Yes it’s almost that time again. The Baxter shield is fast approaching (Saturday July 28) and once again we have been very busy planning the event to make it even bigger and better than ever before.

If your have been to one of these days before you know it is one of the best days of the year but for those that aren’t familiar with the event, the annual tag team surfing competition is in honour of colourful Maroubra local Paul ‘The Animal’ Baxter who died in 1984 in the seas off Ballina. This special surfing event has been growing in stature every year and the focus is really on just having as much fun as possible to honour the late Paul Baxter. Although the day is run by Southend Boardriders it is really an event for the whole local community to get into and be a part of. We are encouraging all local surfers and spectators to come down on the day and be a part of the great atmosphere, have some food, listen to some funky music and watch some good ‘old skool’ surfing.

Competing surfers are allocated into predetermined teams with surfing being held on ‘retro’ twin-fin and single-fin surfboards in an effort to claim the coveted Paul Baxter Shield. Apart from the surfing there are also a few other ‘skills’ and events that contribute to getting points for your team and beating the others.

All members of the winning team then have their names etched into local surfing history, placed on the perpetual trophy (a surfboard) on permanent display at the Sands Hotel Maroubra. Normal contest surfing is very much an individually focused discipline whereas surfing for a team involves different strategies and skills but more importantly it is just a heap of fun!

This contest is an open pre-paid surfing event with only a limited amount of surfing spots available and will be on a ‘first in, first served’ basis….Keep in mind that positions do fill up quickly and there is a maximum of only 64 surfers that can compete on the day. We currently have well over 170 members at Southend  this year – (so get in early to guarantee your spot or you will miss out).

Entry is now open to anyone aged 14 and over and is a bargain at only $20 (if you register and pay prior to June 30), which includes surfer entry, a  1 of a kind KILLER T-shirt, breakfast, lunch, drinks, plenty of live entertainment, great prizes, special guests and the chance to have your name forever etched in surfing history!

To register go to  the ‘Purchase’ section on the website or simply click http://southendboardriders.com.au/purchase/paul-baxter-shield/  where you can pay online.

Additionally payments can also be made via Electronic Funds Transfer (Direct Deposit).

Bank details are:

Bank: Commonwealth Bank

BSB:062 298

Acct:0090 1918

Acct Name:Southend Boardriders

*If paying by Direct Deposit, please make sure you use your name as the payment reference and include your shirt size

 Stay tuned as we will keep updating information on the website, Facebook, Twitter etc.