"Stay happy and you'll be perfectly fine" - Jack Norris

Girls grace Jim Beam Surftag Series this weekend at Curl Curl

The Jim Beam  Surftag has spread its wings in 2008, with the heralding of the Jim Beam  Women’s Surftag to take place this weekend.
 
As the newest event  on the Jim Beam Surftag Series, this weekend’s  event will see the premier women’s boardriding clubs in NSW, ranging from  Newcastle in the north to Wollongong in the south, ready to battle it out  
 
With ten teams jam packed with the female professional surfing  stars of the future and current ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS)  the action is sure to be electric as  local pride is put to the test at Curl Curl.

Unlike conventional surfing contests  which play upon individual results, the Jim Beam Women’s Surftag is a teams  based event drawing upon the performances of five surfers per  team.

Add bonus points and a prize purse  of $2500 and you have a perfect recipe for some  innovative and passionate surfing, whilst fostering confidence and comradary  amongst the girls.

One such  competitor looking forward to this weekend is current surfing, modelling and  lifestyle starlet Paige Houden (Fairlight, NSW) who’ll be donning the  competitive rash vest.

“It’s such a good initiative from Jim Beam to bring the tag-team format to women’s  surfing,” Houden said.

“I’m stoked to be home for this  event and being able to hang out with all the girls, have fun and enjoy the  day,” she added.

Having graced the competitive junior  circuit, Houden now travels the world promoting the importance of female surfing.

“It can be intimidating for girls  surfing in general, but to bring together a host of the best female surfers  competing together is so positive for female surfing,” Houden admitted.

“An event like this will help to  build confidence for all girls associated and definitely raise the profile of  the Series.” 

Playing upon the passion and tribal  nature of surfing, the Jim Beam Women’s Surftag also sees female boardrider clubs from around the state competing against each other in a team environment  – something not regularly seen in surfing.
 
“Boardrider clubs are  the base of the surfing landscape, to be able to compete in a team environment  with all the girls is awesome in a predominantly individual sport,” Houden stated.

With $2500 up for grabs and the possibility of surfing against  former ASP World Champion Chelsea Hedges (Gold Coast, QLD), who has been asked  to compete with Avalon, this weekend is gearing up to be a one not to be  missed.
 
Steve Harrison, Global Surftag Managing Director, is over  the moon about the prospect this weekend and the growth of the Series as a  whole.
 
“Very happy that Jim Beam have decided to expand the  series,” Harrison said.

“This year’s series is inclusive of  women and aims at reaching the girls to reflect the growing number of female  surfers out in the line up.”

For more information be sure to log  on to www.globalsurftag.com.