He’s ranked 31 in the world but this weekend he turns out for Bronte Boardriders exclusively.

Wednesday 26th January 2011 (Sydney, NSW) – SURFING pride will be on the line in Cronulla this weekend as 25 clubs from Sydney and Southern NSW do battle in the last Jim Beam Surftag Regional Qualifier.

After four other regional qualification events in NSW North, QLD, West Australia and Victoria, this weekends NSW South event will award eight positions into the National Final at Avalon Beach starting February 4th.

Powerhouse clubs from Sydney’s City Beaches will square off against rivals from as far south as Ulladulla and Werri Beach in what is shaping up as a stellar field.

Defending regional champions Elouera will once again be looking to one up local opponent Cronulla, who won the event three years ago and defending National champions North Narrabeen will begin their title defence.

World tour surfer Tom Whitaker will line up for 2008/9 regional champions Bronte and said the Surftag is always a hotly contested affair.

“The talent hiding away in some of these clubs from down the coast is unbelievable,” said Whitaker.  “The Bronte mighty blue ducks took the win a few years back and I’m pretty sure we are in with a good shot this year.”

The Bronte team has enlisted former pro Luke Hitchings and Bondi Rescue lifeguards Ryan “Whippet” Clarke and Aaron Graham to help get them over the line.

“Narrabeen have been fairly unstoppable over recent years, they always cough up a pretty deadly team,” said Whitaker.  “Werri Boardriders always blow up and the North Steyne boys have Kai Otton finally back from injury so they could be really dangerous.”

Nick Riley showing the kind of style he’ll be bringing to Cronulla when he turns out for Queenscliff [QBC].

2009/10 regional runner up’s Queenscliff will submit a young team of travelling WQS chargers in the hope of going one better in 2010/11.  Nick Riley, Sam Page and Luke Cheadle are all familiar with the Surftag format.

“We pretty much have the same team as we’ve had in the previous years,” said Riley.  “I think we have always put a lot of pressure on ourselves in the past, but we are just going to have fun with it all this year.”

“All the boys have been ripping at home over these past swells, so hopefully we can take that into our heats.”

“Narrabeen and North Steyne are always going to be a big threat,” he said.  “They have a lot of good surfers and seem to always have consistency, which is what I think you need to win.”

2009 National Champions Werri Boardriders will be relying on underground club surfers this weekend with their three big guns Dean Bowen, Rhys Bombaci and Matt Jones all unable to compete due to conflicting surf events.

Former world tour surfer Todd Prestige will be bringing all his knowledge to help Werri Beach make the finals.

Team captain Todd Prestige said the team won’t have the usual firepower but will be aiming to qualify for the national final.

“To be honest, we haven’t got the strongest team,” said Prestige.  “A few of our key guys are unavailable so we are looking to train up some of the younger club members to the task.”

“It happened a few years back where we brought in some younger guys and trained them up and we had to take a hit on results.”

“If we can make the top eight this weekend and qualify for the national final our key guys will be available so that’s the goal for us.”

“With the amount of events on this time of year you can’t have you top guys all the time,” he said.  “In saying that though we have some great surfers like Tully Robinson and Loyd Bowen in the team, we are still in with a shot for sure.”

Note: The FCS Manufacturers Cup will run in conjunction with the Surftag at Cronulla this weekend.  Warner Surfboards will take on Aloha, Chile, Rhino and Dylan Surfboards for a spot in the national final.

The 2011 Jim Beam Surftag is proudly supported by FCS, Sanyo and O’Neill.  Media partners for the series are Swellnet and Tracks surfing magazine.

Avalon

Newport

Mona Vale

North Narrabeen x 2

Long Reef x 2

Dee Why x 2

Curl Curl

Freshwater

Queenscliff x 2

North Steyne

Bondi

Bronte

Maroubra

Sth End Maroubra

Elouera

Cronulla

Garie

Scarborough

Sandon Point

Woonona

East Corrimal

Wollongong

Southbridge

Werri Beach

Jones Beach

Ulladulla  x 2

2010/11 Jim Beam Surftag Dates And Locations

Oct 15              Industry Challenge (Curl Curl) (Winner – Quiksilver)

Oct 16              Trade Off (Curl Curl)     (Winner – Bondi Life Guards)

Nov 13              Women’s Surftag (Dee Why) (Winner – Norah Head Women In Waves)

Dec 11              NSW North Surftag (Newcastle) (Winner – North Shelley Boardriders)

Dec 18              Victoria Surftag (Jan Juc) (Winner – Torquay)

Jan 8                 West Australia Surftag (Gas Bay) (Winner – Yallingup Boardriders)

Jan 15               Queensland Surftag (Coolangatta) (Winner – Kirra)

Jan 29/30           NSW South Surftag (Cronulla)

Feb 3/4/5           Surftag Australian Final (Northern Beaches, Sydney)h