Surfing Australia has announced that Cronulla will host the Original Source Australian Boardriders Battle — the country’s biggest grassroots, boardriders event series with $120,000 in prize money.
It will involve more than 100 of Australia’s best boardriders clubs in eight state qualifying rounds starting in October and ending in a two-day, national final for 20 clubs on January 24 and 25 at North Cronulla.
Club teams will battle it out in a women’s division, five-person teams division and a skins competition.
The national final will include a lucrative, winner-take-all, skins format in 12 heats with a $1000 jackpot in each heat.
The series is sanctioned officially by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) which allows Australian ASP World Championship Tour male and female surfers the chance to represent their local boardriders club at respective state qualifying events and the national final.
Snapper Rocks Surfriders are the defending champions and their coach and 1978 ASP world champion Wayne Bartholomew said the event was achieving iconic status.
Local club Elouera boardriders were the surprise package last year when they took on all comers and won the tag team event.
Connor O’Leary won the Wayne ‘‘Rabbit’’ Bartholomew medal for best male surfer.
Bartholomew presented the medal to O’Leary, Elouera’s team trophy and a $10,000 cheque.
In the 2015 national final at North Cronulla, there will be live broadcasts to huge screens on the beach and on FUEL TV nationally.
“As naming rights sponsor, Original Source is proud to be associated with a surfing event that supports at the grassroots level and helping to develop champion athletes in our local communities,’’ said the company’s managing director Rory Gration.
Original Source (shower gel products) Managing Director Rory Gration said: “As naming rights sponsor, Original Source is proud to be associated with a surfing event that supports at the grassroots level, helping to develop champion athletes in our local communities.
What do you think the event will do for Cronulla?
