaford Boardriders will join Torquay at the national final where they will have a shot at being crowned Australia’s premier boardriding club and a $15,000 winners cheque.
The first qualification round of the FCS Manufacturers Cup was also held at Jan Juc with Island Surfboards returning to the winner’s podium over Cory Surfboards. The final scores had Island 93.66 to Cory 72.76.
Phillip Island stalwart Glyndon Ringrose won a new digital video camera for the highest Sanyo Powerwave, a 9.30.
The Jim Beam Surftag National Series will take a short break over Christmas before heading west for the third qualifying event at Gas Bay Margaret River. From there it will roll on to Queensland and NSW South before wrapping up with the National Final at Avalon Beach, Sydney.
The 2011 Jim Beam Surftag is proudly supported by FCS, Sanyo and O’Neill. Media partners for the series are Swellnet and Tracks surfing magazine.
Jim Beam Surftag Australian Series – Victorian Qualification Results
1st Torquay
2nd Phillip Island
3rd Seaford
4th Torquay B
5th Seaview Road.
6th Peninsula
7th 13th Beach.
2010/11 Jim Beam Surftag Dates And Locations
Oct 15 Industry Challenge (Curl Curl) – (Winner – Quiksilver)
Oct 16 Trade Off (Curl Curl) – (Winner – Bondi Life Guards)
Nov 13 Women’s Surftag (Dee Why) – (Winner – Norah Head Women In Waves)
Dec 11 NSW North Surftag (Newcastle) – (Winner – North Shelley)
Dec 18 Victoria Surftag (Jan Juc) – (Winner – Torquay)
Jan 8 West Australia Surftag (TBC)
Jan 15 Queensland Surftag (Duranbah)
Jan 29/30 NSW South Surftag (Cronulla)
Feb 3/4/5 Surftag Australian Final (Northern Beaches, Sydney)
