BURLEIGH HEADS, QLD (9/04/2025) – Australia’s most exciting club surfing competition, the Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle (ABB) Grand Final presented by NRMA Insurance, is set to return to Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast on April 12-13, 2025, following a groundbreaking 2024 edition that captivated audiences and competitors across the nation.
This event brings together 42 of Australia’s best boardrider clubs who have battled through state qualifiers to earn their place in this prestigious event. They will compete for national glory, substantial prize money, and ultimate bragging rights in the country’s biggest grassroots surfing competition.
A FORMAT LIKE NO OTHER
The Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle (ABB) Grand Final presented by NRMA Insurance is renowned for its exciting and unique format, where club teams of five—comprising Open Men, Open Women, Junior, Masters, and a Power Surfer—compete in a tag-team relay style event. Strategy, endurance, and surf prowess combine to create some of the most intense and dramatic heats seen in competitive surfing.
With extended heat times to accommodate the challenging Burleigh rock jump into the ocean, the 500m sprint up Burleigh Hill, and a field stacked with past, present, and future World Surf League (WSL) stars, the stage is set for an electrifying showdown at one of Australia’s most iconic right-hand point breaks.
Surfing legend, Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, who has lived on the Gold Coast all his life, reflected after the first Grand Final was held in Burleigh in 2024:
“All our point breaks are world famous and we’re blessed to live here really.
“Burleigh is the king today and I tell you what it’s merciless. There’s always been a run element in the ABB but this year is just next level. You have to have some ironman qualities about you and it’s a big test for everyone.
“Club surfing is really an institution in Australia. A lot of clubs here are 60 years old plus. Surfers representing their club is a big deal. Some surfers seriously grow a foot taller when they put their club colours on.”
2024: A GRAND FINAL FOR THE AGES
Last year’s Hyundai ABB Grand Final made history at Burleigh Heads. It delivered thrilling upsets, world-class performances, and unforgettable moments, cementing its reputation as one of the most exciting events on the surfing calendar. The event attracted surfing icons such as Layne Beachley, Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr, Macy Callaghan, Joel Vaughan and Bede Durbidge alongside Australia’s rising stars in a true display of club spirit and camaraderie.
World champion surfer, Joel Parkinson, said:
“I surf for my club (Snapper Rocks) and that’s about all I do now. I love it. The pressure is intense but you just gotta try push that aside and do the job at hand. Burleigh is the best place for surfing events and being close to home is really special.”
Contest Director, Glen Elliott, said:
“We’ll see some of the world’s best surfing talent with juniors coming up against ex-pro’s like Layne Beachley, Taj Burrow, Jay Davies, Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr, Danny Wills, Kieren Perrow and Bede Durbidge. This is the unique aspect of this event. Imagine surfing a heat with former world champions and your surfing heroes.”
The Burleigh Boardriders Club capitalized on their home break advantage to take out the 2024 title, with an iconic win that solidified their place in ABB history. Their victory set a new benchmark for club competition, proving that location knowledge, experience, and teamwork are as crucial as individual skill in this format. The big question for 2025: Can Burleigh Boardriders defend their title on home turf?
In the inaugural running of this event on the Gold Coast, Queensland, over 30,000 spectators attended across the two-day competition, surpassing previous years’ attendance figures and creating an electric atmosphere at Burleigh Heads.
Gold Coasts Acting Mayor, Cr Donna Gate said:
“We look forward to welcoming teams from around Australia to the Gold Coast’s iconic Burleigh Heads surf break for the Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final. Congratulations to the clubs making it through to the Grand Final. The competition will be fierce, and I’m sure Gold Coasters and visitors will turn out in force to watch the action and cheer the competitors on.”
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2025
With the Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle (ABB) Grand Final presented by NRMA Insurance returning to Burleigh Heads, the local clubs will again be strong contenders, but they will face fierce competition from powerhouse teams like North Shelly, Merewether, Snapper Rocks, Avoca, and Yallingup—all with their sights set on reclaiming the national title. See all 42 qualified clubs HERE.
Spectators can expect:
- Live action from Australia’s best surfers competing in the country’s most prestigious club competition.
- On-site activations, live DJ sets, food trucks, and the Jim Beam public bar creating a festival-like atmosphere.
- Meet and greet with Olympians, Surfing Legends and World Champions
- A record of Give Aways & Prizes worth $200K for competitors and attendees to win at the event.
The event will be broadcast LIVE on youtube, Kayo Freebies, and Foxtel, ensuring fans can tune in from anywhere. Additionally, the semi-finals and final will receive exclusive coverage on Foxtel and Kayo Freebies, showcasing the ultimate battle of club surfing on Australia’s home of live sports streaming.
About the Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle:
The Hyundai 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.
The 2025 Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final presented by NRMA Insurance is proudly supported by Jim Beam, ACCIONA, Ruffie Rustic Foods, BC Protein Snacks, Oakley, Kennards Hire, Dometic, Boost Mobile, Daiwa Australia, Murf Electric Bikes, Blackroll, Vissla, Zuum Energy Gum, the Burleigh Pavilion and Surfers for Climate.
The 2025 Hyundai ABB Gold Coast Grand Final presented by NRMA Insurance is supported by Experience Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland
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.
For more information, visit www.australianboardridersbattle.com.
