Forecast: Australian Boardriders Battle // 2025 Final
Following overnight news about the WSL relocating the Gold Coast Pro to Burleigh Heads, the first question was regarding the state of the bank at Burleigh Heads. Snapper is toast, we all know that, but how did Burleigh fare in the post-Alfred wash up?
The word is, the bank is deeper but the sand is still there and the point should connect with Rock Break given enough swell. Fortunately, punters will be given a dry run of sorts, as this weekend's re-scheduled Australian Boardriders Battle is set to coincide with the first phase of an extended easterly trade-swell.
Isla Huppatz tearing her way to a win for Burleigh Boardriders last year (Surfing Australia)
The elements of the coming swell are moving into position as we speak; a large 'flat-topped' high pressure system is entering the Tasman Sea where a long easterly fetch will develop across its northern flank. The wind field will gradually increase in strength and hence build wave height from now until the weekend.
Saturday looks to start in the 2-3 feet range from the east, with clean conditions through the morning before the winds shift south-southeast and strengthen - creating bumpier surf. This should also provide building levels of swell towards 3 feet+ into the afternoon.
Sunday will be a repeat of Saturday but one notch stronger. The building trend will continue with dawn rising over 3-4 foot waves building to 4-5 foot on the sets into the afternoon. Again, it's all out of the east.
The winds will also play out similarly to Saturday with the morning offering the cleanest conditions, while the afternoon will be blustery and cross-shore.
One note on the weekend’s swell is that it will be very consistent due to the source being directly east of the Gold Coast. This is both good and bad for the ABB.
The good: With six people in the water at all times, there'll be plenty of waves to go around.
The bad: It'll make for trickier rock jumps, especially during the back end of heats when time is running out, and it'll be worse through Sunday as the swell energy builds, the finals are at stake and surfers may as well risk it.
For the event draw and live webcast, check out https://australianboardridersbattle.com
Comments
Hopefully they score, and we get a few waves in Sydney as well.
Annoying me watching the Vic cams of pumping Winki. Also annoying me how many great waves have been destroyed by either shoulder hoppers pushing it down on the guy up or paddlers scrambling for the shoulder and getting in the way - instead of paddling inside and taking it on the head. Common courtesy stuff.
Looking forward to it... Cheers for updates
The bad: It'll make for trickier rock jumps, especially during the back end of heats when time is running out, and it'll be worse through Sunday as the swell energy builds, the finals are at stake and surfers may as well risk it.
ha thats what makes it worth watching......nothing like a slippery rock jump under pressure.
yerh one of the highlights of the year, cheers swellnet.
Burleigh is a shit spot for this comp. Way too much time watching unfit surfers huff and puff running up the hill and the time it takes tear through the park and tip toe over boulders………..take a lot away from the surfing itself.
Love this event!!!! send it!!!!
Never even a simple Battle goes to plan at Burley...
Always some Burley Blowin Battler in some Bully Brawl or some shit.
How is this even possible...Huh!
Better not watch the News kids! Dad lost his Shit again...FFS!
https://beachgrit.com/2025/04/wild-scenes-at-burleigh-heads-as-alleged-s...
Hard work out at Burleigh ATM......
No land breeze this morning. Puffing light southerly since the wee hours, now gone SE with a head of steam. Gonna be a warm day and night so may be the same pattern again tomorrow morning.
Thats the main diff between Snapper and Burleigh.
SE'er blows offshore/sideshore at Snapper, it's side/onshore at Burleigh.
Love this comp. Love seeing them have to test their athleticism.
Such high calibre surfers in the mix with your everyday battler.
Big Owen still ripping at WCT level.
Bugger to see my old boardriders exit first round but good effort getting there.
.
Getting hammered with the weather now…super viewing so far. I watched the first heat down at Burleigh. A good vide…lots of people out enjoying themselves.
Hog.. ouch, he’ll never live that down!
Heard them talking about him stuffing up - what happened?
Got under it.....Then 6 on the Melon ....
unreal entertainment. Nth Shelly super unlucky. Poor Huey Vaughan...seconds from the line.
Carn Margs!!
So much going on. My non surfing missus is even interested. WSL take note
Where are you guys watching it? Live stream not working now on YouTube.
