Snapper Rocks Surfriders have taken out the Perfect Wave Travel QLD & Northern NSW Gromtag Qualifier at Duranbah Beach in clean two-foot peaky conditions.

The Junior Snapper Rocks (73.07) team finished strong to take the Inaugural Gromtag Title with Burleigh Heads (61.87) finishing runners-up ahead of the Sunshine Coasts North Shore Boardriders (52.47) and D’Bah (50.30).

Thomas Carvalho (15.50), Kai Tander (16.07), Dexter Muskens (13.33), Jagger Bartholomew (12.30) and Josh Boyle (11.87) had plenty of experience in their corner with 1978 World Champion Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew coaching the young Snapper Rocks team on the day. Bartholomew shuffled the team order a few times during the earlier rounds and came up with the winning combination when it mattered most.

Snapper Rocks juniors take the win (Adrenalin Shots)

Eighteen-year-old Dexter Muskens rattled off multiple backhand snaps on his two waves in the fifty-minute final and relished the opportunity to represent Snapper Rocks, “I really enjoy surfing for Snapper and the Gromtag format is a lot of fun”, Muskens said. “It’s great the Gromtag Series has expanded and good to see all the different Boardriding Clubs competing and having a go. We are really looking forward to the Australian Championships in Sydney and it would be so awesome to win the Title”.

All four teams in the final had their chances to finish on top but it was Snapper’s fourth and fifth surfers Jagger Bartholomew and Josh Boyle who found the better waves and kept the good scores coming through for Snapper Rocks.

North Shore’s Alister Reginato was one of the standouts of the event executing powerful major maneuvers in the small punchy conditions. The stylish natural footer posted the highest two wave total in the final – 17.43, winning a Wireless Bose Speaker.

Mikey McDonagh surfing for LeBa (Adrenalin Shots)

Burleigh Heads, North Shore and D’Bah will also be heading to Sydney for the Australian Championships and will line up against Curl Curl, North Shelly, North Avalon, Long Reef and the top four teams from the Triple Bull Cronulla Gromtag Qualifier being held Saturday 10th November.

LeBa, Windansea, Kingscliff and Palm Beach Boardriders all survived the repechage round at Duranbah but were eliminated in the semi finals and will be hoping for a reserve spot at the Gromtag Australian Championships.

2018 Perfect Wave Travel QLD & Northern NSW Gromtag results:

• 1st Snapper Rocks 73.07
• 2nd Burleigh Heads 61.87
• 3rd North Shore 52.47
• 4th D’Bah 50.30
• 5th LeBa
• 6th Windansea
• 7th Kingscliff ‘A”
• 8th Palm Beach
• 9th Kirra
• 10th Kingscliff “1”
• 11th North End
• 12th Cabarita

2018 Gromtag Australian Series:

1. Beach Burrito Northern Beaches Gromtag

   Sunday 21st October, Dee Why Beach, Sydney

2. Perfect Wave Travel QLD & Northern NSW Gromtag

    Saturday 27th October, Duranbah Beach, Tweed Heads

3. Triple Bull Cronulla Gromtag

    Saturday 10th November, North Cronulla Beach, Sydney

4. Gromtag Australian Championships & Trials

    Saturday 24th November, Curl Curl Beach, Sydney

For The Perfect Wave Travel QLD & Northern NSW Gromtag heat draw, highlight video and photo’s please visit www.facebook.com/gromtagaustralianseries

The 2018 Gromtag Australian Series is proudly supported by Beach Burrito Company, The Perfect Wave Travel, Triple Bull Surf Cronulla, Joistik Surfboards, Bose, Wicks Surf, and  Swellnet.