Junior and Open Champions Crowned and 2027 Irukandjis Team Spots Allocated at Thermos Australian Longboard Titles

CABARITA BEACH, NSW (July 26, 2026): The opening divisions of the 2026 Thermos Australian Longboard Titles have wrapped up on the Tweed Coast, with Australian Champions crowned in the Under-18 and Open divisions, and selections made for the 2027 Irukandjis Longboard Team, Australia’s National Surfing Team.

Across the opening weekend, competitors were treated to longboarding perfection at Cabarita Beach, with sunshine, light winds, and clean waves providing the ideal canvas for Australia’s best emerging and elite longboarders. Sunday’s finals day delivered high-performance surfing across every division, with national titles and international selection on the line.

The junior divisions got underway with a tightly contested Under-18 Women’s Finalbetween Queenslanders and long-time rivals Luana Matthies and Poppy Wright. It wasn’t the first time the pair had gone head-to-head for an Australian title, and once again, they delivered a close battle. With just 0.60 points separating them, Wright held her nerve to claim victory with the highest single wave score of the heat (7.50pts), defeating reigning champion Matthies to secure her third Australian Junior Longboard Title.

Jive Constable (QLD) got the celebrations underway for the Constable family, claiming the Under 18-Men’s Australian Title in a tight final. The young Queenslander held his nerve when it mattered most to secure the win and claim his third Australian Junior Longboard Title.

With qualification for ‘The Irukandjis’ at stake, and the opportunity to represent Australia at the 2027 ISA World Longboard Championships, the Open divisions once again delivered the headline Finals of the weekend

Later in the day, 2006 WSL World Longboard Champion, Josh Constable — Jive’s father! — added another chapter to the family’s incredible legacy, taking out the Open Men’s Australian Title to collect a remarkable 10th Australian Longboard crown. The victories completed a memorable father-son double on the Tweed Coast, capping off a day the Constable family won’t soon forget!

Constable defeated Clinton Guest (QLD) in a tightly fought Open Men’s Final to continue his remarkable run of success at the national level. The victory further cemented Constable’s status as one of Australian longboarding’s most successful athletes, while also securing his place in the 2027 Irukandjis Longboard Team.

While Constable was unable to accept his place in the 2026 ISA World Longboard Championships due to a special family commitment — his son Jive’s high school graduation! — he will once again proudly wear the green and gold again as part of the Irukandjis team in 2027.

“It feels amazing to win my Australian Title this year. To go back-to-back is really special and it’s been a goal of mine.

“My son is competing in the Juniors and won his Australian Title earlier today, so there was definitely a bit of pressure on me to step up and win one as well. I don’t know if it’s been done before, a father and son both winning Australian Titles. It’s really special. It’s a big achievement for our family, and I couldn’t be happier.

I’m really proud of the way Jive has been surfing and competing. Next year he steps up into the Opens, so maybe it’s time for me to bow out and let him take over! [laughs] But it would be pretty amazing to surf some heats together, or even a final together in the Open Men’s.

“Representing Australia has always been special. I’ve been fortunate to do that many times, but I haven’t won a gold. I’ve had a couple of silvers and a bronze, so to win a gold for our country would be really special. I was hungry to win today because I want to represent Australia again, and I want to win gold.” — Josh Constable

15-year-old Luana Matthies (QLD) saved her best for last, claiming the Open Women’s Australian Longboard Title with a polished display in the final. Having narrowly missed out on defending her Under-18 title earlier in the day, Matthies returned with renewed determination, producing high performance surfing when the stakes we highest to secure Australia’s most prestigious Open Longboard crown. 

Luana continues to establish herself as one of Australia’s most exciting young longboard talents. Her win secured her a place in the 2027 Irukandjis Longboard Team, earning the teenager a spot among the country’s best as she looks to represent Australia next year at the 2027 ISA World Longboard Surfing Championships!

“It was hard coming back from falling just short in the Juniors, to then surfing again in the Open Women’s, but I’m so stoked I was able to get the win! Being able to represent Australia is really a dream come true, and I’m super excited for it.”

“A massive shout out to my parents and my brother Hosea who was also competing in this event. They’re my biggest supporters. They’re always bringing us to comps and they’re always on the beach supporting”

“It’s definitely been a great comp. The waves are pretty similar to what we get at home, so it’s been really fun to surf these conditions.” — Luana Matthies

From Under-18 rising stars to Over-70 legends, the Thermos Australian Longboard Titles remain one of the only events in the country where an athlete’s entire competitive pathway is showcased on the same stage.

The 2026 Thermos Australian Longboard Titles will continue throughout the week as the Masters divisions take centre stage. Australian titles remain up for grabs in the Over 40, Over 50, Over 55, Over 60, Over 65 and Over 70 divisions, before the event concludes later this week on the Tweed Coast.

2026 Thermos Australian Longboard Titles Final Results:

U18 Women

1. Poppy Wright (QLD) 11.50 pts

2. Luana Matthies (QLD) 10.90 pts

3. Olive Morriss (NSW) 5.60 pts

4. Lola Boykett (NSW) 5.13 pts

Under 18 Men

1. Jive Constable (QLD) 12.63 pts

2. Kobi Chau (NSW) 11.90 pts

3. Hosea Matthies (QLD) 11.26 pts

4. Lennix Currie (QLD) 6.17 pts

Thermos Open Women

1. Luana Matthies (QLD) 13.40 pts

2. Rori Reyntjes (VIC) 11.26 pts

3. Emma Perrier (NSW) 10.30 pts

4. Kirra Molnar (QLD) 8.84 pts

 

Thermos Open Men

1. Josh Constable (QLD) 15.07 pts

2. Clinton Guest (QLD) 11.77 pts

3. William Crowe (NSW) 9.73 pts

4. Lennix Currie (QLD) 8.83 pts

O40 Men – TBD

O40 Women – TBD

O50 Men – TBD

O50 Women – TBD

O55 Men – TBD

O60 Men – TBD

O60 Women – TBD

O65 Men – TBD

O70 Men – TBD

Wayne Deane Spirit Of Longboarding Award – TBD

2026 Overall State Champion: TBD