+1..?
maybe this kayo freebies thing @tiger?
https://kayosports.com.au/event/sport!surfing/event-boardriders-battle-d...
Better than most wsl events…fun comp. 1/2 the hill is pissed already.
Grass roots…amateurs…families…young boys and girls…retired pros.
What a mix. It’s fan farking tastic.
Watched 30min this arvo and it was good. Non stop action, good fun, rippable waves but relatable.
@Freeride: I hope you’re watching this ABB final mate. It is as entertaining as surfing gets! Makes the Woz look like lawn bowls
I tried a few times over the weekend to watch- it didn't grab me.
I appreciate it would be fun to watch if you had some skin in the game or could get into the tribalism.
To me it was just a bunch of random people surfing scrappy Burleigh.
I couldn't get into it as a spectacle.
I can see others love it though.
I did appreciate the real-time look at the state of the sandbar through the tidal range under SE conditions.
Looks to have an ugly storm bar of sand 50-100m straight out off the takeoff……..they will be seriously hoping that shifts with this swell.
Yeah, very similar to down here.
They'll be praying that shifts in time.
Ours has now been here for 8 months.
Gotta take a bit more of the test cricket approach to watching it. Watch a bit in the background, come watch a couple of surfers you're interested in, the commentary was excellent in telling the story, in fact the whole broadcast was top shelf. Before you know it you're cheering for the bloody Torquay boardriders or being heartbroken poor Huey Vaughan couldn't quite reach the finish line before it was over. It's a slow burn but it sucks you in big time if you can take the test cricket approach to it. It's 100percent the best form of contest surfing there is, Not too hard to understand once you watch a few heats. Better to watch the finals than the elimination heats. Hard to get into those unless ur invested in the clubs. It's a 12 out of 10 from me.
Maybe a few hill sprints before next year, Hughie.
agreed, had me hooked all day yesterday in between a bit of choring and whatnot
That was a blast. Two years in a row they've eclipsed anything the Woz can do for entertainment value. You know it's a good comp when the highlight is a 12 year old girl tearing up the point for a 9plus ride and going straight into oz surfing folklore.
Well played Nth Shore.
What makes it is there’s no dead time.
I suppose the Aussie larikinism adds massive appeal to this corner of the globe.
Whether it’s shit waves (which it usually is), good waves or if a team is in front or behind, tis never boring.
My missus and kids sat through the whole final entertained (even my teenage daughter ) not a chance that sit and watch a whole wsl final. Loved it
Should we reward the desecration of Iconic Oz Saltwater NP / WSR or persevere with it's preservation!
Battle for Burley don't stop in Round 1 / 2 or 3 or last < > next millennium, it's a tireless endless battle.
Local Burley Grom tbb got his arse kicked for trying to sneak into the first 1977 XXXX Stubbies...
Likewise booted off the NP Oceanway in 2025 for hill hooting Jim Beam Boardriders Battle.
Surf Comps are a mountain of fun for blowins that run down yer town.
Hodad tbb has a growing list of Health impediments severely restricting seachange convalescence.
At great expense to wellbeing...tbb lowered the tone by raining on their slippery slope!
Actually bumped into the only 2 sober surfers on The Point...[Our Winners]...well durr!
Congratulations to North Shore from Local Hodad Basher that welcomed & wished yer team well.
Just wot Local's Only secrets did Burley traitor tbb share with North Shore Gromz! Huh!
Any such sanctimonious secret is the preserve of neighbouring Commonwealth WSR Respect.
Respect yer Local Surf Hang...ain't nuthin' more to it!
Firstly gotta salute the crew here & promoters for getting tbb up & outta his death bed...live with it!
tbb shared the mutual respect of SEQ NP politics > Touring Pro Circus licensing VIP WSRs.
Too much of a gentleman to share Visiting Competitor's take vs locals give! Ya know wot tbb means.
eg: Sydney Olympic Stadium has never held an International Track Meet since...
Yet all Olympians mandate a new $400bn SEQ Stadium promising this very same zero worth legacy!
Just sharing that YouTube sensations have obligation to defend Unsportsmanlike Jock Autonomy!
Please Explain...
Local tbb ads nothing but Stoke to WSR and habitually grooms and rids vermin & toxic filth from NP.
