SUP VIC Becomes 100th Member of the VB Boardriders Club

Surfing Victoria – Thursday 22 September 2011: The VB Boardriders Club has hit the century mark with SUP VIC becoming the 100th member. Australia’s best cold beer VB and Surfing Australia are proudly supporting the grassroots of Australian surfing, the boardriding clubs, via the exclusive VB Boardriders Club. SUP VIC is a bayside club based at Sandringham on Melbourne’s east coast and was established three years ago. Club president Paul Harrington said the club started with five enthusiasts and now boasted a membership of 80. The club has the best of both worlds – Port Phillip Bay for its flatwater racing and the east coast for their surfing events. “Over the upcoming summer we’re going to have some sort of event every two to three weeks whether it be part of our racing program or a surfing event,” Paul said. “The interest is always building so we’re hoping to see a big breakout season for club numbers. The biggest thing in Victoria at the moment is the number of women having a go and we’re seeing more mothers groups and school-hours groups getting involved for the fitness.” Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark thanked Australia’s grassroots boardriding clubs for joining the program. “It is fantastic to have the 100th club join the VB Boardriders club program,” Andrew said. “The support of Boardriders Clubs nationally has ensured the success of this great initiative and we thank all 100 clubs that have embraced the program to date.” As the 100th club, SUP VIC will receive an awesome pack of VB goodies. Chief Marketing Officer for Carlton United Brewers Paul Donaldson said VB was overwhelmed by the response to the VB Boardriders Club. “We’re pumped that so many local surf clubs have signed on with VB and got so much benefit for their clubs,” Paul said. “Most of the crew that manage VB are surfers and all we wanted to do was help local clubs stay strong and keep growing, so this is a great result. “Along the way, we’ve loved being able to share a few cold ones with surfers from clubs all around Australia. We’re all about a few quiet beers after a surf and this has been something we plan to continue into the future as we support the local surfing communities around the country.” “It is great to see one of our newest clubs become VB’s 100th club,” said Surfing Victoria Executive Director Max Wells. “SUP VIC are a really passionate group and are working hard to build a great culture at their club and being part of the VB Boardriders just continues to help them on their way.” Surfing Australia affiliated boardriding clubs are able to join the official VB Boardriders Club, with each new club receiving a VB club pack including a designated amount of VB product and a VB Boardriders esky. Boardriding clubs also have the chance to win a range of fantastic monthly prizes as well as go into the draw to win the VB Boardriders Club of the Year, which will be announced on the 30th November. In addition to the VB Boardriders Club of the Year, Australia’s 2.5 million recreational surfers are also in the running for the VB “Slab of the Week”. It is an online competition through www.surfingaustralia.com that offers surfers the chance to win a weekly prize for the best tube or gnarliest wave ridden in Australian waters. Weekly winners will then go into the draw to win the “VB Slab of the Year” and some serious prizes. Potential entrants will need to upload video or photographic evidence showcasing their best slab to be in the running. The “VB Slab of the Week” confirms VB as the true beer of surfing and a major supporter of grass roots surfing in Australia. VB also provides support sponsorship to the Australian Surfing Festival, comprising the Australian Longboard, Open Surfmasters and Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Titles, as well as an array of events on the state branch calendars and Australian surfing’s night of nights, the Australian Surfing Awards. The deal also incorporates VB’s support sponsorship of some of the country’s most iconic events including the Margaret River Prime Pro Surfing event in Western Australia and the Noosa Festival of Surfing in Queensland. http://www.surfingaustralia.com/news-details.php?id=1960