Pumping Waves and Historic Wins on Finals Day at the Australian Junior Surfing Titles

WOLLONGONG, NEW SOUTH WALES (December 05, 2025): Finals day of the 2025 Australian Junior Surfing Titles saw the nation’s best juniors take to the water in a battle for national glory. McCauley’s Beach served up clean, consistent 3ft surf all day, thanks to a spike in NE swell and offshore north-westerly winds, setting the perfect stage for a thrilling conclusion to an incredible week in Wollongong.

With the best waves of the event, competitors produced the highest-quality surfing of the week, leaving fans and judges alike in awe.

Today’s champions have joined an extremely prestigious list of Australian surfing royalty, including Stephanie Gilmore, Molly Picklum, Mick Fanning and Owen Wright.

Surfing Australia Contest Director Glen Elliott praised all participants and organisers for an incredible finish to the 2025 Australian Junior Surfing Titles:

“An amazing finish to an incredible event! The athletes, teams, managers, and coaches have all been extremely professional throughout the week.

We’ve had four different locations, and I couldn’t ask for a better way to wrap up the 2025 Australian Junior Surfing Titles. McCauley’s Beach is absolutely pumping for day seven.

The semi-finalists and finalists have met every performance measure the judges were looking for, with plenty of high scores and outstanding surfing all day. It’s been an incredible day of competition, and I give my sincere thanks to everyone involved.”

U18 Men’s Final

Ben Zanatta (Dee Why, NSW) had been consistent all week, peaking at the perfect time. Using clinical rail work and critical backhand snaps, he dropped a 7.80 and 7.58 for a 15.38 heat total, taking the win over Will Martin (Gold Coast, QLD) in one of the closest heats of the day. With this championship, Zanatta has now qualified for the Australian National Surfing Team, the Irukandjis, and will compete in the 2026 ISA World Junior Surfing Championships.

“I’m over the moon. To qualify for the Australian National Surfing Team means the world to me. I’ve been waiting a long time for this, it’s been a goal of mine for ages.

In that final, my second wave was my best score; I felt really sharp on my backhand. I was thinking about going right and trying an air, but I chose to stick to my strengths, and it paid off.”

U18 Women’s Final

Conditions got a little tricky for the U18 Women’s final, but Stella Green (Sunshine Coast, QLD) found a few diamonds in the rough. Using powerful, near-perfect rail surfing, she dropped one of the highest scores of the day, an 8.25, for a 14.15 heat total, taking the win over Ava Arghyros (Kingscliff, NSW). With this victory, Green has now qualified for the Australian National Surfing Team, The Irukandjis, and will compete in the 2026 ISA World Junior Surfing Championships.

“That was such a tough final. Ava rips so hard. I just found this left with priority, did two big turns and ended up with an 8-point ride. I was still stressed because I know how well Ava surfs and she has the ability to flip a heat at any moment, but thankfully this one went my way.

Qualifying for the Australian team has been a goal of mine for the past three years. I’m so stoked to join The Irukandjis. I really can’t believe it.”

U16 Men’s Final

Securing his spot on The Irukandjis, Ashton Crowley (Lennox Head, NSW) claimed victory over Joey Silk (Crescent Head, NSW) in a nail-biting heat under some of the best conditions of the day. Having recently relocated from South Australia, Crowley had two states cheering him on as he posted an 8.13 and 7.30 for a 15.43 heat total and the win.

“I can’t even think, I’m just so stoked. It’s a dream come true. I’m shaking.

My plan was to take off and get as deep as possible, then come around the section and go as vertical as I could. I managed to get five great waves in that heat and I’m so pumped.

It feels pretty special to have two states cheering for me.”

U16 Women’s Final

Talia Tebb (Kincumber, NSW) has claimed back-to-back Australian Junior Surfing Titles, winning the U14 Girls in 2024 and taking victory today in the U16 Women’s final over Eliza Richardson (Sunshine Beach, QLD). This marks her second national title and her first qualification for the Australian National Surfing Team.

“I’m super stoked to win the U16 Girls, going back to back from last year. It feels really special.

The waves changed a lot in our heat. It was a pretty slow start for both of us, but I tried to stay busy and chase critical closeout turns because I knew that was one of my strengths.

The Irukandjis are over in Peru at the moment and it looks so sick. It feels amazing to know I’ve qualified and have the chance to represent Australia next year. It’s been a goal of mine for years.

U14 Boy’s Final

In a nail-biting U14 Boys final, Lennox Lindsay (Kulburra, NSW) held a comfortable lead for most of the heat. With five minutes remaining, Harry Stephens (Port Macquarie, NSW) dropped the highest score of the heat, a 7.15, to take the lead. But with priority and less than a minute left, Lindsay took off on a right-hander and scored a 6.65 to reclaim the win.
 

U14 Girl’s Final

In the U14 Girls final, Navah Holmes (Currumbin, QLD) delivered textbook rail surfing, posting a 6.63 and 5.38 for a 12.01 heat total to take a strong victory by 4.63 over Estella Carbonelli (Bells Beach, VIC). Both surfers were incredible throughout the heat, showcasing skill, determination, and competitive spirit. With performances like these, the future of women’s junior surfing in Australia looks brighter than ever.

Finals day at the 2025 Australian Junior Surfing Titles delivered on every level. The surf was pumping, the pressure peaked, and Australia’s next generation of surfing stars stepped up to deliver the best surfing all week. With champions crowned and history made, the Australian Junior Surfing Titles continues to be the nation’s pinnacle junior surfing event; a grand stage for Australia’s next surfing talents.
 

Final Results:

U18 Men
Ben Zanatta (Dee Why, NSW) – 15.38
Will Martin (Gold Coast, QLD) – 13.78

U18 Women
Stella Green (Sunshine Coast, QLD) – 14.15
Ava Arghyros (Kingscliff, NSW) – 13.00

U16 Men
Ashton Crowley (Lennox Head, NSW) – 15.43
Joey Silk (Crescent Head, NSW) – 12.10

U16 Women
Talia Tebb (Kincumber, NSW) – 11.25
Eliza Richardson (Sunshine Beach, QLD) – 6.01

U14 Boys
Lennox Lindsay (Kulburra, NSW) – 13.40
Harry Stephens (Port Macquarie, NSW) – 13.28

U14 Girls
Navah Holmes (Currumbin, QLD) – 12.01
Estella Carbonelli (Bells Beach, VIC) – 7.38

MR Shield U19 Boys
Illawarra Sports High

MR Shield U19 Girls
Dromana College

MR Shield U16 Boys
Margaret River High School

MR Shield U16 Girls
Palm Beach Currumbin

State Tag Team
Queensland

Overall State Winner
Queensland

Surfing Australia Special Awards:
Duke Kahanamoku Award: Ben Zanatta (Dee Why, NSW)
Isabel Letham Award: Talia Tebb (Kincumber, NSW)
Globe Breakout Performer: Leo Matchett (Gold Coast, QLD)
Salty Crew Wave of the Event: Tully Crompton (Tugun, QLD) – 9.00 pt ride – Rnd 3 Ht 6

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