Our reward is freedom to paradise preserved as a sanctuary for all & forevermore...
Worshipping our Saltwater Surf God WSR creator Jabreen of time honoured meeting place Jellurgal.
All tribes & people have forever openly been invited to WSR Corroborees of any make.
SEQ Govt ban use and leaching of Petro Chems & Grog harming our NP WSR Wildlife Societies.
That's a mighty small insignificant trade off to preserve max stoke, keep the peace and critters safe.
Many evil greedy bastards now wanna ban NP treaty for VIP WSR NP to License evil harm doers!
Govts now mandate these same evil toxic industries to remove zero harm nurturers from NP / WSRs
tbb has recently been banned & booted from Burley Surf / Waters Edge / Beach / Foreshore.
Simply because tbb was openly freely engaging in ZERO harm NP practice...(Beach tidy + Surfing)
Always only ever been banned by packs of these evil doers infringing upon NP / WSR policy...
SMP Stewards mandate their evil compulsory invasive toxic petro chem Grog license in WSRs.
These evil Oil / Vice industries palm corrupt pollies to bend & remove NP rules to license VIP WSRs
WSL recently tamed Surfrider Beach Bar protests by employing agitator as CEO of WSL XXXX
Sample of Petro Chem / Grog (NP WSR Mandates) heavily policed upon us free stoke Burley locals.
This is the order in which these Evil Corrupt mandates were shouted & bullied upon tbb...
* Pay to see Boardriders slowly poison our NP
* You can't Surf in Saltwater Bodysurfer's NP because yer a Bodysurfer. (Ordered Out several times)
* Rocks were bundled to prevent Post Card Snaps / Rock Pool Access > Detour via Beach Club Entry.
* You can't enter the Flagged Patrolled Beach Area without a Shirt / Footwear or sit without purchase!
* You can't swim / body surf in the Flags while the crew are filming
* You can't bathe in a Flagged Bathing Reserve whist it's occupied by Boardriders (Several Times)
* If you enter & get hit by a surfboard in a Flagged Bathing Reserve, you'll have to rescue yourself.
* You can't enter your own Nipper's Surf Club unless a Member signs you in.
* You can't walk or stand idle along NP Oceanway whilst any Boardrider exits ocean from afar.
For those not in the know...
Mayor Guards Ocean Vice Smugglers Cove Vice Trail to Council procured [National BH Rest Stop]
https://www.ausleisure.com.au/images/ausleisure/files/Gold_Coast_beach_r...
https://www.dredgingtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/08/gold.jpg
1. Priority WSR access affords pokie / Bar a potential offshore Tax Free Vice Gaming License
2. Surf Comp's elevated Ocean Way is wide enough to ply Beer Barrels along future WSR pub crawl
3. WSR Jim Beam Bar already flanks the Rock break right now...see pissed crews tap on Team Mates
4. tbb was ordered off Jim Beam's Hyper Loop & Oceanway (Private No Access mid Point WSR)
Note these are Nice people granted WSR Covid Ranger Move on Powers...These are Beach Police!
5. Jim Beam Vice Trail Bouncers Bully & Stop NP Oceanway @ Xings for New o/s Vice Trade Route/s.
6. Mayor Bans / Closes #1 Iconic NP Rest Stop [P] Loop ( Private XXXX Event > Please Fuck Off)
7. Burley Battle prioritizes an illegal offshore Vice Trade Route thru heart of East Coast WSR NP.
8. All East Coast Transit Population must yield to Oil Execs Vice trail carving thru Saltwater's Heart.
9. Council de-main #1 Shared Oz [P] Rest Stop Lookout as #1 VIP Leased XXXX Pad [Celebration Place]
10. No more Free Gold Coast Visitor's Burley Point Views for You! Iconic Oz Surf Check Hang...Going...
Before you Ask...Sure...it looks like a premium Event Viewing Precinct...
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/a20019ed3489d8b54bb95cc6cf3a2b03
NP Rest Stop [P] was gazetted because it complies with Level Loop Nat Hwy return access.
GC Council de-mained The Point over decades > Speed Bumps / Split Lanes / Reducing Van [P] Spaces
It's a rare elevated level City Utility Pad (re : No public access zone during this surf comp event!)
