Club surfing will return to Gunnamatta Beach, Victoria on Saturday with the Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Series last held on the Mornington Peninsula in 2012.

The VIC & SA Qualifier will see both Men's and Women's divisions contested, with the top three Men's teams and top two Women's teams qualifying to the Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Championships being held on the Gold Coast in April.

Local Boardriding Club the Pensinsula Surfriders will face tough competing from Phillip Island, 13th Beach and Torquay as well as South Australia's Seaford and Seaview Road Boardriders.

Peninsula Surfriders President Lachy McDonald is looking forward to seeing all the Boardriding Clubs on his home beach, “We are stoked to have the Surftag event back on the Mornington Peninsula”, McDonald said. “We love hosting the other clubs at home and enjoy the challenge of our rip bowls in the tag format”.

Torquay Boardriders Club (TBC) last won the VIC & SA Qualifier in 2014 at Parsons Beach, South Australia, which was the last time the Surftag Australian Series was held in the VIC & SA region.

Torquay Boardriders President and Team Captain Cahill Bell-Warren is excited to have another opportunity to compete in the Surftag Series, “At TBC we love and prioritize team events, it’s a great opportunity to show the depth of the club and represent our community”, Bell-Warren said. “It’s been a while since 2014 but we are keen to put our best foot forward to try and defend our Title”.

Cahill Bell-Warren (Photo Wes Lonergan)

Sailor Jerry Surftag Contest Director Steve Harrison is looking forward to seeing the new breed of club surfers at Gunnamatta, "It's been six years since we last held a Surftag event on the Mornington Peninsula so it will be good to see all the new faces representing their local Boardriding Clubs", Harrison said. 

"There has always been a strong rivalry between the Victorian clubs and adding a few South Australian clubs in the mix will definitely raise the standard of surfing on the day".

Competition starts at 9am on Saturday at Gunnamatta Beach with Men’s Round 1. For live scores during the event go to globalsurftag.com

2018 Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Series

• 13 January – Newcastle (Area - Umina to Port Macquarie)
• 20 January – Northern Beaches (Area – Northern Beaches, Sydney)
• 17 March – VIC & SA (Area – Victoria & South Australia)
• 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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