Sophie Thomas, Matt Hardiman to compete in inaugural Super Surf League

Matt Hardiman and Sophie Thomas were selected in the "Vic Blues" Super Surf League team for the three-event series which starts on Sunday at Bulli in NSW.

The final two rounds are set for Surfers Paradise on December 15 and North Cronulla on January 19.

The Super Surf League features eight-person teams (four men and four women) going head-to-head in a variety of surf, board and swimming events, in both single and mixed-gender competitions.

READ MORE:

Hardiman, who recently started a traineeship in the parks and gardens team at Warrnambool City Council, said he was eager to give the new series a go.

"It's an exciting format because it's something completely new for the sport," the 20-year-old said.

"It gives me a chance to go up and race against the best paddlers and surf lifesavers in Australia."

Hardiman, who has been picked as one of the team's board paddlers, said he and Thomas had no expectations ahead of this weekend's opening round.

"We both have open minds and are just hoping to do our best and get some good results," he said.

"On the same page it's excited to see how it's going to be run and even to be linked in with the Nutri Grain Ironman Series is very cool."

Hardiman said the series provided the duo with a good springboard so they can launch into the 2019-20 lifesaving season with the WSLSC's competition squad.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.