CRONULLA will play host to the biggest names in Australian surfing when the national final for the Be The Influence Boardriders Battle is held at North Cronulla over the Australia Day weekend.
World champions Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore and Joel Parkinson are among the talent competing in what is to be the biggest surfing event in Cronulla since the Beaurepaires Open in 1985. See more in Surf Report with John Veage.
Sutherland Shire mayor Steve Simpson said the weekend was set to be one of the busiest weekends of the year for Cronulla.
‘‘Hosting the Australian Boardriders Battle at Cronulla is a major coup for the shire,’’ Councillor Simpson said.
‘‘Broadcast live on Fuel TV, channel 516 on Foxtel, to millions of viewers over the two days, the event will showcase our region.’’
Cronulla Chamber of Commerce president and surfing enthusiast, Mark Aprilovic, said it would be a fantastic weekend for the shire.
‘‘We’re happy to see it at Cronulla and it’s sure to be a very active beach,’’ Mr Aprilovic said.
‘‘We all like to see that for the local traders, with the natural beauty and the fantastic events, it is all happening in Cronulla.’’
Two free concerts will be held over the Australia Day weekend to coincide with the Boardriders Battle at Cronulla.
Each day of surfing will finish with a free concert at Dunningham Park featuring some of Australia’s top music acts including Calling All Cars, Sun City and Stonefield.
Cronulla Boardriders president Cameron Johnston said every Australian surfer on the World Championship Tour would be in Cronulla over the two days.
‘‘It is really exciting, especially for our young surfers,’’ Johnston said.
‘‘This is on the world stage and it will be great for the younger kids to show how good they are in front of the big guys.’’
Elouera Boardriders also made the finals having come second in the southern qualifying event at Stanwell Park on January 12.
Connor O’Leary set the bar high during the qualifiers, locking in a single wave score of 9.73 (out of a possible 10), the highest of the day.
The Be The Influence Australian Boardriders Battle national series is the biggest grassroots boardriders event in Australian surfing history.
The country’s best clubs will compete for over $100,000 in prize money.
‘‘The weekend promises to be an amazing showcase of some of the country’s best surfers,’’ Surfing Australia chief executive Andrew Stark said.
‘‘All the clubs around Australia have really gotten behind the national series and there will be plenty of great rivalries on show at Cronulla.’’
The event will be streamed live at australianboardridersbattle.com. It is supported by the Be the Influence - Tackling Binge Drinking initiative.
BATE BAY’S BEST
Two Bate Bay teams are among the 16 qualifying clubs in Australia.
As the hosts, Cronulla Boardriders were awarded a wildcard to the event by Surfing Australia.
Cronulla Boardriders president Cameron Johnston said that could work against them in the finals.
‘‘Other clubs are all fired up and ready to go but we’re going in cold.
‘‘But one of the reasons they held it here is because Cronulla has been so strong these past few years.’’
Former world champion Mark Occhilupo will compete for the Cronulla team which is coached by Matt Griggs, who last year led Mick Fanning to his third world title.
Griggs has backed his team and said they would be able to beat some of the best in the world.
‘‘Especially because it is our beach — if they can do it anywhere they can do it here,’’ Griggs said.
‘‘It is a pretty special time for surfers in Cronulla and I hope people come down and have a look and support the locals.’’
