The Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Series will expand from four events to six events in 2018 with two new qualifying events being held in Victoria and on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The two new events will see an extra twenty teams compete in the series with both Men’s and Women’s divisions contested at all six events.

The added events will see the total series prize pool increased by $11,000 with Boardriding Clubs competing for a share of $71,000, which includes $10,000 for the Men’s winners and $5,000 for the Women’s. Qualifying events will also be held at Newcastle, Cronulla and Cabarita with the Australian Championships scheduled to be held at Duranbah Beach, Tweed Heads in April.

The first qualifying event of the series is set to be held at Newcastle’s Merewether Beach this weekend with 2017 Sailor Jerry Surftag Men’s Australian Champions North Shelly Boardriders beginning their title defence. 

The Central Coast Club has named the same team (Russ Molony, Shane Holmes, Riley Laing, Saxon Lumsden and Johnnie Keith) that won their maiden Australian Championship at Sydney’s North Narrabeen Beach last year with team captain Molony looking forward to the challenge ahead. 

“All of NSB and especially the team are excited to be defending champs”, Molony said. “We have been trying for so long to win as a club so hopefully we can keep the role going and keep winning. The boys are all surfing really well so we know that we can do it again”.

Molony’s teammate Shane Holmes has overcome serious leg and shoulder injuries in the past twelve months and can’t wait to paddle out for his beloved Boardriding Club.

Shane Holmes (North Shelly). Photo: Throwing Buckets

“We are all super keen to get back into tag team mode as it’s been a while so really looking forward to it”, Holmes said. “Yes of course we would love to defend our title, winning it last year was huge and was an unreal feeling. I just love surfing for North Shelly Boardriders and catching up with all the other clubs”.

Merewether’s Women’s team finished third at last years Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Championships, team captain Philippa Anderson said it’s great to see the Women’s Division continue for a second year. 

“We are very excited to have a Merewether girls team again this year for Surftag”, Anderson said.  “The Merewether girls all live to surf and compete and we are ready to back up our win at the Newcastle qualifier. Seeing all the ladies turn up for the Grand Final in Sydney last year was amazing, it’s showing more females are hitting the water and taking part in Boardriders”.

Philippa Anderson (Merewether). Photo: Throwing Buckets

The Sailor Jerry Surftag Newcastle Qualifier will see the top four Men’s teams and two Women’s teams qualify to the Australian Championships with Boardriding Clubs from the Central Coast (Umina, MacMasters, Avoca, Wamberal, North Shelly and Norah Head), Newcastle (Frenchman’s, Merewether, East End Newcastle and Northside Stockton) and the Mid North Coast (Saltwater Old Bar and Port Macquarie) competing. 

The new qualifying event in Victoria will also include Boardriding Clubs from South Australia with the top three Men’s teams and two Women’s teams qualifying to the Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Championships. 

2018 Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Series

13 January – Newcastle (Area - Umina to Port Macquarie)
20 January – Northern Beaches (Area – Northern Beaches, Sydney)
10 February – VIC & SA (Area – Victoria & South Australia) – To Be Confirmed
24 & 25 March – Cronulla (Area – Bondi to Ulladulla)
14 & 15 April – QLD & Northern NSW (Area – Coffs Harbour to Noosa)

27 & 28 April – Australian Championships – Duranbah Beach, Tweed Heads (includes Trials for TAS & WA Clubs) 

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