Monday 2nd September 2024 – Manly, Sydney. North Narrabeen Boardriders have won the GYG Grommets SURFTAG by less than a point over defending champions Queenscliff at Sydney’s South Curl Curl Beach. Held in one-to-two-foot offshore waves, the fifty-minute final was decided by North Narrabeen’s last wave with fifth surfer Charlie McDermott scoring a 3.5 Powerwave to edge past Queenscliff by .92. Wollongong’s Scarborough Boardriders finished in third position with North Avalon fourth.

North Narra Juniors (Bernadette Johnson)

North Narrabeen’s team of Jaggar Phillips, Maitua Thomas, Ollie McKerrell, Cody Cattle and McDermott led the early stages of the four-team final with Queenscliff coming home strong to take the lead after some solid surfing from Saxon Goodwin, Hunter Sutcliffe and twins Jai & Benson Wineera. Queenscliff’s fifth surfer Ben Marshall secured three bonus points for finishing before the fifty-minute time limit to put QBC in the lead but a three-turn combination ride from McDermott and two bonus points was just enough to secure victory for North Narrabeen.

Jaggar Phillips (Bernadette Johnson)

RESULTS - 2024 GYG Grommets SURFTAG

• 1st – North Narrabeen – 57.57
• 2nd – Queenscliff – 56.65
• 3rd – Scarborough – 41.68
• 4th – North Avalon – 34.95
• 5th – Freshwater
• 5th – North Shelly
• 7th – Long Reef
• 7th – Mona Vale

North Narrabeen’s Jaggar Phillips won the Creatures of Leisure Highest Score in the Final Award posting a two-wave total of 20.23 that included a 9.23 Powerwave. “Felt pretty sick, stoked with the 9.23,” Phillips said. “Thanks to Matty Cattle for filming and coaching us the whole time and the team for doing a great job.” 

Ashton Mekisic (10.80) was Scarborough’s best on the day scoring an 8.17 & 8.83 in the early rounds with Kaoni Aguair (14.69) North Avalon’s highest scorer in the Final.

Due to a lack of waves on Sunday the GYG Junior SURFTAG was postponed with event organiser Steve Harrison looking to reschedule the event in the next few weeks, “Saturday 14th September could work well as the CARVE Eyewear Men’s SURFTAG is schedule for the Sunday which would result in a big weekend of SURFTAG,” Harrison said.

North Narrabeen sit on top of the Rankings after the first event of the Series with last year’s SURFTAG Champions Long Reef in 7th position. 

2024 SURFTAG SERIES RANKINGS

2024 SURFTAG SERIES Dates & Venues:

• 31st August – GYG JUNIOR SURFTAG – Grommets – Curl Curl Beach, Sydney
• TBC – GYG JUNIOR SURFTAG – Juniors – Dee Why Beach, Sydney
• 15th September – CARVE EYEWEAR MEN’S SURFTAG – Queenscliff Beach, Sydney
• 26th October – WOMEN’S SURFTAG – Queenscliff Beach, Sydney
• 27th October – MASTERS SURFTAG – Queenscliff Beach, Sydney

The 2024 SURFTAG SERIES is proudly supported by Guzman y Gomez, CARVE Eyewear, Dripping Wet Surf Shop, Creatures of Leisure, Swellnet, Tawny Frogmouth, Manly Rentals & Sydney Surf Daily.

For all SURFTAG SERIES information visit www.surftag.au 
For Social Media follow @surftagseries
For Live Scores visit www.liveheats.com/surftag