WOLLONGONG, NEW SOUTH WALES (December 04, 2025): Day 6 of the 2025 Australian Junior Surfing Titles was high stakes, to say the least. Quarter-final and semi-final action unfolded in tricky 1–2ft conditions at East Corrimal Beach, where patience, smart heat strategy and a bit of luck proved to be the winning formula as the draw for finals day began to take shape.
Quarter-finals for the U18 Men and Women, U16 Men and Women, and U14 Girls ran through the morning, followed by the U14 Boys semi-finals.
Heat winners and standout performers from Day 6 included:
U14 Boys: Jacques Callebaut (Freshwater, NSW), Harry Stephens (Port Macquarie, NSW), Lennox Lindsay (Culburra, NSW)
U14 Girls: Navah Holmes (Currumbin, QLD), Estella Carbonelli (Bells Beach, VIC)
U16 Men: Ashton Mekisic (Wollongong, NSW), Lucas Deffenti (Gold Coast, NSW)
U16 Women: Lani Cairncross (Illawarra, NSW), Eliza Richardson (Sunshine Beach, QLD)
U18 Men: Will Martin (Gold Coast, QLD), Ben Zanatta (Dee Why, NSW)
U18 Women: Stella Green (Sunshine Coast, QLD), Ava Arghyros (Kingscliff, NSW)
Stella Green (Sunshine Coast, QLD) found a few diamonds in the rough for a strong win in the quarter-finals:
“The waves were pretty small and challenging compared to yesterday, but I still found a couple of good ones. I picked off a few nice lefts, for some good scores and had fun in my heat.
Wollongong is amazing, the beaches are beautiful and has so many waves on offer.
Surfing Queensland has been so supportive, we have such a good team. Everyone’s always down on the beach cheering you on. It’s so fun.”
Ashton Mekisic (Wollongong, NSW) had to fight against two of his fellow statesmen to take the win in his U16 Men’s quarter-final heat.
“It was sick to battle it out with some of the other NSW competitors. The energy in the Surfing NSW team is unreal.
That was a really good heat. We all pushed each other the whole way. We wished each other luck before we paddled out, but once we hit the water it went pretty quiet. Everyone was locked in and focused on doing their job.”
In the final heat of the day Harry Stephens (Port Macquarie, NSW) hit the water in the U14 Boys. Conditions had really deteriorated but that didn’t stop Stephens getting to work:
“I’m super stoked. It was pretty tricky out there and you really had to be patient, but I managed to find a couple of good ones.
It’s always fun surfing against competitors from other states because everyone brings something different, but I’m definitely glad to come away with the win.”
Surfing Australia Contest Director Glen Elliott has been blown away by the standard of surfing all week and is really looking forward to what promises to be a thrilling finals day tomorrow:
“The talent we’ve seen this week has been absolutely incredible. Every heat has pushed these young surfers to raise their game. The level of skill, progression, and strategy in the water has been phenomenal.
“Tomorrow’s finals are shaping up to be a fitting climax to an action-packed week from Australia’s next generation of surfing stars. With tomorrow’s forecast looking promising, I’m really excited to see who steps up and takes the win.”
Day six of the 2025 Australian Junior Surfing Titles was challenging but necessary, and the stage is now set for the ultimate finals day. Which juniors will claim the crown and take the next step toward becoming Australia’s next surfing stars? The pressure is building, and with tomorrow’s forecast looking promising, it’s set to be an unforgettable finale.
All the finals day action will be streamed live on Surfing Australia’s YouTube channel. Watch LIVE on Friday, 5th December
For the full results and heat draw, visit LiveHeats.
About the Australian Junior Surfing Titles
The Australian Junior Surfing Titles encompass individual divisions for U14–U18 junior men and women, as well as a school surfing division for U16–U19 (MR Shield) junior men and women.
Champions in the U16 and U18 men’s and women’s divisions will earn selection to the Irukandjis Team to represent Australia at the 2026 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.
The seven-day competition window runs from November 29th to December 5th 2025, with the opening ceremony scheduled for Sunday, 28th November.
Event website: australianjuniorsurfingtitles.com.
The Australian Junior Surfing Titles are proudly supported by Destination Wollongong, Fujifilm Photos, Globe, Ritual Vision, Salty Crew, Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort, BLACKROLL, and Surfers For Climate
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