Dave Macauley will compete for Margaret River in the Jim Beam Surftag this weekend.
JIM BEAM SURFTAG HEADS TO WEST AUSTRALIA
The best boardriding clubs from around West Australia will be on show this Saturday as the Jim Beam Surftag Australian Series rolls into Margaret River.
The series provides a national competition for over 70 boardriding clubs, who will fight it out to determine Australia's No.1 club. It is Australia's largest team surfing competition, featuring a combined prize pool of over $130,000 and a $15,000 payday to the winning club.
Encompassing five regional qualifying events in Cronulla, Newcastle, South West Western Australia, Torquay and the Gold Coast, clubs who progress under the allotted positions are eligible to compete in the Surftag Series decider to be held in Sydney in February 2011.
The West Australian Qualifying event has attracted clubs from Margaret River, Yallingup, Cottesloe, Scarborough, Contacio, Trigg and Geraldton, with the top three eligible for the series final. Yallingup and Margaret River have dominated the event over the past eight years with no other club ever having progressed to the national stage.
After seven years being held in the Yallingup area this weekends event will be staged in Margaret River for the first time, scheduled for Gas Bay. With a healthy rivalry between the two South West clubs Margaret River club surfer Brett Hardy is confident his club can make it two from two.
“I think we are looking good for a win, Gas is a very tricky wave so the local knowledge here will prove beneficial,” said Hardy. “We are entering two teams and I think we can go one and two for sure, the talent pool in the Margs club is pretty deep.”
“Yallingup has been the major competitive rival for Margs in the last few years and 2011 shall be no different,” he said. “Trigg Point have dominated the teams event in Perth for the last few years but have yet to show their prowess in decent waves down south, they could be a dark horse.”
Their chances have also been bolstered by the withdrawal of Yallingup world tour surfer Taj Burrow.
“It’s all about doing enough to get to the national final,” said Yallingup manager Shaun Wright. “It sucks for us not being at Yalls because we don’t go down to Margaret River too often, but sometimes you just have to cross the border and get it done.”
“Even though Taj is away we still have a strong team,” he said. “Jay Davies is home, Zac Ogram will surf, and we have a huge list of solid guys to choose from.”
“The Margies boy’s won’t have it all their own way that’s for sure.”
The second round of the FSC Manufacturers Cup will also be staged during this weekend with Nathan Rose surfboards up against Dave Macauley surfboards. The Manufacturers Cup pits the countries best shapers against each other for national bragging rights.
Following the West Australian event, the Jim Beam Surftag will move to Queensland and Cronulla through January for the final two regional qualifiers.
The 2011 Jim Beam Surftag is proudly supported by FCS, Sanyo and O’Neill. Media partners for the series are Swellnet and Tracks surfing magazine.
WA Regional Qualifier Teams
1. Margaret River 1
2. Margaret River 2
3. Yallingup
4. City Beach
5. Cottesloe
6. Scarborough
7. Contacio
8. Trigg
9. Geraldton
2010/11 Jim Beam Surftag Dates And Locations
Oct 15 Industry Challenge (Curl Curl) - (Winner – Quiksilver)
Oct 16 Trade Off (Curl Curl) - (Winner – Bondi Life Guards)
Nov 13 Women’s Surftag (Dee Why) - (Winner – Norah Head Women In Waves)
Dec 11 NSW North Surftag (Newcastle) - (Winner – North Shelley)
Dec 18 Victoria Surftag (Jan Juc) - (Winner – Torquay)
Jan 8 West Australia Surftag (Gas Bay)
Jan 15 Queensland Surftag (Duranbah)
Jan 29/30 NSW South Surftag (Cronulla)
Feb 3/4/5 Surftag Australian Final (Northern Beaches, Sydney)