ALL barges and boats lead to North Stradbroke Island this weekend for the prestigious Straddie Assault teams surfing challenge.
This year's Assault will unload heavy artillery in the form of Queensland's top-10 rated professional surfers, Bede Durbidge and Joel Parkinson.
World No. 8 Durbidge, a born-and-bred Straddie local now living on the Gold Coast, will represent the event's hosts, Point Lookout, and he's keen to help his club lift the winner's trophy.
It will be the first time in three years he has been allowed to surf in a teams contest as the Association of Surfing Professionals this year relaxed strict rules governing the top surfers.
"We're now allowed to go in one regional event and one national event," Durbidge said. "It will be great to surf for my club again, I can't wait."
Unfortunately, world No. 1 Mick Fanning won't be competing for Kirra as he already surfed for his Gold Coast club at the Malibu Teams Challenge in August.
But fellow "Coolangatta Kid" Joel Parkinson is almost certain to start for Snapper Rocks, which boasts a proud history as the dominating club at the Assault since 1984.
A Durbidge versus Parkinson heat would produce fireworks at the contest as Durbidge beat Parkinson at Snapper during the Quiksilver Pro in March this year. No doubt Parkinson would be keen to reverse that result at Durbidge's home break – Main Beach, Point Lookout.
Fishes Cafe at Point Lookout is proud to be a sponsor of the 2009 Straddie Assault. It's our second year sponsoring the event which is put together by the Point lookout Board Riders Club volunteers. Dale McDonald and the guys work really hard to make it happen and it is great to get the opportunity to help out" said Dan Battersby, owner of Fishes Cafe.
via Top guns hit Straddie Assault surfing challenge | The Courier-Mail.