BOARDRIDERS clubs from Ulladulla to Bondi descended on Wollongong at the weekend for the 2020 surftag qualifiers - for a chance to compete at the Australian championships at Queenscliff Beach from April 4 to 5.
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The top four teams in each division - men's, women's and juniors - all booked their spots at the Manly event, which has a $20,000 prizemoney on offer for each category.
On Saturday, Ulladulla Boardriders won both the junior and women's divisions - with this year marking the first year they've contested the latter.
In the junior division, Luke O'Connell (20.73) and Beau Buckpitt (22.37) scored big for Ulladulla in excellent 1.5 metre waves at Wollongong's Coledale Beach.
The young Ulladulla team finished ahead of Sandon Point Boardriders by 1.63, which is another big result for the club as Sandon Point had won this event twice over the past three years.
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Rounding out the Ulladulla team were Jackson Grimshaw, Michael Diacomihalis and Tyler Ikin.
In the women's division, Keira Buckpitt (13.80) was the standout for Ulladulla scoring a 5.70 on her double-pointed powerwave.
The Ulladulla team changed their order in the final, putting Charli Tout as fifth surfer as she had earlier in the day injured her foot.
Tout still managed score strongly for Ulladulla, posting a 3.40 powerwave before struggling to run up the beach to secure two bonus points for finishing before the 50-minute time limit.
The Ulladulla Women's team, which also featured Katherine Turk, Jess Ikin and Nakita Hellman, were clear winners finishing ahead of a second-place Scarborough Boardriders by 9.5.
On Sunday, Ulladulla's men's team, containing Ben Buckpitt, Chad Elkins, Charlie Brophy, Adrian Hellman and Dave Perry, lost narrowly in the semi-finals by 1.27 and will be on top of the reserve list for a spot at the Australian Championships.
In the men's final, the Werri Beach Boardriders, headlined by Dean Bowen, Matt Gale, Zac Scott, Doug Chandler and Tully Robinson, ran out time with fifth surfer Tully Robinson only needing a 2.9 to claim victory but was unable to find a wave in the last minute.
Bronte Boardriders were massive underdogs going into the event and only decided to enter a team last minute.
Bronte was the only team to finish their 10 waves and received bonus points - going to show time management in tag team is just as crucial as scoring big.
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Courtney Ward
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
