Bodyboarding royalty Jeff & Dave Hubbard are coming to the Gold Coast to compete against some of the best riders from Australia for the fourth stop of the Australian Bodyboarding Association (ABA) tour - the Inverted Duranbah Pro on 16-17 June.
The Choice Homes ABA Pro Tour event will be held at Duranbah beach on the tip of the Tweed Coast, which is popularly known as D’bah. Local Tweed and Gold Coast talent will be up against some the ABA tour’s best athletes in Joe Clarke, Chase O’Leary, Michael Novy and the Hubbard brothers, who share eleven bodyboarding world titles between them.
Choice Homes is presenting the entire five-stop nationwide ABA Tour as 2018 naming rights sponsor. Marketing Manager Ben Peasley said the Inverted Duranbah Pro brings the tour to the Coast and one of the most consistent beach breaks in the country.
“The Duranbah Pro is the big one for us as presenting sponsor, as it brings the tour right in our own back yard,” he said.
“Duranbah is a wave magnet. It has fantastic waves for boardriders in a range of conditions, and the location provides an excellent arena for the public to come on down and enjoy the competition.
“We are already seeing some very stiff competition this year as the prize pool is guaranteed and has increased with the new sponsorship to $2,500 for first place.”
The Hubbard brothers are two of the world’s leading exponents of both traditional and drop-knee bodyboarding. Hailing from Hawaii, Jeff and Dave share an amazing five World Bodyboarding Titles between them and are sure to attract an influx of competitors and fans to the event.
The event will be covered by a professionally produced Facebook LIVE feed and videography to capture all Pro divisions from the Women’s, Juniors, Men’s and Dropknee events, plus a Vintage board division that should provide a fun opportunity for all levels to have a go.
“It’s more than a bodyboarding competition, it’s going to be a great event for everyone and will include free coaching clinics for the kids and those young at heart run by qualified level 1 coaches throughout the weekend,” Mr Peasley said.
The ABA tour this year includes Gas Bay in WA, Knights Beach in South Australia in May, Duranbah in NSW in June, Sydney’s Northern Beaches in July, and Mystics Beach in NSW in August.
Choice Homes’ sponsorship has ensured the progression and expansion of the sport, with the five-figure deal pivotal for the continued growth of the Pro Tour, which enjoyed its best year in 2017 after adding two events to take its schedule to five stops.
