It’s that time of year again, groms of yesterday, today and tomorrow. The Hyundai Australian Boardrider Battle Grand Final 2025 presented by NRMA is back once again, giving you the chance to watch the country’s best boardriders take to the waves to see which club comes out on top.
For those who’ve been before, you know just how high the vibes are this special weekend. It’s not just surfing — it’s an all round experience, with board museums, good food and, of course, the Jim Beam Bar. But, if you’re keen to dip your toe into the ABB GF for the first time, there’s some key info you need to know so you can get the most out of this huge event.
Firstly, the ABB GF is taking place this year at Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast across March 8 and 9. Trust us when we say this isn’t going to have a measly turnout — last year over 30,000 boardriding fans came to watch the action for themselves, proving that this event can’t be missed.
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The ABB GF is not your average surfing event. 42 clubs, after battling their way through state qualifiers, will meet at Burleigh Heads come March 8 to compete in the ABB GF’s renowned format. Essentially, club teams of five — Open Men, Open Women, Junior, Masters and Power Surfer — take on a tag-team relay like you’ve never seen before. Burleigh Heads is known to serve up some serious juice, so competitors get extra time to deal with a challenging rock jump into the ocean, the lung-busting 500m sprint up Burleigh Hill and, of course, taking on some of Australia’s most iconic right-hand point breaks. But, though 42 clubs are competing, only the club that amasses the most points will walk away the victors — and take home a substantial cash prize, as well as winners’ glory and bragging rights
Want to know who’s competing? Well, Burleigh Boardriding Club, the home team and last year’s winners, will be looking to defend the title this year, but they’ve got stiff competition. Powerhouse clubs from around the country are coming for that crown, including North Shelly, Merewether, Snapper Rocks, Avoca, and Yallingup. This is one of the biggest dates on the surfing calendar, and with such a big crowd to impress, you can bet these clubs are going to show up and show out. Check out the full list of competitors here.
But, for spectators like yourself, this isn’t just a weekend to stand and watch people surf. Nope, the ABB GF has you sorted all day (and into the evening) with stacks of activations and events. The piece-de-resistance? The Jim Beam Bar.
Kombi DJ spinning tunes from arvo 'til sunset? Sorted. 20ft container bar (you read that right) with a rooftop viewing deck? Double sorted. Can't see the action? No dramas, Jim Beam's slapped up a monster screen to catch all the ABB GF madness. And if you're feeling a bit nostalgic, take a cruise through the Nev Hyman board museum and gawk at the boards the world-famous board maker has made over the years.
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Hyman will also be publicly debuting his most ambitious creation yet at the ABB GF — the world’s biggest surfable board, brought to life with the help of Jim Beam. It can’t be surfed alone, so a group of pros will take it out for its first public voyage and you can marvel at how Hyman has, once again, made the sport feel even bigger.
The Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final Presented by NRMA Insurance is taking place at Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast across March 8 and 9, sponsored in part by Jim Beam. Drop in to the official website to learn more, and, above all else, get amped for a weekend chock full of some of the best surfing you’ll ever see.
Jackson Langford