Surfing Australia News Spring 2015 | Page 33

The ORIGINAL SOURCE Australian Boardriders Battle League, which allows Australian World Surf League Coffs Harbour Boardriders will be celebrating its 50th (WSL) World Championship Tour surfers (men and Anniversary this year and club president Lee Winkler said women) the opportunity to represent their local it was still on a high after finishing second this year. boardriders club at respective State qualifying events and the National Final. “This is Coffs Harbour Boardriders’ 50th Anniversary year and the success through the Australian Boardriders In total $110,000 is up for grabs across the entire Battle brought 50 years of establishment together and National Series including the National Final. There is resonated throughout our surfing community,” he said. $29,000 available across the eight State qualifying “This success also strengthened the club brand and events, while $81,000 will be on offer at the National drove our commercial worth to new heights and along Final. The winning boardriders club will receive $20,000, with the prize money our new clubhouse will be able to while $36,000 will be split between the clubs finishing be constructed soon, giving our juniors a state of the art second to 20th. training facility and a place Coffs Harbour Boardriders Additional National Final prize money includes can call home.” $12,000 across 12 Skins heats; $5,000 across 5 Women’s Culburra Boardriders from New South Wales was the heats; $5,000 for the Fox Sports Patriot Club Award; youngest club at this year’s National Final having formed $1,000 each to the Wayne Bartholomew and Layne less than 12 months earlier in 2014 and club president Beachley Medal Winners; and $1,000 for the Milwaukee Jason Moon said the event’s impact was massive for both Heavy Duty Hack. FCS is also providing a $1000 product the club and the local community. pack to the winning club. “Firstly as a club, the Original Source Australian The National Final to be held at Cronulla Beach will Boardriders Battle was an excellent platform to launch again offer a World Tour surfing event-like experience our club onto the national stage and as a result it has over for the clubs and the fans. Live broadcast to big screens 100 new members including 48 new junior members,” on the beach and major infrastructure along with great he said. “This was our first competition as a club and we sponsor activations will ensure a fantastic celebration could not have envisaged how well it would impact our of club surfing culture is brought to life. The event will club and our whole area.” also be broadcast live on Fox Sports nationally over the weekend. The Original Source Australian Boardriders Battle is proudly supported by naming rights partner Original Original Source Head of Brand Belinda Groves said: Source and major support partners in Toyota, Nikon, “Following on from the success of last year’s event, we’re Oakley, Sutherland Shire Council, the World Surf League, proud to continue celebrating the best of grassroots XXXX Summer Bright Lager, DrinkWise, Milwaukee, FCS, surfing. Surfing Life, Fox Sports, Destination NSW and Boost “The state events and National Final are vibrant and Mobile intense, just like the experience Original Source 100% It includes a $61,000 Monster Raffle giveaway with one naturally fragranced shower gels deliver. We love the lucky ticket holder to drive away in a new Toyota RAV4 enthusiasm the surfing community has for the series, it’s valued at $55,000. Other prize packs will be provided a perfect fit.” by Milwaukee, Original Source, Oakley, FCS, Nikon and Each club team will include one junior (Under 18) Boost Mobile. The Monster Raffle is open to all Surfing surfer, four Open age surfers, and one over 35 surfer. Australia affiliated boardriders clubs with proceeds Each team must include one female surfer. returning to the boardriders club community. “The Original Source Australian Boardriders Battle has become a critical program as a part of the Surfing Australia sport development program,” said Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark. “In the last two series we have injected over $250,000 into clubs to help build their capacity and importantly through the major national media coverage we have built the profile of clubs in their communities and more broadly. “We are extremely excited to be hosting this national event program for our club network and thank our valued sponsorship partners for making the series a reality.” Original Source Head of Brand, Belinda Groves (left) and Senior Brand Manager Cathy Rickson .COM SPRING 2015 ISSUE 13 | 31