Cronulla and Elouera qualify for National Titles

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Story by: John Veage

In a fitting result the two strongest Surfing Sutherland Shire Boardriders Clubs have qualified for the 2024 Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle final to be held at Burleigh Heads in March.
Cronulla Sharks and rivals Elouera both made the final in the last qualification contest at Kiama on Saturday, Cronulla just getting bragging rights finishing on the podium in third (24.74) with the Dunnies a close fourth (22.96).

Cronulla’s Club Champion Hayden Blair said it is great to be part of a solid and positive team.

“There were a few intense moments, but as a team we backed ourselves and we knew what it would take to get through,” he said.

“Looking forward to continuing this momentum all the way to the nationals finals.”

Scarborough Boardriders won the Kiama qualifier followed by Maroubra United, Cronulla Sharks and Elouera. Cronulla surfer Jordan Widenstrom said their first round victory set them up.

“We didn’t really put a complete heat together so we were lucky we didn’t have to surf the extra two rounds like Elouera.

“Anything can happen – our power surfer Jay Brown got us into the final.”

Elouera’s power surfer (they surf twice in a heat) Jarvis Earle was penalised for an interference in the first round which cost them a semi final berth and they had to do it the hard way but a world class surfer of his calibre can’t be discounted. An Elouera spokesman said it was a super fun day for the ABB Southern Qualifier.

“Team EBC and our support squad had a ball. We were stoked with our performance and to qualify for the National Finals in Burleigh Heads.”

The Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle is Australia’s biggest grassroots boardriders event and involves more than 70 of Australia’s best clubs.
Taking place across eight state qualifying rounds, clubs will come together at the national final to battle it out to become the series 11 Australian Champions with more than $115, 000 in total prize money up for grabs throughout the series.

Surfing Australia announced earlier that the Boardriders Battle Grand Final was moving from Newcastle to Burleigh Heads for the next three years, a world-famous point break on the Gold Coast.
Cronulla hosted the event for its first three years. Tourism Events Queensland and Major Events Gold Coast will host the Grand Final of the series on March 9-10, 2024.
The Elouera team consisted of Jarvis Earle, Joey Sear, Jared Hickel, April Davey, Jaya Wardana, Korbin Whyte and Mitch Warren.

The third placed Cronulla Sharks team of Jordan Widenstrom, Grace Gosby, Kash Brown, Hayden Blair and Jay Brown will be joined by Elouera at the Boardriders Battle final (inset) Elouera’s Jarvis Earle. Picture SNSW and McDonald.

Back to the future for Cronulla surfers

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Words and image by John Veage

Photo caption: Finalists Fletch Hayllar, Jordan Widenstrom, Charlie Chegwidden,- Matt Gall, Jay Brown and Zac McMartin with organiser Dan Larter.

Cronulla Sharks Boardriders club started 46 years ago when surfboards only had one or two fins and leg ropes were a new invention so it was back to the future last weekend when they ran their inaugural Cronulla Retro Competition.

There was only one rule, all surfers had to ride a pre-1985 surfboard.

In 1978 when they first put on a club singlet Australia’s Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew was the men’s world champion and Hawaii’s Lynn Boyer the women’s and the great Mark Richards was just about to go on his three world championship run riding his twin fin.

Unsurprisingly the twin fin featured heavily on the weekend with five of the six finalists choosing to ride one. Fletch Hayllar was the lone single fin surfer riding a M’Coy classic single.

With the help of sponsor RB99 who ran the BBQ and Hairyman Brewery Dan Larter event organiser said $1500 dollars was raised to put surfers through a Mental Health First Aid course.

Event Winner: Jay Brown – Photo: J Veage.

It was an open event but it was two Cronulla club champions who fought it out in the one meter waves at the North Cronulla Alley, with Jay Brown just edging out Jordan Widenstrom for the cash and getting first plaque on the perpetual trophy.

Photo: John Veage

Old surfers stand up

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Caption: Surfing Sutherland Shire Director Ian Spencer was dominant in the first O45 heat of the day in good waves at the Alley. Picture John Veage

The Volkswagen Cronulla Surf Masters Event was back in a big way this year, surfing at North Cronulla Beach for a day of action and activities.

Although the weather held its part of the bargain the competitors faced challenging conditions as the wind progressively picked up heat after heat until the final buzzer went off.

Conditions sat around the 3 ft mark early with the occasional good peak rolling through for competitors patiently sitting in the right spot at the right time.

The annual Volkswagen Surf Masters event continues to provide men and women aged 28 years and above with a competitive event against mates, and this year, the event held six divisions from O28 men and women, through to over 65 year old’s, reminding spectators that age is just a number.

In the 28’s Cronulla Boardriders champion Jordan Widenstrom kept the locals flag flying taking first in heat one with a total combination score of 11.00, and beating his own score in the final with a 14.00.

Widenstrom the defending champion said as the wind picked up it was hard to catch a decent wave and his local knowledge kept him going right and not catching the harder to score lefts.

In the O65’s Colum O’Leary might have finished third but he guessed how many chocolates Matt Callaghan Property had in a jar and took home a Mick Fanning soft board.

In the over 55 men, David Hammond dominated heats’ one and two before being dubbed champion whilst stand out over 28 women’s champion Talina Wilson took out her final against competitor Anna Martin.

Older surfers get on board

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Words and Image: John Veage:

The Volkswagen Surfmasters Cronulla is back on the Bate Bay beaches this October 21, supported by Cronulla RSL for an epic day of competition.

The one-day event will see over 70 of NSW’s best shortboarders aged over 28 compete.

The annual event showcases the states talent-pool of masters surfers and is highly regarded by former professionals to local grassroots legends who are drawn to the Sutherland Shire to compete each year. Although, the surfing is just the beginning! With on-site activations and giveaways occurring throughout the day, the Volkswagen Cronulla Surf Masters is an event for everyone.

First held in 2010 to foster the passion and healthy lifestyle associated with surfing for over 28-year-olds, the partnership between Volkswagon and Surfing NSW has remained strong.
The event will see five age divisions being contested with the O-28 Men and Women, O-35 Men, O-45 Men and Women and O-55 and 65 Men competing.

Kash is King

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Cronulla Boardriders Club junior champion Kash Brown has been crowned the U16 winner at finals day of the 2023 Rip Curl Search at Merewether Beach, Newcastle on Sunday.

Brown was the only Surfing Sutherland Shire finalist but his clubmates Grace Gosby and Sonny Leong both made the semi finals of the prestigious junior event in their age divisions.

In the U16 girls NSW champion Gosby had the top score of a 7 but fell short by .03 and only needed a 3.43 to actually win.

A busy Brown dominated his final scoring two 8 plus rides and comboing the entire finals field.

The Rip Curl GromSearch series began as a single day event in 1999 and has developed into a world-wide series providing groms with the opportunity to surf and test their skills against the best junior talent in their country.

National Final competitors will be selected from the 2023 GromSearch events, with the top three competitors from each location guaranteed automatic entry.