42 Boardriders Clubs, 210 Tag Team Surfers, A Very Slippery Jump Off + A 400-Metre Lung-Busting Dash To The Finish Line

“The Burleigh boys are going to have a huge advantage, and some of the Gold Coast teams too, who would’ve surfed it quite a bit. But some of the other teams that don’t spend their life jumping off these rocks are going to really have some troubles.”

– Joel Parkinson on the ABB

The Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle (ABB) is widely regarded as the world’s most entertaining team surfing event. Unlike conventional surfing competitions, the ABB offers a unique collaborative format, involving five surfers per team composed of: two Open male surfers, one Open female, one Junior (either male or female), and one over 35 Master (also either male or female), along with reserves. 

Just getting to the Grand Final is a slog. After eight rigorous qualifying rounds held across Australia, involving more than 80 clubs, only 42 teams have earned their spot in the prestigious Grand Final. This year, the event will take place at Burleigh Heads, QLD, on March 9-10, marking a significant upgrade from its previous venue in Newcastle, NSW. 

But hosting the event at Burleigh’s iconic point doesn’t mean it’s going to be smooth sailing for here out. 

This year surfers face an obstacle course not dissimilar to an episode of Wipeout. Beginning at the top of Burleigh Hill, competitors will first need to navigate Burleigh’s cruel rock off, at pace, just to enter the surf. After catching a wave, surfers must run past the Burleigh Pavilion and ascend to the top of the hill to tag their teammate, covering a distance of approximately 400 meters.

Throw beers, team chants, a bit of sabotage and a ticking clock in the mix, and you have all the ingredients for the ultimate surfing piss-fitness circus. 

Those competing include: Layne Beachley, Taj Burrow, Jay Davies, Sierra Kerr, Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr, Danny Wills, Kieran Perrow, Bede Durbridge and Laura Enever, and others. Fire in the booth will be supplied by: Vaughan Blakey, Sean Doherty, Stace Galbraith, Jesse Starling and Reggae Ellis. 

You can watch the ABB Grand Final LIVE across Australia on Fox Sports 507 & Kayo Sports and across the world on the mySURFtv YouTube channel.