Coffs Harbour Boardriders have defeated Snapper Rocks, Burleigh Heads and D’Bah to take out the third and final qualifying event of the Sailor Jerry Surftag in pumping conditions at Duranbah Beach.

Madison Williams surfing for Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour posted 91.37 in the final that included a two-wave combination of 25.03 by Madison Williams. Snapper Rocks Surfriders came home strong courtesy of an 8.2-point ride from Quinn Bruce to finish on 87.17 with Burleigh Heads finishing third on 78.79 and D’Bah fourth on 49.76.

The Coffs Harbour team of Jayke Sharp (17.1), Shaun Cansdell (14.17), Billy Kean (12.87), Madison Williams (25.03) and Lee Winkler (18.2) finished on top of a red-hot field beating the Gold Coast’s best Boardriding Clubs in their own backyard. The trip north began as a real adventure for the Mid North Coast team with roads closed either side of the Tweed River due to flooding from Cyclone Debbie.

Stranded in Casuarina on Friday night and not sure if they would be able to make their opening heat on Saturday morning, team captain Winkler considered driving ten hours around the flooded region via the Gwydir Highway. With Northbound roads opened on Saturday morning and event organisers delaying the start of competition for Kingscliff, Cabarita, and Coffs Harbour to arrive, the three teams from south of the Tweed were greeted with pumping 3 to 4 foot offshore waves.

Connor Lyons, Noosa Boardriders

Winkler played a massive roll in their Semi Final win against Burleigh Heads, Noosa and the D’Bah Dregs with the stocky natural footer scoring an 8.73 on his Powerwave (double points) for a long tube ride on his last wave. “Such an epic event that was surfed in some classic D’Bah conditions,” Winkler said. “Super stoked to win the Gold Coast leg of the Sailor Jerry Surftag over a bunch of Australia’s best Clubs. After being stuck in Northern NSW and being redirected all over the place it was an amazing weekend that unfolded for our club and we will celebrate with members on our return home. Pumped for the National Final at North Narrabeen in May.”

With the top 8 Men’s teams qualifying to the Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Championships, Coffs Harbour, Snapper Rocks, Burleigh Heads and D’Bah will be joined by Noosa, Kingscliff, North End and D’Bah Dregs on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in May.

Bottle Thompson, Burleigh Boardriders

In the Women’s Division D’Bah Boardriders continued their dominance with a massive win over North End Boardriders 78.01 to 13.74. It was the first time North End and third place Alley Boardriders had competed in the Women’s Division of the Sailor Jerry Surftag with all three teams qualifying to the Australian Championships. D’Bah’s team of Tahlija Redgard, Freya Prumm, Grace Styman-Lane, Brodie and Amiya Doyle will go to Sydney looking for their third straight Australian Title.

Freya Prumm for D'Bah

Freya Prumm was the standout for D’Bah scoring 21.17 in the final that included a perfect ten-point ride on her Powerwave. “It was epic to score my first ten in my career at this event, especially in pumping waves,” Prumm said. “The wave itself was so rippable, I am fairly sure most of the chicks would have got the same score, it’s something I’ll never forget. Teams events are so fun but you definitely feel some weight because you don’t want to let anyone else down. Sharing the win with friends in great conditions, then being offered free pizza is about as good as it gets for me. Cheers to Sailor Jerry and all involved in putting on such an epic weekend. Yeahh D’Bah.”

Snapper Rocks young gun Mitch Parkinson won the Sailor Jerry Powerwave Award for a 9.77 in Round 1.

Results 2017 Sailor Jerry Surftag Gold Coast Qualifier

Men’s Women’s

1. Coffs Harbour 91.37 1st – D’Bah 78.01
2.  Snapper Rocks 87.17 2nd – North End 13.74
3. Burleigh Heads 78.79 3rd – Alley
4. D’Bah 49.76
5. Noosa
6. Kingscliff
7. D’Bah Dregs
8. North End
9. Snapper Rocks Orange
10. Palm Beach
11. Cabarita
12. Alley
13. Kirra
14. MNM
15. Windansea

The 2017 Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Series will include Qualifying events at Cronulla, Newcastle and the Gold Coast with the Australian Championships being held on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, 13 & 14 May. Total Series prize money is $60,000 with the Men’s Australian Champions receiving $10,000 and the Women’s Champions $5,000.

2017 Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Series

• 4/5 March – Cronulla (Area - Bondi to Ulladulla)
• 25/26 March – Newcastle (Area – North Steyne to Port Macquarie)
• 1/2 April – Gold Coast (Area – Coffs Harbour to Noosa)
• 13/14 May – Australian Championships – Northern Beaches, Sydney

(Includes Trials for VIC, TAS, SA & WA Clubs)

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