Local club 13th Beach finished runner-up at the Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle regional qualifier for 2024.
Victorian boardrider clubs flocked to Smiths Beach on Phillip Island, where 2ft to 3ft onshore waves set the stage for a big day of competition.
In one of the semi-finals, it was a Greater Geelong match-up with 13th Beach and Torquay meeting with both teams’ first surfers scoring high six-point rides. Then, Torquay’s second surfer, Xavier Huxtable, broke the tie with a 7.27 point ride for two big backhand hooks.
However, with 10 minutes remaining, Torquay still had two surfers left, causing some panic as the team frantically tried to signal their current surfer in. Meanwhile, Peninsula, with five out of six waves scored, were comfortably in front. Heading up the team was captain Lachy McDonald who executed a powerful forehand slash, giving his team the motivation to finish off strong.
13th Beach’s final surfer, Jack Basset, only needed a 0.33 ride to secure second place. With two minutes to go, Basset found a left and connected three solid turns, scoring a crucial 4.57 ride to push 13th Beach into second place. Torquay was unable to find a wave in the dying moments, leaving 13th Beach and Peninsula to head into the final.
Throughout the final against Peninsula, it was clear 13th Beach was playing a game of consistency with each surfer playing their part to add to the team’s score. Basset led by example, finding the right wave that allowed for a couple of back hand hits and a mid range score. This form was carried all the way to the end of the heat as he found another wave that ran off the bank and allowed for multiple backhand turns.
As the final progressed, Peninsula’s Sara Hickson delivered three massive backhand snaps, earning the highest score of the day – a remarkable 8.33 – putting Peninsula back into first place. Hickson not only propelled her team forward but she earned the Boost Mobile Wave of the Day. Peninsula’s remaining surfers consistently outscored their competitors with Sara’s brother, Lucas Hickson, bringing it home by catching a quick wave to finish on time and avoid a five-point deduction. This secured a solid win for the thrilled Peninsula SRC at stop number three of the Hyundai ABB, with 13th Beach also excited to come in second.
