TRIGG BEACH, WA/AUS (Monday, 14 September 2026) – Margaret River Boardriders Club have gone back-to-back at the Australian Boardriders Battle (ABB) WA Regional Qualifier, claiming a hard-fought victory at Trigg Point on Saturday.
Seven of Western Australia’s top boardrider clubs went head-to-head in challenging 2–3 foot onshore conditions, with teams from Margaret River, Yallingup, Trigg Point, Cottesloe, Scarborough, Trigg Junior and Mullaloo Boardriders battling for three coveted spots at the Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final.
Surfing WA Regional Operations Manager Kim Clift said the event once again highlighted the strength and depth of WA’s boardrider club community.
“The ABB always brings out something special in our clubs, and we saw that again at Trigg Point,” said Clift. “The conditions were challenging, but the standard of surfing was really high and there was plenty of club pride on show. More than anything, it’s great having clubs from across WA come together for a day like this, supporting their teammates and enjoying that friendly rivalry in and out of the water.
“A special mention goes to Cottesloe Boardriders, who made the final for the first time in over a decade. It’s great to see the club rebuilding and so many junior surfers coming through the ranks.
“Congratulations to Margaret River on going back-to-back, and to Yallingup and Trigg Point on securing their spots at the Grand Final. We’ve got three really strong clubs heading to Burleigh and I’m sure they’ll represent WA proudly.”
The fast-paced tag-team format delivered plenty of momentum swings, with Margaret River and Yallingup trading the upper hand, Cottesloe impressing on their way to the final and hometown favourites Trigg Point firmly in contention.
Margaret River, Yallingup, Trigg Point and Cottesloe eventually emerged from the field to contest the four-club final, setting up a tight battle for both the title and three Grand Final qualification spots.
Margaret River saved some of their best surfing for when it mattered most. Jack Mitchell posted an excellent 8.43, before Ben Spence followed with a 9.00, while junior Brodie Mulik, Jerome Forrest and Willow Hardy also contributed valuable scores to the team total.
Yallingup kept the pressure on throughout the final, with Maverick Wilson posting an 8.17 and junior Cruz Uros an 8.10, while Trigg Point remained within striking distance, led by an 8.10 from Fletcher Llanwarne and a 7.60 from Isi Campbell.
With Yallingup still challenging late in the final, power surfer Ben Spence returned to the water and delivered a 7.93, helping Margaret River close out the win with 45.93, just 2.32 points ahead of Yallingup on 43.61. Trigg Point secured third with 40.89, while Cottesloe rounded out the final on 28.51.
The victory secured Margaret River their second consecutive WA regional qualifier title and another opportunity to represent Western Australia on the national stage.
“We’re stoked to go back-to-back,” said Margaret River Team Captain Andrew Sheridan. “We had a game plan coming into the event and, even after Yallingup got the better of us in the first round, we decided to stick with it.
“We had a great semifinal and that gave us a lot of confidence heading into the final,” he said. “Everyone did their job, and I was super proud of Jack and Ben in particular. They lifted when we needed them to, and the rest of the team fed off that confidence.”
Sheridan said the result had given Margaret River plenty of belief heading into the Grand Final.
“Some of the scores we put on the board were among the biggest I’ve seen in the ABB, and I’ve been doing these events since the very beginning,” he said. “Our confidence is sky high heading into Burleigh, and I think we’re in a really good position to have a crack at making that final heat, or even winning it.”
Spence also produced one of the standout moments of the event, posting an excellent 9.50 with two massive backhand turns earlier in the day to claim the Boost Mobile Wave of the Day.
Yallingup’s runner-up finish secured their return to the national stage after missing out last year, while Trigg Point’s third-place finish booked the hometown club a fifth consecutive trip to the Grand Final.
Margaret River, Yallingup and Trigg Point will now turn their attention to the Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final, set to take place at Burleigh Heads in March 2027.
The Australian Boardriders Battle is Australia’s premier grassroots club surfing series, with more than 80 boardrider clubs competing through regional qualifiers across Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland.
WA Qualifying Boardrider Clubs:
Margaret River BRC
Yallingup BRC
Trigg Point BRC
Specialty Award:
Boost Mobile Wave of the Day: Ben Spence (Margaret River Boardriders)
For full results, head to Liveheats
Ben Spence was a standout for Margaret River Boardriders, posting some of the biggest scores of the day at Trigg Point. Credit: @saltdiaries / Surfing WA.
Ruby Berry goes on the attack for Yallingup Boardriders during their charge to second place at Trigg Point. Credit: @saltdiaries / Surfing WA.
Every second counts as surfers race through the tag zone during the fast-paced ABB WA Regional Qualifier at Trigg Point. Credit: @saltdiaries / Surfing WA.
Jack Mickle puts on a show at his home break as Trigg Point charges to another Grand Final qualification. Credit: @saltdiaries / Surfing WA.
2026 ABB Regional Qualifier Schedule
WA – Trigg – 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
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