Surf stars align for shot at teams title
SOME of the nation’s best club surfers, including former world champion Joel Parkinson, will chase success at The Kirra Teams Challenge from March 29-31.
The 37th year of the most prestigious teams surfing title will offer $12,000 in prize money and feature 36 teams, from Torquay in Victoria to Noosa in Queensland.
At least a dozen World Tour surfers will be competing for their clubs, with Parkinson and Josh Kerr expected to turn out for the Snapper Rocks Surfriders; Mick Fanning a possible inclusion for the Kirra Surfriders; and Bede Durbidge for Point Lookout Boardriders.
Some of the hottest upand-coming talent in Australia will also compete, while last year’s champions, North Narrabeen, will be back to defend their title after winning for the first time in 35 years.
The event is a unique coming together of surfing culture, with a welcome to country ceremony to be hosted by the Yugambeh Aboriginal Dancers, who regularly perform at Currumbin Sanctuary.
Indigenous members of all the other competing clubs will be invited to join in.
The event will also be looking to tread lightly on the beach, with SAE Group powering the event with their mobile solar generator.
Along with the clubs leaving the beach clean and pristine, they will also have various food vendors with vegan options.
The Kirra Surfriders have given free entry to the event to Australia Veteran Surfers Boardriders, a group of returned military servicemen and women who have bonded together and use surfing to cope with the after effects of the trauma of combat.
They are not out to win, but compete and be part of the action. Competition will commence at 8am on Friday and wrap up with the final heat about 2pm on Sunday.
Teams will compete for “The Kirra Eagle” trophy, a bronze copy of the eagle atop Kirra Point.
Preferred venues are Duranbah Beach and Kirra Point, and early predictions have a small chance of the event being held on the host club’s home break.