Champions Crowned at the 13th Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles Presented by Rip Curl

Djarrak / Bells Beach, VIC  (31/05/2026) – The 13th Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles presented by Rip Curl concluded today at Djarrak / Bells Beach on Wadawurrung Country, with Australian champions crowned across nine divisions following a memorable finals day at the spiritual home of Australian surfing.

Now in its thirteenth year, the Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles presented by Rip Curl once again proved why it is one of the most significant gatherings on the national surfing calendar, bringing together elite Indigenous surfers, emerging talent and communities from across the country for three days of competition, culture and connection on the iconic Surf Coast.

The morning delivered more consistent surf than the previous day, with clean conditions providing plenty of scoring opportunities as competitors worked their way through quarterfinal and semifinal action. As the day progressed, so too did the swell, with the afternoon finals contested in pumping overhead conditions at Djarrak / Bells Beach.

Taj Simon (Port Kembla, NSW) claimed his first Open Men’s championship after multiple near misses in previous years. Simon looked sharp throughout the event and carried that momentum into the final, landing a lofty air reverse for an excellent 8.67-point ride before backing it up with a long Bells runner featuring multiple carves for a 5.37-point score:

“Oh man, it feels so good to finally get the win. I’ve been doing these events for quite a few years now, so to come out on top is a pretty special feeling.

The vibes here are always unreal. Everyone feels like family, and it’s so good to reconnect with people each year. The level of surfing is always high, but it’s about so much more than that. It’s about the connections, the culture and getting everyone together. That’s what makes this event so special.”

Leihani Kaloha Zoric (Broken Head, NSW) secured back-to-back Open Women’s and Junior Girls’ titles today, successfully defending the crowns she claimed in 2025. Zoric won the Open Women’s final by 2.04 points and the Junior Girls’ final by an impressive 6.30 points:

“It felt really good to win this comp. I just wanted to have heaps of fun and enjoy the moment, and that usually brings out my best performance.

Everyone is having fun and has such a positive attitude, which really rubs off on everyone. I feel more positive just being around them, they’re honestly some of the coolest people ever.

Getting to spend the last few days with everyone has been a dream come true. They inspire me both in and out of the water, and the people are the best part of this event.”

Another big standout on finals day was Malakai Carson (Old Bar, NSW), who posted an 8.00-point ride in the Open Men’s final to secure a third-place finish. Carson then went on to claim the Junior Boys title in dominant fashion, recording the highest score of the entire event, a near-perfect 9.60-point ride, before backing it up with a 9.00. His impressive two-wave total of 18.60 points left the rest of the field chasing a combination score, capping off an incredible performance from Carson.

The 13th Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles presented by Rip Curl once again highlighted the incredible depth of Indigenous surfing talent across Australia, bringing together the nation’s top surfers for three days of competition, culture and connection at Djarrak / Bells Beach.

Year after year, the event continues to raise the bar both in and out of the water, delivering world-class performances while celebrating the communities, stories and traditions that make it so special.

A huge congratulations to all of our champions and competitors on an outstanding event. This competition remains one of the most significant and anticipated gatherings on the national surfing calendar.

Champions:

Open Men’s

1. Taj Simon – 14.04 pts
2. Landen Smales – 13.10 pts
3. Malakai Carson – 13.00 pts
4. Rohnin Henry Micale – 8.16 pts

Open Women’s

1. Leihani Zoric – 13.07 pts
2. Malia Simon – 11.03 pts
3. Kauri Hueston-Connor – 8.50 pts
4. Matilda Thearle – 5.17 pts

Masters Men

1. Christian Pritchett – 13.83 pts
2. Rhys Collins – 11.77 pts
3. Matt Mooney – 10.93 pts
4. Robbie Page – 9.70 pts

Masters Women

1. Kirsty Shaw – 16.66 pts
2. Angela King – 9.83 pts
3. Melissa Combo – 7.60 pts
4. Ingrid Cumming – N/A

Men’s Longboard

1. Kaiden Smales – 15.70 pts
2. Rhys Collins – 15.16 pts
3. Rohnin Henry Micale – 9.77 pts
4. Joe Murray – 8.97 pts

Women’s Longboard

1. Melissa Combo – 11.57 pts
2. Angela King – 11.23 pts
3. Delilah Chisholm – 7.43 pts
4. Jessi Muir – 4.83 pts

Men’s Over 50

1. Brook Silvester – 12.70 pts
2. Scotty Winch – 12.23 pts
3. Robbie Page – 10.17 pts
4. Steffan Krasna – 7.27 pts

Junior Boys

1. Malakai Carson – 18.60 pts
2. Joe Rocco Sommerville – 13.43 pts
3. Seth Baillie – 12.04 pts
4. Charlie Chisholm – 8.67 pts

Junior Girls

1. Leihani Zoric – 17.57 pts
2. Kauri Hueston-Connor – 11.27 pts
3. Malia Simon – 9.94 pts
4. Delilah Chisholm – 5.94 pts

Full results can be found via www.australianindigenoussurfingtitles.com

The Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles is presented by Rip Curl and Headsox and supported by the Victorian Government, Surf Coast Events, VicHealth, Surfing Australia, Play it Safe by the Water, Cancer Council Sunscreen, Mizu Drinkbottles, Feed Me Surf Coast and Surf Better Now.