BOARDRIDING –
The Wamberal Express Boardriders took to the surf at their home beach on Saturday, February 20, for their annual Tag Team Classic.
In a unique format, the Tag Team Classic groups competitors from the Boardriders’ different divisions into teams of five surfers with wave scores combining over hour-long heats that progress up to a final.
With an unusually high number of competitors and time per round, the format intends to provide unique challenges, including time management and a restricted wave count.
The swells aligned to form strong left-hand waves, producing infamous conditions at the break known as the ‘Wamberal Express’.
Competitors performed in the hollow surf with an exciting combination of both tube riding and high-performance manoeuvres.
A stand-out, individual performance was conducted by local surfboard shaper, Jai Baker, who scored highly with a combination of tube riding and carving manoeuvres.
His team, ‘The Meat’, advanced up to the semi-final, wherein Baker was unable to finish off a thrilling ride, losing control in the barrel.
Renowned local tube aficionado, Peter ‘the Huntsman’ Hayse, was also a standout, performing a critical floater to produce the highest scoring wave of the event, bringing his team, ‘Hayze’s Hedges and Edges’ to victory against ‘The Red Devils’ in the final.
“The older guys came up with a good strategy,” said Immogen Balfour on her team’s final winning performance.
“We made sure that we didn’t get too ahead of ourselves and finished our waves.”
Alongside giving surfers the opportunity to cement themselves in the local folklore of the ever-growing club, as well as earn prizes supplied by local surf shops, Ocean Haus and Slimes Boardstore, the competition is also used as training for external events.
The Boardriders have a history of success in inter-club competitions which use similar formats, such as their qualifying for the 2017 Surftag National Titles.
“It’s about giving the kids a different spin on competition and gives them good experience if they want to start surfing in external contests like state titles or pro-juniors,” said event organizer, Daniel Ross.
“It’s good preparation and development and gives them a path to getting involved in regular contests as well as giving them a different idea of competing.”
Source:
Media Release,
Kieran O’Doherty, Wamberal Express Boardriders