Gallery: North Shore Boardriders Win The Battle Of Burleigh

Last weekend, 42 boardriders clubs from around Australia assembled at Burleigh Heads for the finals of the Australian Boardriders Battle. On both days the surf hovered between three and five feet, clean in the mornings, bumpy in the afternoons, but always incredibly consistent. No heats were decided by a lack of waves which made for non-stop entertainment.

The final included North Shore, Torquay, Merewether, Snapper Rocks, North End, and Byron Bay, yet it turned into a three-way battles between North Shore, Torquay, and Merewether.

Merewether's Morgan Cibilic kicked off the final in style, posting an 8.50 to open their campaign strong. North Shore’s Sophie McCulloch answered back with a crucial 7.43, keeping her club firmly in the hunt.

Torquay's charge toward the title looked promising after standout surfer Tully Wylie dropped an 8.45, followed by Ellie Harrison’s sharp 7.28, which edged them into a narrow lead heading into the final ten minutes.

But it all came down to the final surfers. North Shore’s Alister Reginato delivered a clutch 5.88 under pressure, putting the club in the box seat as Torquay’s Xavier Huxtable and Merewether’s Morgan Cibilic launched their last efforts to hunt down the score. However, both fell just short.

As the final siren sounded and Cibilic slipped off his last wave, the North Shore club erupted on Burleigh Hill, securing their place at the top of Australian club surfing. The victory marks their second ABB Grand Final win.

North Shore Boardriders Club Power Surfer, Alister Reginato, spoke on what it felt like to win the event two times:

"It's wild, the first time was unbelievable but it's a little more special doing it here at Burleigh. This afternoon has been unbelievable, the team finally put a great heat together and everyone did amazing. The second time is pretty surreal!"

(All photos by Swilly)

More than mere surfing, ABB success is built upon time management and a quick sprint out of the blocks. Check the facial expressions on the start line.

Spectators turned out in force as the weather (mostly) co-operated.

North End Boardriders cheer on their team during the finals. The Queensland club came fifth.

Torquay's Ellie Harrison motion blur.

Ellie again, getting the tag during the final.

Hughie Vaughan (North Shelly) and Mikey McDonagh (Lennox Ballina) run the gauntlet of the Burleigh boulders.

Hughie had his own reason to despair - caught short on Hyundai Hill - but did some great surfing prior to that.

Commentator Vaughan Blakey has a quick interlude with Sheldon Simkus (Snapper Rocks).

With crucial time lost through running the event is closer to a biathlon.

The last stage of the run, Hyundai Hill - steeper than it looks apparently.

North Shore power surfer Alistair Reginato putting it away.

...and showering on the way in.

North Shore's Sophie McCulloch slicing.

Club celebrations (above and below).