Seaford Board Riders Team celebrate their victory at the Southern StatesJim Beam Surftag held at Gunnamatta Beach
Seaford Board Riders put Victoria's Best Boardriders Clubs to the Sword at the Southern States Jim Beam Surftag
Seaford Boardriders scored a decisive victory against the biggest and best Victorian surfing teams at the Jim Beam Surftag held at the notorious Gunnamatta Beach, south of Melbourne contested in small 1-2 foot beach break waves.
In a tough fought out final Seaford Boardriders proved to be too strong as they maintained a solid lead to win with a wave score of 62.7 over 13th Beach Board riders in second with 55.9 points, Torquay in third on 48.2 and Phillip Island, the defending event champions in fourth place on 45.5 points.
The win for Seaford Board riders has reinforced their strength and tenacity as one of Australia's premier surfing clubs.
Seaford Board riders, five man team, opened with a strong lead by David Steele who posted 14.5 points which was supported by Jarrod Howse scoring 16.0, Dion Atkinson 10.2,Francis Harsing 12.0 and Clayton Howse 7.0 points.
Excellent wave selection, fast tight surfing in the small waves and good rhythm in maximizing the time allowed the team to maintain a winning margin throughout the one hour final heat to claim victory.
"It is absolutely fantastic to win this event.” A fairytale finish for the whole team effort and club support. We are all stoked”, said former ASP world tour surfer Jarrod Howse.
The road to the finals for Seaford was long and tough having to factor in the overnight travel from South Australia to compete in this event for the second year in a row.
"Definitely a hard road to the finals and it all came together in the final heat when it really counted. A dream outcome,” said Paul Benbow, Team Captain.
Seaford received $1500.00 and joins second place 13th Beach Board riders who will also contest the National Surftag Finals in Sydney which are set for Sydney in Mid March. Last year Seaford finished fifth overall at the national final and they'll go to Sydney in mid March confident of mixing it with Australia's best Boardriding cludbs who will all be chasing the $100 000 prize pool in what is set to be the biggest ever showdown of Boardriding Clubs team surfing ever in the history of surfing.
Elite ASP World Tour surfers like 2007 World Champion Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Taj Burrow and numerous other world touring surfers will line up for their beloved clubs at the Jim Beam Surftag final at North Narrabeen Beach in Sydney on March 13/14.
The southern states regional elimination round was the final qualifying round for the Jim Beam national Surftag and the clubs that will contest this historic final in March have now been decided – They are –
Kirra, Snapper A, Snapper B (All from Queensland), LeBa (Lennox/Ballina), Bronte, Werri, North Narrabeen, Ulladulla, Cronulla, Dee Why, Queenscliff, Curl Curl (All NSW), Yallingup , Margaret River (WA) and Seaford (SA) and 13th Beach who placed 2nd to Seaford at Gunnamatta today making up the final spot!
The first round heat for Seaford could have easily been an elimination loss for the team. A zero point six margin allowed the team to scrape through into a losers repo-charge round providing a second chance to reignite. A narrow win in this round of 59.0 points over Phillip Island with 58.9 secured the finals berth for Seaford primarily due to the power surfing of Dion Atkinson.
"Luck in the wave selection gave me the opportunity to carve up what was on offer. I gave it my best but in the end it is all about everyone in the team that gave us the points to get in the finals” said Atkinson who posted the highest combined wave score of the event with 24 points and the power surf award of $200.00.
The Jim Beam Surftag National Series is proudly supported by Jim Beam, FCS, O'Neill, Vmoto, Coastalwatch, Rockstar Energy Drink and Tracks.