Yallingup Boardriders Club win State round of national championship

Yallingup’s Boardriders have claimed the State title in an upset win at WA’s leading amateur club surf championship.

Favourites from the Margaret River Boardriders Club failed to fire in “small and tricky” 1-2 foot waves at Scarborough at the weekend, coming in third in the final tally behind the Trigg Point club.

Yallingup booked their spot into the national final to be held later this year.

Judged an “impressive win” for the Yallingup chargers, the club fielded a broad spread of talent in a tag team format to snatch its first win since 2013.

Yallingup’s squad of Josh Cattlin, Duke Nagtzaam, Emma Cattlin, Richard Sills, and Otis North amassed a winning total of 63.15, ahead of Trigg Point on 59.27, and Margaret River on 54.65.

“It’s been a great day and the club is so stoked to take the win,” club stalwart Richard Sills said.

“It’s been a big goal of ours to get back over to the national final and we think we’ve got the right surfers to challenge the best boardrider clubs in the country.”

Trigg boardriders would accompany Yalls over east based on the points from their second-place finish.

Surfing WA events manager Justin Majeks said the boardriders battle offered a unique format in what was often a sport for solo stars.

The competition was valued because boardriding clubs were “the heart and soul of Australian surfing” and helped develop talent at a grassroots level.

“Surfing is typically an individual sport, so when you get the chance to compete as part of a team it creates this wave of support and camaraderie that is very special and unique,” he said.

Nagtzaam captured the overall Performer Awards for his stellar rides throughout the event.

Trigg’s Jesse Siedmiogrodzki claimed the High Performer Award for the highest individual score of the day for an 8.17 ride from a possible 10.