Great article from CoastalWatch about the local surfers at Gerringong:
On Saturday March 14, the 2009 Jim Beam Surftag National Final was held at North Narrabeen Beach in Sydney. Sixteen boardriders clubs from all around Australia gathered at the event to see who would be crowned “the greatest of them all”.
By the last heat of the day only four teams remained in contention – raging hot favourites Snapper Rocks,North Narrabeen and underdogs Dee Why, and Werri Beach.
All four clubs fielded their strongest teams. Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Shaun Gossman were surfing for Snapper, Nathan Hedge, Davo, Nathan Webster and Ozzie Wright surfing for North Narrabeen. Both of the above mentioned club’s looked hard to beat on paper, but when the final hooter sounded it was little known Werri Beach who took the title of numero uno club downunder.
Werri Beach is situated on the south coast of NSW and is a small town of only a few thousand people.
The ocean plays a major role in shaping the community and the way people live.
Werri Boardrider’s club is one of the largest on the south coast and is populated by a passionate group of people committed to keeping Australian surfing culture alive and positive, irrespective of age, gender or level of ability.
As former club president and World Tour representative Todd Prestage explains, winning the biggest club challenge in Australia may have come as a surprise to some, but certainly not to the club itself.
