Snapper Surfriders Club have confirmed their status as Australia’s premier boardriding club by winning the 2011 Rhythm Kirra Teams Challenge in excellent 1m (3feet) surf at Duranbah Beach on the southern Gold Coast. It was Snapper’s 9th win of this prestigious title, placing them well ahead of their closest rival Kirra who placed second.

Today’s victory was typical of this event, getting down to the very last surfer of their 8 man team to bring the victory home in a nail biting finish.

Clint Kimmins was the Snapper surfer with all the pressure placed on him as the final surfer. The equation was simple, win the heat and win the title for Snapper, lose and the title would be won by either Merewether (NSW) or Kirra (Qld). It was a see-sawing duel between Kimmins and Palm Beach Boardriders surfer Jeff Norris with multiple changes in the lead but in the end Kimmins won by just 0.23 of a point.

“That was the toughest heat I’ve surfed” said a relieved Kimmins after the heat. “ Surfing for the team, I knew the situation and I just tried to concentrate on surfing my best but the pressure was there – knowing Parko and Deano and the whole rest of the team had done their job to get us to a winning position – it was tough but it feels great now – we’re number one club!”

Snapper’s win was incredible as they started the event with 3 consecutive 2nd placings in their 8 surfer team and many thought they were gone in the early stages. However, their final 5 surfers brought home 5 consecutive wins and they stole the title.

Their team and heat placing were as follows – Blake Ainsworth (2nd), Mitch Crews (2nd),  Jay Phillips (2nd), Ice Periera-Ryan (1st), Shaun Gossman (1st), Joel Parkinson (1st), Dean Morrison (1st) and Clint Kimmins (1st).