Thirty-Six of Australia’s leading professional surf boat crews will converge on Dee Why Beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches on Saturday for the final of the $200,000 Evive Ocean Thunder Pro Surf Boat Series. 

And if the first three rounds are anything to go by then the final will be one of the most spectacular surf sports events of the year. 

The 2008 Series has already produced a host of thrills and spills with carnage the order of the day and first aid officers and ambulances at the ready. 

The stage is set for a tantalising final showdown with men’s competition leaders Ego Platinum Austinmer and women’s leaders Manly Aluminum Windows South Curl Curl in the box seats.

And if the “surf gods” have any say in proceedings then Dee Why is set to turn on the surf again. 

Series organiser Gary Watts said the 2008 final was heading towards an exciting climax. 

“We are expecting 1.2 metre waves and a sunny day – that would suit us fine,” said Watts. 

“The big waves have been kind to us in the first three rounds and it has been the most exciting Series we’ve had with some spectacular action for television. 

“It would be a great climax to the season if ‘huey’ turns it on again for us.” 

Jack Patison’s Austinmer, who won last year’s final to clinch a nail-biting Series win are in front on 67 points – only four clear of Richard Brierty’s round three winners Skilled Services Avoca (63) and the vastly improved Your Style North Curl Curl (59), swept by Australian champion sweep Shaun Stacey. 

Avoca won round three from Austinmer in a survival of the strongest as two-metre waves pounded the crews and there is every likely hood that if Patison and Brierty get their way they will go head-to-head in the final to determine the 2008 champions. 

Stacey’s North Curl Curl combination has been the big improver and one false move and anything could happen in the big waves. 

Other men’s crews in contention are Ozwide Loans Bulli (55) two-time Australian champions Pure Blonde Nth Cottesloe (51) Reilly & Sons Food Services Warriewood (51) and the ever-present e-Go Pacific Palms (50). 

In the women’s Series, the nation’s top female crews South Curl Curl and Manly Warringah Credit Union Queenscliff are set for an exciting re-match to be crowned 2008 Series champions, with Gold Coast crew NR Perry Surf Boats Currumbin also ready to pounce. 

South Curl Curl are desperate to wash away the memories of last year where they sat in pole position going into the last round only for unpredictable big waves to knock them out and hand the series to Queenscliff. 

Currumbin, with sweep Lyle Clark back in the boat after breaking his nose in round three, are the sleepers. 

As far as the South Curl Curl girls are concerned they will be rowing for “a little bit of justice.”

The crew of Kate Mortimer, Elly Gillis, Lara Raymond, Amy Chaffey along with super subs in Genevieve Graham and Yanda Nossiter and sweep by Chris ‘Ribs’ Fleming have shown  they are back bigger and better than ever this summer. 

The current Sydney Northern Beaches Branch champions and newly crowned Australian Surf Rowers League title holders from last weekend are in strong form with experienced bow, Lara Raymond admitting the crew has formed an incredible bond. 

“We’ve been through hard times together and the memory of last year when the waves were big and Bondi ran into us is what surf is all about,” Raymond said 

“You can only give it the best shot you can in the conditions and that wasn’t to be for us but now it’s given us more desire to succeed and that’s showing every time we hop in the boat.” 

Raymond has been involved with women’s boat rowing for over a decade winning multiple national medals and believes from her experience that this crew has what it takes to match it with the best in the nation. 

“A great crew needs fitness, technique and especially that spirit from all the rowers, reserves and sweep and we have that,” she said. 

“Every race gives us an indication of where we are at and right now I think we’re on par with the best in the sport.” 

“I don’t think any of the girls mind the big surf and most just want it to be even for everyone but that can’t always be the case and there’s nothing wrong with copping a whacking sometimes.” 

In the last round, South Curl Curl’s stand-in anchor runner, Amy Chaffey produced an amazing final fling at the flag to hold off Avoca’s flying former NSW iron woman champion Kate McNamara for the smallest of margins to grab the win.

It was a career highlight for Chaffey who took over the sprint finish duties earlier in the day after Raymond who had suffered a badly corked thigh, was unable to return.

South Curl Curl lead on top of the women’s table on 60 points from defending champions Manly Warringah Credit Union Queenscliff (56), with new comers NR Perry Boats Currumbin (56) with Red Steer Hotel Motel (48),  PCL-Panz Jan Juc (48) Greenstone McMasters Beach (46) and The Surf Club Mooloolaba (40) rounding out the top seven. 

TIME OF EVENT: 8:00am-4:00pm, Dee Why Beach

Evive Charger Ocean Thunder Pro Surf Boat Series Cumulative Pointscore, Men: Men: Ego Platinum Austinmer (67) Skilled Services Avoca Beach (63) Your Style North Curl Curl (59) Ozwide Loans Bulli (55) Pure Blonde Nth Cottesloe (51) Reilly & Sons Food Services Warriewood (51) e-Go Pacific Palms (50)  PCL - Panz Jan Juc (48) Sandran Whale Beach (47) Byron Bay Premium Ale Elouera (38.5) York Linings Dixon Park (37) Surf Club Mooloolaba (36.5) Ego E Batt (36) Rubelli Sth Curl Curl (35) Cable Cage Manly (33) Stockland Currumbin (32) Universal Resorts Bronte (30) Skilled Avalon Beach (27) Hogs Breath Rainbow Bay (27) Certe Group Whale Beach (19) Dial B4 You Dig Moruya (16) R-Marine Salt (16) Slattery Half Moon Bay (15) Martha Cove Rosebud (11).

Evive Charger Ocean Thunder Pro Surf Boat Series Cumulative
Pointscore, Women: Manly Aluminium Windows Sth Curl Curl (60) Manly Warringah Credit Union Queenscliff (56) NR Perry Boats Currumbin (56) Red Steer Hotel Motel (48) PCL-Panz Jan Juc (48) Greenstone McMasters Beach (46) The Surf Club Mooloolaba (40) Skilled Services Avoca Beach (38) Dial B4 You Dig Moruya (30) RPQ Met Caloundra (20) Acacia Embroidery Avalon Beach (16) Dial B4 You Dig Bondi Beach (10).