COFFS HARBOUR WIN GOLD COAST SAILOR JERRY SURFTAG IN PUMPING CONDITIONS AT DURANBAH.

Coffs Harbour Win Gold Coast Sailor Jerry Surftag in Pumping Conditions at Duranbah.

Coffs Harbour Boardriders have defeated Snapper Rocks, Burleigh Heads and D’Bah to take out the third and final qualifying event of the Sailor Jerry Surftag in pumping conditions at Duranbah Beach.

Coffs Harbour posted 91.37 in the final that included a two-wave combination of 25.03 by Madison Williams. Snapper Rocks Surfriders came home strong courtesy of an 8.2-point ride from Quinn Bruce to finish on 87.17 with Burleigh Heads finishing third on 78.79 and D’Bah fourth on 49.76.

The Coffs Harbour team of Jayke Sharp (17.1), Shaun Cansdell (14.17), Billy Kean (12.87), Madison Williams (25.03) and Lee Winkler (18.2) finished on top of a red-hot field beating the Gold Coast’s best Boardriding Clubs in their own backyard. The trip north began as a real adventure for the Mid North Coast team with roads closed either side of the Tweed River due to flooding from Cyclone Debbie.

Stranded in Casurina on Friday night and not sure if they would be able to make their opening heat on Saturday morning, team captain Winkler considered driving ten hours around the flooded region via the Gwydir Highway. With North bound roads opened on Saturday morning and event organizers delaying the start of competition for Kingscliff, Cabarita and Coffs Harbour to arrive, the three teams from south of the Tweed were greeted with pumping 3 to 4 foot offshore waves.

Winkler played a massive roll in their Semi Final win against Burleigh Heads, Noosa and the D’Bah Dregs with the stocky natural footer scoring an 8.73 on his Powerwave (double points) for a long tube ride on his last wave. “Such an epic event that was surfed in some classic D’Bah conditions,” Winkler said. “Super stoked to win the Gold Coast leg of the Sailor Jerry Surftag over a bunch of Australia’s best Clubs. After being stuck in Northern NSW and being redirected all over the place it was an amazing weekend that unfolded for our club and we will celebrate with members on our return home. Pumped for the National Final at North Narrabeen in May.”

With the top 8 Men’s teams qualifying to the Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Championships, Coffs Harbour, Snapper Rocks, Burleigh Heads and D’Bah will be joined by Noosa, Kingscliff, North End and D’Bah Dregs on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in May.

Results

2017 Sailor Jerry Surftag Gold Coast Qualifier

The 2017 Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Series will include Qualifying events at Cronulla, Newcastle and the Gold Coast with the Australian Championships being held on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, 13 & 14 May. Total Series prize money is $60,000 with the Men’s Australian Champions receiving $10,000 and the Women’s Champions $5,000.