Western Australia’s top boardrider clubs are gearing up for an action-packed weekend as the opening stop of the Australian Boardriders Battle (ABB) regional series hits Trigg Point this Saturday, 12 September.
In a one-day qualifier, seven of the state’s strongest clubs will go head-to-head, highlighting WA’s incredible depth of talent. Featuring seasoned competitors and rising stars, teams from Margaret River, Yallingup, Trigg Point, Trigg Junior, Scarborough, Mullaloo and Cottesloe boardrider clubs will all be vying for one of three qualifying spots.
The top three clubs will advance to the Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final, set to return to Burleigh Heads in March, 2027.
Defending champions Margaret River Boardriders will be chasing back-to-back regional titles after breaking Yallingup’s three-year winning streak last year. Team Captain Jerome Forrest will line up alongside Jack Mitchell, Ben Spence, Willow Hardy and Brody Mulik, with the club bringing another strong team north to Trigg.
“We’ve got a really solid team and everyone’s home, so we’re excited to come up,” said Forrest. “It would be awesome to go back-to-back. We’ve been in good form in this event over the years, so hopefully we can put it together for the whole day.
“The confidence comes from knowing everyone in the team can hold their own. We all back each other and know we’re capable of getting the win and earning another shot at the teams over east.”
Looking to reclaim the crown will be Yallingup Boardriders, who dominated the WA regional qualifier with three consecutive victories from 2022 to 2024.
President Timm Uros said the club has been building towards Saturday for some time, with team members making a special effort to return for one of the biggest events of the year.
“We’re extremely hungry. We’ve been talking about it and strategising for a while because, for us, ABB is all about the team and the club,” said Uros. “We’ve even had team members come back from overseas and interstate to be part of it, so it’s a pretty big deal for us.”
Yallingup will bring plenty of firepower to Trigg, including Maverick Wilson and Ruby Berry, who have both been in strong form throughout 2026, lining up alongside Duke Nagtzaam, Sam Tucker and Cruz Uros.
“Mav has been on a tear and Ruby has had some incredible results. She’s fearless and super consistent,” said Uros. “We’ve got a really good young team and we’re looking forward to seeing what they can do.”
After missing out on the top three qualifying spots last year, Uros said the opportunity to return to the national stage was a major motivation.
“That’s what boardriders is about. It’s the grassroots community, the team spirit and everyone supporting each other,” he said. “To take that club identity onto a national stage is pretty unique, and that’s why we want to get back there.”
Hometown favourites Trigg Point Boardriders will be equally determined to lift the trophy, having finished runner-up at the WA regional qualifier for four consecutive years.
Club president and team captain Fletcher Llanwarne said Trigg is determined to go one better on home turf.
“We’re definitely sick of second place,” laughed Llanwarne. “We want to take the trophy back off those down south crews.”
With the competition taking place at Trigg, Llanwarne believes intimate knowledge of the local banks could give his side a valuable edge.
“You’re under so much time pressure in ABB, so knowing exactly where the banks are and what the surf is doing is really important,” he said. “We surf there every day, so having that local knowledge is definitely a home-ground advantage.”
Trigg’s lineup will feature Llanwarne, Luke Campbell, Jake Scott and Isi Campbell, with the club holding a surf-off this week to determine the final position in its team.
After reaching the quarterfinals at the national event for the past three years, Llanwarne said Trigg has its sights set on going deeper in 2027.
“We’re really keen to crack the semis at the national event. We love this competition,” Llanwarne said. “Everyone gets around each other, lifts the energy and celebrates every wave. That team spirit is what makes ABB so special.”
The ABB’s unique ‘tag team’ format sees clubs nominate two Open Men, one Open Woman, one Master (Over 35) and one Junior (Under 18) to compete. Each surfer’s best wave counts towards their team’s total before they sprint up the beach to tag in the next teammate.
The 14th edition of the Australian Boardriders Battle will kick off at approximately 8:30am (WST) on Saturday 12 September, at the corner bank at Trigg, in front of the Surfing WA headquarters.
Stay up to date with live results via LiveHeats HERE
Pictured: Yallingup’s Maverick Wilsonleading the pack. Credits:Raeley Jones / Surfing WA.
Isi Campbell in action for Trigg Point Boardriders. Credits: Pedro Bonfante / Surfing WA.
Main title image: Margaret River Boardriders’ Jerome Forrest will be back in action at Trigg Point this Saturday as the defending champions chase back-to-back regional titles. Credits: Pedro Bonfante / Surfing WA.
2026/27 ABB Regional Qualifier Schedule
WA – Trigg Point – September 12, 2026
NSW Central – Northern Beaches – September 19, 2026
VIC – Phillip Island – October 4, 2026
QLD – Sunshine Coast – October 10, 2026
SA – Fleurieu Peninsula – October 17, 2026
TAS – Scamander – October 24,2026
NSW South – Cronulla – October 31, 2026
NSW North – Tweed Coast – November 7, 2026
Full schedule, dates and further info: www.australianboardridersbattle.com
About the Australian Boardriders Battle
The Australian Boardriders Battle is Australia’s biggest grassroots surfing series, involving over 80 boardrider clubs in eight state qualifying rounds before culminating in the epic Grand Final showdown. The event has been instrumental in strengthening club culture, fostering future champions, and celebrating Australia’s deep connection with surfing.
About Australian Boardrider clubs
There are more than 250 boardrider clubs across the country, where members gather regularly, often monthly, to organise grassroots competitions at world-class waves such as Burleigh Heads. The boardrider club phenomenon in Australia has made a significant contribution to the nation’s competitive success on the global stage, fostering close-knit communities that support young surfers on their journeys to becoming the next world champions.
The 2026 Australian Boardriders Battle Regional Series is proudly supported by NRMA Insurance, Ford, Babybel, Celsius, SafeStyle, Fujifilm Photos, Southern Cross University, Ampd Bros, St Ali, Boost, Blackroll and Surfers for Climate.
For more information, visit www.australianboardridersbattle.com
Events
