Women’s Pro Junior Finalists Set as Men’s Semifinals Take Shape at Phillip Island Pro

CAPE WOOLAMAI, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia (Sunday, March 1, 2026) – A short day of action at the World Surf League (WSL) Phillip Island Pro Qualifying Series (QS) 4000 and Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) events saw the Final for the women’s JQS decided, along with Semifinals for the men. An inconsistent one-to-two-foot swell made for trying conditions, requiring smart wave selection from Asia Pacific’s best juniors, along with their small wave skills.

The final heat of the day saw current Australia/Oceania QS rankings leader Lucy Darragh (AUS) move into the second Pro Junior Final of her career. In both her heats today, the 15-year-old from the South Coast of NSW found success choosing long walls that would allow her to unleash her sharp backhand attack. Competing in only her third Pro Junior, New Zealand’s Leia Millar (NZL) advanced in second place behind Darragh to move into her first-ever WSL Final.

Willow Hardy (AUS) was able to hang on to a berth in the Final despite drawing an early interference against Rita Suzuki (JPN). Hardy posted the highest heat total of the day in the Quarterfinals, 14.83 (out of a possible 20), and still managed to place second in her Semifinal despite having one of her scores halved. The current No. 2 on the Australia/Oceania Junior rankings, Ava Arghyros (AUS) took the heat win to move into her second consecutive Final.

Another Finalist from the opening event of the season moved through to the men’s Semifinals, with Lucas Hickson (AUS) continuing his strong junior run in 2026. After taking the win at Newcastle, Hickson is now primed to further his junior rankings lead on home ground in Victoria. Looking sharp in the small surf, the 19-year-old from Mornington Peninsula is hoping to keep the momentum going.

“I’m pretty happy [to make the Semifinals],” Hickson said. “The waves were real slow out there today. I’m just happy I got a couple of waves at the start of the heat and got lucky. I love this place, it’s so good. The waves are exactly like my house, like from home. So happy about that, and just keep the ball rolling, hopefully.”

Though moving through in second place in his past two heats, reigning WSL World Junior Champion Dane Henry (AUS) continues forward in the draw. Another junior champion, ISA U/16 gold medalist Ocean Lancaster (AUS) posted the highest men’s heat total of the day, with a 7.33 (out of a possible 10) boosting his two-wave heat total to 13.26. Sammy Lowe (AUS) and Maverick Wilson (AUS) both continued their redemption runs after getting knocked out of the QS, while Jay Phipps (FRA) remains successful across both.

The 2026 Phillip Island Pro QS 4000 and Pro Junior events will run at Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island, Bass Coast From February 26 to March 4, 2026. For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.