A stacked field of surfers are ready to take to the water in the NSW Far North Coast Jim Beam Surftag Series.

It's the first time in the event’s 13-year history the Far North Coast has hosted a Jim Beam Surftag qualifying event. When the north coast venue was announced, thoughts of the long reeling rights of Lennox Head were hoped for. Instead, with a less than epic forecast, all eyes will be at north wall Ballina where clean two-foot walls are expected to be on offer.

The waves will allow the likes of Garrett Parkes (Byron Bay), Chippa Wilson (Cabarita) and James Woods (LeBa) to take to the skies, while the old guard of Lee Winkler (Coffs Harbour), Danny Wills (Byron Bay) and Shaun Cansdell (Coffs Harbour) will own the pocket and give everyone flashbacks of why they were once recognised as some of the best 32 surfers on the face of the planet.

There will be a few notable omissions from favourites, LeBa. With rules not allowing for current ‘CT surfers to surf in this series, the former Australian Title holders will be without Adam Melling and Owen Wright. There’s also a big question over Stu Kennedy who’s nursing fractured ribs after airing into the flats recently.

He hasn’t surfed since his accident, and will be given to the very last minute to prove his fitness. Kennedy said of his injury, “I don’t really know what happened, I did an air and landed in the flats and it got me. I’m not 100 per cent sure at the moment [whether he will surf on the weekend].”

Other clubs sure to shine are Cabarita led by one of the world’s most gifted and technical surfers in Chippa Wilson. Chippa was nearly resigned to a life of swinging a hammer for his old man, until a few web edits saw his air exploits get worldwide attention. Now he’s viewed as one of the most progressive surfers of his generation.

All bets are off when Chippa starts airing it out with his above the lip escapades. And in the two-foot ramps, he could single-handedly win it for Cabarita.

Swellnet’s choice as the team to beat is Coffs Harbour, from, well … Coffs Harbour. Retired World Tour surfer Lee Winkler rides into battle with another former tour surfer, goofyfoot Shaun Cansdell.

Current World Champ, Mick Fanning calls Cansdell, now a shaper for his own brand, “the most underrated surfer in the world.”

With that kind of praise, any team with Cansdell in it is a threat.

Winkler said about Coffs, “A few of us have all retired from our competitive careers and we’re all back in town together so we’re forming a stronger relationship between each other through the boardriders.”

Coffs are a brand new team to Surftag and with a 200 strong club membership, Swellnet aren’t the only people with an eye on them as a dark horse.

With injured Stu Kennedy, adding, “Newcomers to Surftag like Coffs Harbour could be surprise packages having never seen them compete before.”

Other teams include, Byron Bay, New Brighton, Kingscliff, while organisers are awaiting confirmation from Angourie, Sawtell and Woolgoolga.

The northern NSW coast is long overdue to host a qualifier for the Jim Beam series. Along with Coolangatta, there is perhaps no other stretch of coastline in Australia giving birth to more potential tour surfers and possible world title winners. LeBa’s Australian Club Title is testament to the Far North Coast’s pedigree.

With the Jim Beam Surftag series hitting Ballina, the rest of Australia will catch a glimpse of a new generation of ripping North Coast surfers, while also getting a reminder of the older guys who have already shown the way. //CRAIG BRAITHWAITE