North Shore Boardriders Finish Third in Australia as Burleigh Heads Delivers an Unforgettable ABB Grand Final Weekend
With classic Burleigh Heads conditions and in front of a dedicated, travelling North Shore crowd and surf fans and Clubs from around the country, our team delivered a performance that showcased everything the Australian Boardriders Battle is about, teamwork, strategy and club pride.
Representing the Sunshine Coast against the best Boardriders Clubs in the country, Alister Reginato, Sophie McCulloch, Blake Wilson, Stella Green and Luke Brumby rose to the occasion, pushing all the way to the Grand Final and finishing third in Australia in what we think is the most exciting event on the surfing calendar.
Burleigh turned on the goods all weekend, with clean three-to-four-foot lines wrapping down the point and creating the perfect arena for the 2026 NRMA Insurance Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final. The event brought together 42 of Australia’s top Boardriders Clubs, each having battled through state qualifying rounds to earn their place on the national stage.
From the opening heats through to the final showdown, the energy around the point was electric and the North Shore crew rose to the occasion.
Surfing in the ABB’s unique tag-team relay format, our surfers combined strategy, speed and performance surfing to stay in the mix against some of the most stacked teams in the country. With the run up the hill and teammates and supporters cheering every turn from the headland, the format once again proved why the Australian Boardriders Battle is the most exciting spectacles in Australian surfing.
When the final scores dropped, the results were:
North Shelly – 34.19
Byron Bay – 34.15
North Shore – 26.52
Kawana – 24.56
Sandon Point – 17.55
North End – 17.13
To stand on the podium third in Australia among such an elite field is something the entire North Shore community can be incredibly proud of.
Standout Performances
A huge congratulations goes to Alister Reginato, who delivered standout performances throughout the event and was recognised with the Celcius Overall Performer Award.
The North Shore lineup also featured Sophie McCulloch, currently competing on the World Surf League Challenger Series and pushing for Championship Tour qualification, alongside Blake Wilson who we dusted off again this year for the big show, Luke Brumby, and rising junior talent Stella Green, who proudly represented the next generation of North Shore surfers.
Reflecting on the experience of representing the club in the Grand Final, Sophie spoke to Surfing Australia about what it means to compete in the uniquely team-driven environment of the ABB.
“It would have meant so much to win three ABB Grand Finals and be the only club to do so,” McCulloch said. “I would have loved to have put up a better score, but there’s no ‘I’ in team. We’ve got two women in our team, with Stella as a junior as well, so I’m just stoked to be part of this club.”
In true modern professional surfing fashion, the pace didn’t slow down once the contest wrapped. Both Sophie and Alistair had to race straight from Burleigh to Newcastle to compete in the next event on the WSL Challenger Series, highlighting their commitment to surfing and the level of talent within the North Shore ranks.
Aria Evans with the support of her amazing parents went back to back winning the Mascot Challenge for the second year with her version of AC/DC TNT and banking $2500 in Cash and a $1000 GYG voucher. We just can’t say enough about the Evans family and their dedication to the Club, attending all our events at home and away and showing proper grit when it comes to representing the Club with true passion, you are what makes it worth every effort we put into this Club and the future is so bright….. NSB - OI - OI - OI ….
The North Shore Community Turns Out
While the surfing was world-class, what made the weekend truly special was the incredible North Shore support crew and we can’t thank you enough.
Members, families and friends travelled from the Sunshine Coast to Burleigh to back the team, filling the hill with cheers, club colours and that unmistakable Boardriders energy.
Moments like this remind us what Boardriders Clubs are really about, not just competition, but mateship, community and the shared stoke of surfing.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Finally, we would like to acknowledge the incredible businesses and organisations whose support helps make opportunities like this possible for our club and surfers.
A huge thank you to our valued sponsors:
Home Sunshine Coast
Surfboard Empire
Sunstruct Construction
Country Connect Foundation
Ricks on 6th
Squires Designer Homes
Alpha Services
Maroochy Surf Outlet
Beachbeat
Rip Curl
The Aging Sea
Maroochy Surf School
Alex Surf Lifesaving Club
Your support plays a vital role in helping North Shore Boardriders continue to develop surfers, grow our club and represent the Sunshine Coast on the national stage.