North Narrabeen Boardriders Club has taken out the Jim Beam Surftag Australian Championships. Crafting out a brilliant five-spiked performance of critical contest format surfing and savvy team strategy. The skull and cross bones boys stole top honours for the fifth time. A feat unmatched by any other boardriders club in Oz.

NN really does rip.

Surftag history (in all its forms) is awash with tales of the boys from Narrabeen bringing home the bacon when it matters most. From gritty regional and state round qualifications, to National championships. There’s just something in the lagoon that washes into the Northy line-up that helps breed exceptional surfers.

The waves over the weekend were a gift from Huey, 2 to 4 foot right hand wedges were peaking off the southern break wall of Duranbah Beach, then running up the beach offering surfers plenty of big score opportunity.

He shall surf first, and we shalll call him – Hog. Pic: Swilly

Local boys D-Bah Boardriders were a shock pre-final exit as were Mereweather Blue, and Queenscliff Boardriders. Still without those teams and some of the events biggest individual talents the final was still maxed out with heavyweights. North Narrabeen (99.93) eventually stole the lollies (and 15 large and a trip for five to the Maldives) from the Bronte Blue Ducks (94.67), defending champions LeBa (81.37) and perennial finalists Snapper Rocks (74.23).

The final was nuts with every team surfing themselves into purple patches of sheer excellence and heartbreaking mishaps. But in the end nothing was going to stop Nathan Hedge, Davey Cathels, Cooper Chapman, Chris Davidson and Nathan Webster.

“This is five wins now in basically the last seven years, I think we can safely say we’re the dominant force around,” Nathan ‘Noodles’ Webster said post final. “We’ve got a really strong team, on paper we are probably the gnarliest around, but we just wanted to do ourselves proud, our beach proud and reclaim what we believe is ours. We’re really stoked.”

Mr Perfect Ten, Davey Cathels [download this shot of Davey as a wallpaper HERE]. Pic: Swilly

North Narrabeen kicked things off in the final with a bang when Hedgey banked a rock solid 26.33. Hedge had been the speed mister all event getting the team off to flying starts – but this time he was more patient. “I’ve been like a bull out of the gate every heat,” The man also known as Hog told Tracks. “But in that final I wanted to give my surfing the room it deserves and put some solid scores on the board – not just be the wave catching machine.”

While all individuals in the other teams showed fight none were more threatening than Snapper Rocks’ young-pup Eli Jacobs who surprised everyone with a perfect 10-point ride on his BOSCH Powerwave (second of three waves worth double points).

But not to be out done, Narra fought fire with fire with Davey Cathels volleying back with a10-point ride of his own that was more like an 11. His perfect score also falling on his BOSCH Powerwave. Yes, the beach went mad – especially the black tee shirt wearing crew in the NN tent.

“I’d fallen on my first wave in the final and I’d taken a fair bit of time. Everyone kept paddling on my inside up the channel then that wave came through and it walled-up the whole way through,” Cathels said.

“I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a 10 but the judges obviously thought so. I’m just so stoked for the boys.”

“It doesn’t get much closer than that, it’s what’s so good about these events, anyone can win at any time. It’s all fun in the end and it’s epic to get every boardriders club together.”

“We’re frothing to get up here to Queensland and win the Nationals away from the Northern Beaches.”

Jay Phillips – who has competed in every Jim Beam Surftag Series in its 12-year history – was gracious in defeat, “Big congratulations to the boys from Northy,” he said. “To win away from their home break is a huge victory, especially with ourselves and D-Bah in the event at our local.”

“We’ve got a really young team and I think in the coming years you’ll see a really strong Snapper club.”

The youngest of the NN team, Cooper Chapman, was ripping (just quietly). Pic: Swilly

The Bronte Blue Ducks were the likely candidate to upset the Northy fun bus with Tom Whitaker leading from the back foot (you know what I mean?). Whitaker later awarded the Rhondda Harrison Surfer of the Series Award for averaging a mental 6.23 on every one of his 24 waves ridden throughout the entire year.

With a 7-day Maldives boat trip awaiting them and a cool $15,000 now in the bank, it’s safe to say the drive home for North Narrabeen was a good one.