Was valuable as #1 Nat Hwy Utility (LR / De-maining) Valuable #1 GC VIP Events Precinct Utility.
Timeshare Trolley > De-Mains Traffic to Upzone Private Precincts = Rest Area Lookout > XXXX Place!
Servicing Grog Deliveries to feed $1b WSR Rockbreak Pub Crawl Precinct as seen in this Comp.
tbb assures most punters were pissed & lining the length of Mayor Tate's WSR / NP Bar Precinct.
So Hell Yeah! It's WSL / Surfng Australia SMP Stewards selling out our WSRs for Beach Bars.
These stewards in turn are granted XXXX licenses for their exclusive use for Hot Dog Grog Comps.
Drafting exclusive Line Up laws to rid pioneering non industrialized Free Surfers from Line Ups.
In the wash up...tbb ain't the Fun Police nor gonna hide the truth of WSR Politics.
Goldie hosts all manner of Fucked Up events like this one...
Pacific Air Show Flotilla Traps-Funnels-Bombards Whales > $400 to nurse them in the shallows!
What sorta fucked up twisted mind dreams up WMD Bombing of Peak whale Migration...Anyone?
Yes! Web Cast Crew Culture will likely stoke tbb to have a bash at WSL @ The Point WSR.
Q: Does tbb fully expect to be bullied & moved on during the Event...most likely...Yes! Hell Yes! Why Not?
Be disrespectful to give The Point a bash without allowing some VIP Bully Boardrider to abuse ya!
Like Stockholm Syndrome...ya grow to love yer evil bastard [L] White Shoe Hodad brigade abusers!
Future of Surfing...
We just saw Surf Abu Dhabi Jet skiing body boarding unicycled wave peddlerz.
Now gives way to...
36 ankle chained weaponized fuel cells funnelling a mudslide rock hobble during a lightning storm!
If all this sounds fucked up then it is...others like this Pay 2 Play...that's their Gig!
But tbb reminds the Wave Pool world has already endorsed exact same VIP Lock Outs...
tbb is likewise banned from entering or surfing Wavepools without costly additional Tech / Toys!
So what crew may read as fucked Up is the VIP way of today's Surfing World...ain't no free ride!
tbb's Tribute to Ding Alley sponsoring Billy J Smiths It's a Knock Out knock off of Anything Goes.
https://www.facebook.com/nfsaa/videos/its-a-knockout-198587-was-a-hugely...
Burley Boardriders Battle Beat Up!
Wotz this...do we need a Part 2...surely it's all over tbb!
Nope! Mum came round & said whole town & Mayor were pissed off with The Burley Surf Comp!
tbb replied he was at that Comp on Sat & Mum looked shocked...Wot now Mum!
Said - Mayor was on the TV / Radio swearing and cursing & saying they're not getting their Bond Back.
All said The Point NP was desecrated and resembles a Muddy Shit Hole Bomb Site...WTF.
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/0c0b4f52e41f194d258312756bd75d9f
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/20e54aeb6a70b70e111c79a6d47681be
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/7eafbabb064402cf2e6083729645f2f8
Ok! Fair enough...we gotta go back for more sultanas!
tbb never caught this on the News, but felt obliged to help clean it up if need be!
Had to go to Doctors for scans...and not much chop to get about, but will try to tidy up our NP.
tbb set out to revisit the whole Comp area to see Wot was going down...give it a once-over!
In no shape to be up & about > Yes! Injured myself by simply walking about & struggled home!
Ok...The Main Beach is Fine + Returned by the Rock Break pebble shoreline & it too seems fine!
Just a Wettie or a sack or too maybe some pegs but no mountain of litter / cans etc...
Also checked the NP Track down to the Cove...all seems in order...nothing untoward.
Wed 16th is Day 9 Logistics : The Look-out Car Park / Overflow Parking Areas are still closed off >
Neat array of Full Skips + Piles of Form Boards / Scaffold...
Guessing this is a 10 Day Set Up / Pull down...Circus should be all gone by tomorrow!
That's a Long lockdown for #1 NP Lookout [P] > Upset plenty for a start!
But nearing the end > Only a few XXXX Cans / Merch Labels / Loose wires Hanging about...
Recap : Beaches / Rock Break /NP Trax + Cove / [P] areas are all within reason...so it's none of this.
