Mermaid Nobby Miami Boardriders Club, affectionately known as MNM, has taken out the gong for club of the year at the Australian Surfing Awards, held on the Gold Coast last week.

At a star-studded event, which saw the who’s who of Australian surfing recognise its best performers, MNM rubbed shoulders with winners and Hall of Fame inductees from across the country – with Stephanie Gilmore and Jack Robinson – who took out Female and Male Surfer of the Year respectively, accepting their awards from Hawaii where they're competing in the World Surf League's Sunset Beach event

Other highlights of the night included World Para Surfing Champion Emma Dieters winning Female Para Surfer of the Year and blind surfer Matt Formston taking home the Heavy Water Award recognising his incredible feat taking on the world's biggest wave, Nazare in Portugal.

The Simon Anderson Club Award recognises an Australian boardriders club whose outstanding performances in the water has been matched by contributions of all kinds to the benefit of its wider community.

MNM was one of three finalises for the award, alongside Long Reef Boardriders Club and Coffs Harbour Boardriders Club. 

Secretary Dave Bellman, speaking on behalf of the 20+ strong contingent representing the club at the awards said there’s a strong focus on culture at MNM. 

“MNM Boardriders prides itself as a family-oriented club built on solid community, family and competitive values,” Dave said. “Whilst we focus on high performance surfing in the water, more importantly, we focus on our club culture in and out of the water.”

That culture was evident at the recent Usher Cup, which saw the club take out the Teams Challenge, place second in the teams competition overall, cheer club member Ellie Brooks to second place in the women’s division AND take out the Team Spirit award at the event.

“This win means a lot to our grass roots club and is a very proud moment for all of us - from the under 12 micrgroms to the over 60 grandmasters,” Dave said.

The Surfing Australia win is just one in a string of recent milestones for the club which also celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.

“We were stoked to be attending the awards night. We were stoked to be awarded the Simon Anderson Club of the Year. And the stoke continued late into the night,” Dave said.

MNM member Lisa Brown, who won the club’s open women’s division in 2021 said she joined the club for her love of surfing and also because she “heard they needed more females.”

“I wanted to surf a competition before I was 50,” Lisa said, adding that it was exciting to be part of the large MNM crew witnessing the award announcement,.

“Out of 230 clubs, down to the final three then to take out the win was incredible,” Lisa said.

“It was such a proud moment for all the team that put in so much effort to run the club rounds throughout the years.”

Dave congratulated Surfing Australia for hosting a great night and recognising the achievements across many categories within the surfing world.

“A special thanks to Surfing Australia for recognising grass roots surfing and boardrider clubs. Boardrider clubs are where our future stars, judges, coaches and officials will all come from,” Dave said.

All the winners from the Australian Surfing Awards

MALE SURFER OF THE YEAR
Jack Robinson

HARVEY NORMAN FEMALE SURFER OF THE YEAR
Stephanie Gilmore 

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY MALE RISING STAR
Willis Droomer

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY FEMALE RISING STAR
Sierra Kerr

MALE PARA SURFER OF THE YEAR
Jack Jackson

FEMALE PARA SURFER OF THE YEAR
Emma Dieters

HEAVY WATER AWARD
Matthew Formston

REEFTIP GREATER GOOD AWARD
Cooper Chapman - The Good Human Factory

PETER TROY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Warren Smith

RUFFIE COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
Tom Whittaker

SURF SCHOOL OF THE YEAR AWARD
Maroochy Surf School
ACCIONA INNOVATION AWARD
Garmin Instinct Solar - Surf Edition

ZAMBRERO SURF CULTURE AWARD
Legends of Surf 72 - Andrew McKinnon, Karen Neilsen, Rod Brooks

SIMON ANDERSON CLUB AWARD
Mermaid Nobby's Miami (MNM) Boardriders

WOOLWORTHS INDIGENOUS SURFING COMMUNITY CELEBRATION AWARD
Macquarie Sports (Macquarie Group)

SURFING AUSTRALIA SURF VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Facing Monsters | Garage Entertainment

SURF PHOTO OF THE YEAR
Ted Grambeau

HALL OF FAME
Taj Burrow