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Snapper Rocks’ Title Under Threat In Dramatic Day At Original Source Australian Boardriders Battle At Cronulla

24/01/2015

World Surf League

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Caption: Nathan Hedge was one of the day's standout performers, pocketing plenty of points for his North Narrabeen boardriders club. Credit. WSL/Will H-S (Click here to download hi-res image)


Snapper Rocks’ Title Under Threat In Dramatic Day At Original Source Australian Boardriders Battle At Cronulla

CRONULLA/NSW (24th January, 2015) - Defending champions Snapper Rocks Surfriders are facing a major challenge to their title after a dramatic Day 1 of the Original Source Australian Boardriders Battle National Final at Cronulla.

Snapper is in a fierce battle with a pack of heavyweight clubs including North Narrabeen and Merewether. The newest club at the event, Culburra Boardriders from southern NSW, is also in contention despite a day of drama for their star female surfer Tyler Wright.

Caption: Screen grab of video of Tyler Wright on the rocks in Cronulla.

In a punchy 3-4ft swell with a punishing shore break, the World No.2 put her body on the line for her club when she went left at Alley Reef, but came off and was washed over the rocks, through the chain fence and into the ocean pool. As she attempted to get her board she was forced to jump from the pool wall back into the surf, only to be washed back over the chain and into the pool again. Her brother and fellow World Surf League competitor Owen was first to reach and comfort his sister. Wright was treated by the event medical team and taken to hospital in a stable condition for precautionary checks.

The incident was part a dramatic heat where club teams of five compete in a relay-style event. Wright had earlier won her individual women’s heat to put Culburra in a strong position on the overall points ladder.

The Original Source Australian Boardriders Battle is the country's biggest grassroots, boardriders event series with $120,000 in prize money. It involved Australia's best boardriders clubs in eight State qualifying rounds starting last October and culminating in this weekend’s, two-day National Final.

Each club team includes one junior (Under 18) surfer, four Open age surfers, and one over 35 surfer. Each team must include one female surfer. An exciting event format has teams battle it out in a women's division, five-person teams' division and a skins competition.

Caption: Bronte Macaulay putting points on the board for Margaret River Boardriders. Credit. WSL/Will H-S (Click here to download hi-res image)

Earlier, former World Surf League World Tour competitor Nathan Hedge ensured Sydney club North Narrabeen would enter Day 2 in a strong position after winning three men’s skins heats. Hedge not only ensured his club looms as a major threat on Sunday, but also won $3000 for the club coffers.

2012 World Champion Joel Parkinson won two skins and $2000 to keep Snapper Rocks on track, while one skins win by Merewether’s Ryan Callinan and team-mate Philippa Anderson in her women’s heat has the Newcastle club in a strong position.

For full results head to www.australianboardridersbattle.com.
 
The Original Source Australian Boardriders Battle is proudly supported by naming rights partner Original Source and major support partners in Toyota, Nikon, Oakley, Boost Mobile, Sutherland Shire Council, Milwaukee, FCS, Surfing Life, and Fox Sports. The series is officially sanctioned by the World Surf League, which allows Australian WSL World Tour surfers (men and women) the opportunity to represent their local boardriders club at respective State qualifying events and the National Final.
 
In total $120,000 is up for grabs across the entire National Series including the National Final. There is $33,000 available across the eight State qualifying events, while $87,000 will be on offer at the National Final. The winning boardriders club will receive $20,000, while $42,000 will be split between the clubs finishing second to 20th.
 
About the World Surf League
The World Surf League (WSL) organizes the annual tour of professional surf competitions and broadcasts each event live at WorldSurfLeague.com where you can experience the athleticism, drama and adventure of competitive surfing -- anywhere and anytime it’s on. The WSL sanctions and operates the following tours: the Junior Tour, Longboard Tour, the Qualifying Series (QS), the Big Wave Tour and the crown jewel of the sport, the WSL Championship Tour (CT) which determines the sport's undisputed world champions. The organization is headquartered in Santa Monica, California with Commercial Offices in New York. The offices are supported by regional centers in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America and South America.

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