Image Credit: Surfing Australia / Nikon - www.mynikonlife.com.au

The Australian boardriding community will converge on Duranbah from Friday for the world’s largest surfing teams event, the Volcom Kirra Teams Challenge.

This year the three-day event has attracted 34 of Australia’s best boardriding clubs.

First started in the 1960s as the Kirra Pro Am, the format was changed in 1985 to a teams format to become Australia’s most prestigious boardriding title.

The teams will be sprinkled with some of Australia’s leading surfers including Mick Fanning, Kieren Perrow, Bede Durbidge and former WCT competitor Danny Wills.

The defending champions are Snapper Rocks Surfriders Club who last year won their ninth Kirra Teams Challenge in the 27-year history of the event.

Event co-ordinator John Robin said the forecasts were looking promising for clean conditions.

“Duranbah is looking great now with the debris cleared that got dumped on the beach from the recent heavy rains and the forecasts point to some pretty good conditions,” Robin said.

“We’ve got 34 clubs locked in, which is fantastic with plenty of local pride at stake and it will also be a great ongoing 50th anniversary celebration for Kirra Surfriders Club.”

The event can be followed live through www.compusurf.com.au.

Competition starts at Duranbah at 8am on all three days and will conclude at 4pm on Friday and Saturday and 2.30pm on Sunday.

The Volcom Kirra Teams Challenge is proudly supported by Volcom, TV4ME, Surfing Australia, Surfing Queensland, Allstate Partners, Bleach* Surfing The Fringe, IDIS, Connecting Southern Gold Coast, Gold Coast City Council, Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre, Rainbow Surf Life Saving Club, The Perfect Wave Surf Experience, Aluminium Access Systems, CM & SM Fraser Pty Ltd, Compusurf.

The Volcom Kirra Teams Challenge supports Hannah’s Chance Foundation.

2011 TOP FIVE CLUBS: Kirra, Merewether, North Narrabeen, Cabarita

PREVIOUS WINNERS: 2011 Snapper Rocks (Qld); 2010 Werri Boardriders (NSW); 2009 North End Boardriders (Qld); 2008 Kirra Surfriders (Qld); 2007 Lennox-Ballina (NSW); 2006 Byron Bay (NSW); 2005 Snapper Rocks (Qld); 2004 Snapper Rocks (Qld); 2003 Snapper Rocks (Qld); 2002 Byron Bay (NSW); 2001 Angourie (NSW); 2000 Avoca (NSW); 1999 Snapper Rocks (Qld); 1998 Noosa (Qld); 1997 Snapper Rocks (Qld); 1996 Snapper Rocks (Qld); 1995 Snapper Rocks (Qld); 1994 Kirra Surfriders (Qld); 1993 Kirra Surfriders (Qld); 1992 Byron Bay (NSW); 1991 Alley Boardriders (Qld); 1990 Kirra Surfriders (Qld); 1989 Snapper Rocks (Qld); 1988 North Shore (Qld); 1987 Merewether (NSW); 1986 Merewether (NSW); 1985 Kirra Surfriders (Qld).

SCHEDULE:
Competition starts at Duranbah at 8am on all three days and will conclude at 4pm on Friday and Saturday and 2.30pm on Sunday.

FRIDAY:
Heats 1 to 26
Round 1 - Juniors
Round 2 - Juniors
Round 3 - Open

SATURDAY:
Heats 27 to 51
Round 4 - Open
Round 5 - Open
Round 6 - Open

SUNDAY:
Heats 52 to 68
Round 7 - Open
Round 8 - Open

Each heat will be 20 minutes (unless advised otherwise by the Contest Director)