Boardriders Battle pumps up pressure
OF all the events Burleigh surfer Nick Callister contests, none makes him more jittery than the Australian Boardriders Battle.
Generally a cool customer, the 21-year-old spoke of the pressure involved with the team event ahead of the 2018 series final in Newcastle this weekend.
“Doing the Battle of the Boardriders is completely different because it is not just yourself; if you surf badly you let down the whole team,” he said. “I definitely get the most nervous for this comp.”
Perhaps upping the spotlight on the likes of Callister and sister Lucy is the fact Burleigh have declared this year to be their best chance yet to win it.
Nick reiterated Burleigh’s desire to trump more than 20 rival teams including fellow Gold Coast club Snapper Rocks.
“This is definitely the strongest team we have had,” he said. “Everyone is surfing really good and we have got all of our best surfers and our club is a really close club.
“We all hang out outside of boardriders so for us to win, it would be amazing and we would definitely have a great celebration on the Sunday night.”
Lucy added the squad were taking the event “a lot more professionally” this year.
“We have come a long way in the last 10 years,” she said. “It would be so good to be a part of the team if we were to do really well.”
The 19-year-old Qualifying Series tour surfer is fired up to perform strongly after a poor start to 2018.
“I have just had two shockers. I have only done two comps and both of them have been bad,” she said. “So I haven’t really done well this year but last year I had a win in Indonesia and a second in South Africa.”
The star-studded field in Newcastle will be headlined by reigning World Surf League champion Tyler Wright (Culburra) and Nikki van Dijk (Phillip Island).