Yallingup riders battle to victory

Yallingup Boardriders made history at Scarborough Beach recently, claiming the club's maiden victory at WA's longest-running tag-team surfing event, the Surf Boardroom Surf League.

Light variable winds and a pulsing swell greeted competitors at the climax of what has been dubbed one of the tightest battles of grassroots surfing in years.

The Boardriders team, which included Jake Paterson, Jay Davies, Dan Waddell, Brody Maclean, Kael Walsh and Duke Nagtzaam, finished on 89.5 points, just ahead of Geraldton on 88.

Club president Todd Taylor said he could not be happier with their achievement.

"To take it against such quality opposition, that's the best part," he said.

"It was a team effort. You can’t win this event without everyone contributing.

"One weak link with that sort of opposition and you won’t win."

Preliminary heats saw wins for Trigg Point and Margaret River, who moved directly into the final, while Yallingup and Geraldton had to surf against Surf Beach and City Beach in round two to reach the blue-ribbon four-team final.

The extra surf for both Yallingup and Geraldton seemed to put them in better tune with the ocean as they opened strongly and applied pressure to Trigg and Margaret River from the onset of an enthralling 90-minute final.

Yallingup took to the air and buried rail in a complete display that saw them capture their first surf league win.

Trigg Point came third on a combined total of 81.1 and Margaret River were fourth with 79.8.

Yallingup's Dan Waddell was named best individual male, while teammates Jay Davies won best aerial move and Jake Paterson was best senior surfer.

Mr Taylor said the club was looking forward to the WA heat of the Australian Boardriders Battle on November 22 in Yallingup, followed by the finals in Cronulla in January where $125,000 in prize money was up for grabs.

"We have the best junior surfers coming through," he said.

"We're a good platform for them to go on to become world champions or just surf for fun. If we can give them as much practice as possible, that's what we are about."

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