World No.2 Taj Burrow leads the charge as Australia's best surfers, and three of the World's top four surfers, hit the water for the start of the 2008 Jim Beam Surftag as North Narrabeen is confirmed as the home for the final.

Burrow will also be joined by World Champion Mick Fanning (Kirra Boardriders) and World No.4 Joel Parkinson (Snapper Rocks) throughout the Series.

The 2008 Jim Beam Surftag Series sees Australia's best surfers return to their roots and compete for their local board riding clubs in an innovative format. Away from the allure of the ASP Tour it is surfing in its purest form as Australia's best surfers compete in the teams event.

Burrow, who finished second behind fellow Australian Mick Fanning in the 2007 World Title race, will paddle out for Yallingup Boardriders in the WA qualifying event, to be held at Yallingup on Saturday 12 January.

The WA event kick starts the 2008 Jim Beam Surftag Series, which will culminate with the final at the legendary North Narrabeen Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches on March 6-7.

Last year Burrow helped Yallingup to victory in the WA event, ending the four-year dominance of Margaret River, and also putting to rest the "bridesmaid tag" they had been forced to carry.

In 2008 Yallingup will be out to defend that title on home turf and secure one of two places in the National Final and Yallingup Boardriders Team Manager Luke Sutherland believes last year's win will help them go back-to-back.

"Last year was a massive result for us because we had finished behind Margaret River a few times and it was like a monkey off our back," he said. "We have always been regarded as stable horse to Margaret (River) so it was great to finally put them away.

"Also, we had never been shown a great deal of respect from them and we were laughed at by some of those guys but we always knew that if we put it together we had the firepower to beat them.

"Last year's win has given us the confidence to go out there and beat them again."

Yallingup will also be boosted by the inclusion of Burrow as the World No.2 goes back to his roots to help catapult his home club into the National Final.

"Having Taj involved is a massive boost for us," Sutherland said. "He is such a good surfer that obviously his wave scores will be a help but having him there also gives the younger guys in our club a lift.

"Having Taj available is great and will certainly help us, especially against Margaret (River), but I'm also confident that we have a strong team that could get the job done if he wasn't there. But we'll take him for sure."

Yallingup and Margaret River will need to hold off Perth Clubs Cottesloe, City Beach, Scarborough, Contacio and Trigg Point Boardriders to qualify for the National Final but no Perth-based club have ever qualified for the final.

The 2008 Jim Beam Surftag Series will carry prizes and prizemoney of $100,000 and has attracted a record field of 70 clubs from all over Australia, all vying to claim the 7th National Surftag title.

The 2008 Jim Beam Surftag Series consists of four state-based qualifying competitions in West Australia, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales with the top 16 teams qualifying for the National Final.

Eight teams will progress from New South Wales with four from Queensland and two each from the West Australian and Victorian events.

"The 2008 Jim Beam Surftag will by far be the biggest in the seven year history of the Surftag Series," said Jim Beam Surftag Contest Director, Steve Harrison. "We have record prizemoney, record entries and the world's best surfers competing."

Queensland's Snapper Rocks is the only two-time winner of the event (2002, 2006) and they have received a massive boost in 2008 with Parkinson competing in the Surftag Series for the first time.

The Queensland qualifying round is expected to see Fanning take his place in the powerful Kirra team, when they hit the water at Duranbah on Friday 18 January.

Defending Jim Beam Surftag National Champions North Narrabeen will also be competing on their home break at the National Final if they can progress past the NSW event, being held at Cronulla on February 9 and 10.

The Club Champions from 56 Boardriding Clubs around Australia will also take part in the Jim Beam Boardriders Cup National Final at North Narrabeen on March 6 with Steve Clements from Long Reef in Sydney defending his title.

2008 Jim Beam Surftag Events:
* West Australian qualifying - Saturday 12th Jan - Yallingup
* Queensland qualifying - Friday 18th Jan - Duranbah
* Victorian qualifying - Saturday 2nd Feb - Rye Ocean Beach
* New South Wales qualifying - Sat/Sun 9/10 Feb - Cronulla
* Jim Beam Boardriders Cup National Final - Thursday 6th March - North Narrabeen
* Jim Beam Surftag National Final - Friday 7th March - North Narrabeen


HOW SURFTAG WORKS

Surftag is a team's event where each team (Boardriding Club) has five competitors. All competitors must be over the age of 18 and one surfer must be over 30.

Each heat goes for one hour with surfers required to catch three waves before coming to shore and tagging their next team mate.

All three waves are scored by judges with the second wave of each competitor deemed a "Power Wave" and worth double points.

Teams also receive bonus points for finishing within the one hour time limit with four points (4) for the first team to finish, three points for the 2nd team, two points for the 3rd team and one point for the final team to finish inside the limit.

The point scores from all five surfers plus any bonus points are tallied to find the winner.

The 2008 Jim Beam Surftag National Series is proudly supported by Jim Beam, Oneill, Oporto, Vmoto, Mizone, Tracks and Coastalwatch.

Further information:

Jim Beam Surftag Contest Director
Steve Harrison
0403 180 787
steve@globalsurftag.com

Jim Beam Surftag media contact
Dave Mason
0438 243 195