There was noticeable damage where that stupid Hill Climb Carpet Path killed off the grass...
Also a Skid Pan where the Surfer's crossed & left the Oceanway Path at base of the Hill Climb.
Exactly where NP Pedestrians were asked to Queue & wait for 36/hr competitors to cross!
Pretty much a mud patch as you'd expect after a rainy w/e....
This being the most damaged foot traffic zone and tbb explained NP choke point overflow delay above.
Just humouring the crew....
Coz tbb is dancing around a Massive Muddy Moonscaping of the NP Headland that's hard to miss.
Actually looks worse now after they finished...them muddy ruts are pretty deep & Grass is gone in places.
Easy to condemn the Comp Guys...but!
tbb wasn't gonna pile on just yet...there are Council / Comp workers guarding the Surf Comp Bomb Site.
They were standing there happy to smile & explain further if ya asked politely.
Yes! They all confirmed the TV Reports of a hopping Mad Mayor withholding The Comp's Bond.
Also double checked with Council Park Workers + Pavilion Staff that the Headland was recently turfed!
So Council had spent good money on presenting a Postcard Comp / Easter Picnics etc! (Check!)
Can check the Mayor's Proud Surf Comp Promos...
Now...in defence of Comp organisers...
Said Council worker arrived Monday Morning & said that the Clean Up was as good as it gets...
Please feel free to check them muddy photos...Ya don't see any litter > all neat tidy piles...
Exactly...It's not as messy as it seems...
tbb did expect to clean up Comp Dregz...No! This was not the case...very little litter!
All these Photos + Site inspection verify a Good Clean Up Job!
Council worker said the main problem was...this it's not an event site.
Again this seems straight forward...It's a NP?
But tbb feels he's trying to share it's a busy cluttered Family Play Area with no open access!
Like ya can't just race shit out on service roads...
Bulky gear spinning back'n'forth over the same ground with limited turning routes & reverse!
Saturday's Storm & Downpour gave way to more rain come Monday > See Photos (Above)
So Comp Tractors / Forklifts attacked the site & just dragged the XXXX shit out like a Wisdom Tooth!
Like a giant Monsta Mash mincing the new turf into foot deep Mud ruts like a moon surface...very ugly!
In fact tbb never saw no Turf just Mud Mounds...reason why tbb asked about the recent Turf Job...
Even up the top of the Point but mostly near all of them Interaction Tents resembles a shit hole.
So bad it's a 2ft deep Risk hazard > So now it's the Council yelling at ya to keep off the Park!
Weird how tbb said that next visit...for sure be asked to keep off or piss off > Was right about that.
Coz tbb saw others / Kids tempt fate...Get outta there Now!
Just VIP Yuppie Toxic Jock Surfers are granted priority access...do-gooders can't step foot on the path / park!
Once again be now restricted furthermore > now extends onto the Park itself...
Now ya believe tbb...Surf Comps now Restrict whole zone from Ocean to Parks...we're losing it!
From Road > Park > Path > Shore > Ocean is off limits during Surf Comps...suck it up!
So just how did surfers go from treading lightly to become #1 Heavy Hooved Bully Corpo Beasties!
This is wot all Town are upset about > New Turf Showcase now a Muddy Moonscape.
Surfer's XXXX Bouncers banning #1 NP / Surf / Oceanway / Rest [P] / Park / Swings
Council have 1 day to grade it Flat > spread Piles of sand > top soil to grow grass...by Good Friday!
Very next day after Easter > Tuesday WSL shut it down again...
XXXX Beach Bar Bullies now a plague of XXXX Muddy Monsters
End this toxic Grog culture brutalizing Oz Beaches & Foreshores and set the WSR free.
Who is tbb kidding...
Most youth tbb spoke to claim Toxic Jock Kooks have the right to walk over us & be exempt from ridicule!
tbb would laugh along...Oh! Shit...no one else is giggling...felt like a stranger at me own local.
Hodads understand cowardly right wing Jock subservient pecking order is the new norm, but it still sux!
tbb still recalls when Pros cried over free rides down Kirra Mud Slide
Now Locals wanna Kill the Boogerz breaking Hearts at Heartbreak Hill
https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/disgusting-residents-fury...
Who won ?
Northshore.