North Narrabeen’s long boardriding tradition was on show at Curl Curl as junior talent and familiar club names combined to win the NSW Central Australian Boardriders Battle qualifier.
The five-person side of Nathan Hedge, Dylan Moffat, Davey Cathels, Jagger Phillips and Laura Enever edged North Steyne by just 1.1 points on Saturday, 19 September, finishing the final on 29.60. The win booked North Narrabeen a place at the Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final at Burleigh Heads in March 2027, but the day also brought together surfers at very different stages of their careers under the same club banner.
From Junior Waves To Club Tradition
Phillips delivered North Narrabeen’s biggest individual score of the qualifier, earning an 8.83 for the highest-scoring wave of the event and taking out the Boost Mobile Wave of the Day. The junior later said he had leaned on teammates for advice before paddling out at an unfamiliar break. After listening to surfers who had already competed, he found a left and put together two strong turns.
Cathels added an 8.5 when North Narrabeen reached the final, helping the club hold off a North Steyne side that remained close until the closing stages. At the other end of the club’s generational spread was Hedge, who first represented North Narrabeen in team competition when he was about 12 or 13. Decades later, he was back in the line-up as captain, describing his continued involvement as a way of staying connected to the club and contributing to the surfers coming through behind him.
Hedge said North Narrabeen placed emphasis on grit, determination and team effort, with individual scores secondary to how the group performed together. He also spoke about the value of giving different surfers the chance to wear the club colours.
Familiar Beaches, Familiar Rivalries
The contest carried plenty of local familiarity beyond North Narrabeen. North Steyne pushed the eventual winners through the final, while Avoca finished third and Long Reef fourth. Dee Why Fraternity also secured a place in the national final after Ben Zanatta posted an 8.67 during the event.
Freshwater fielded eight-time world champion Layne Beachley, while Avoca’s Talia Tebb was among the emerging competitors in the 18-club field. Hedge has previously spoken about the strength of neighbouring clubs including Freshwater and Long Reef and the rivalry that exists between beaches across the region.
North Narrabeen’s victory also came away from its originally scheduled home venue. Construction works at North Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club meant the NSW Central qualifier was shifted to Curl Curl, where Surfing NSW reported head-high, glassy conditions and occasional barrels.
North Narrabeen will now take its place at Burleigh Heads alongside North Steyne, Avoca, Long Reef, Bungan, Dee Why Fraternity, North Avalon and Freshwater. The March 2027 final will bring those clubs together again, carrying their local rivalries and club line-ups onto the national stage.
Published 23-September-2026
