Aloha surfboards has taken out the FCS Manufacturers Cup on the first day of the NSW South round of the Jim Beam Surftag in challenging one metre waves at Wanda beach today.

Led by a rampant Matt Bemrose who racked up the entire day's highest individual score of 28.4, the Aloha team of Zahn Foxton (24.3), Bemrose, Dan Karen (16.9) and former world top ten surfer and recovering cancer sufferer Richie Lovett (11.0) combined to total 80.6 points to defeat Stacey Surfboards (72.9), Chilli (72.5) and Warner (69.6).

The top three teams from the NSW South event progressed to the national Manufacturers Cup final.

The Manufacturers Cup, a competition for surfboard manufacturers, is run to a similar format to the Surftag series. Four man teams, made up of two factory employees and two team riders, have 45 minutes to each catch three waves in relay style.

Bemrose, a former Australian open champion, was undoubtedly the star of the final but after the final he heaped praise on his team mates.

"It's good to get a win, especially having a boss of sorts like Rich Lovett in the team," Bemrose said.

"Especially considering what Rich has done in surfing and coming back from illness.

"Aloha is a great company and surfing with the other guys that represent it, guys the calibre of Zahn, Dan and Rich is awesome."

While the Manufacturers Cup placegetters were decided, the opening seven heats of the Jim Beam Surftag event were also completed with Queenscliff and Werri Beach setting the early pace.

The Queenscliff ‘A' team amassed the day's highest score of 106.91 points with Luke Cheadle, Sam Page and Ben Hamilton all surfing brilliantly, while rising teenager Dean Bowen continued his white hot form as defending national champions Werri Beach won their heat with 101.7.

Surfing first for Werri in the relay style five man per team format, Bowen, 18, scored an impressive 22.6 to get his side off to a dream start, displaying the form that saw him score USD$25000 and a stunning victory in the world's richest junior surfing event on the Gold Coast on Australia Day.

Other clubs to win their opening round heat were reigning NSW title holders Bronte, Ulladulla, Dee Why, Long Reef and North Steyne.

Eight teams - or all the semi finalists - will qualify for the National final which is expected to witness a raft of elite ASP World Tour surfers including world champion Mick Fanning, world number two Joel Parkinson, Dean Morrison, Taj Burrow and Kai Otton along with numerous other top line competitors lining up for their beloved clubs.

Tomorrow's action will kick off at 8am with the final heat of the Jim Beam Surftag before quarter finals, semi finals and the all important final which is due to hit the water at 3pm.

The Surftag format sees five-member teams given an hour in which each individual must catch three waves, with the second being a "Powerwave" worth double points. All three waves for each surfer count in the scoring and bonus points are awarded for teams that finish before the 60 minute mark.

The 2010 Jim Beam Surftag Australian Series is proudly supported by FCS, Tracks, Swellnet, Sanyo, Beever and Global Surftag.