Western Australia has wrapped up a strong campaign at the 2026 Australian Shortboard Titles in Wollongong, with Okie Fraser (Gnarabup) and Paul Dupuy (Albany) claiming Australian Titles and WA coming agonisingly close to victory in the State Tag Team.
Fraser made history at Sandon Point, becoming the first-ever Under 21 Men’s Australian Champion after posting an impressive 15.86-point total in a tightly contested final. The young West Australian held his nerve when it mattered, finding the waves he needed to secure the inaugural national crown. Fraser also dedicated the victory to recently passed Surfing WA CEO Mark Lane, following a special paddle out held in his honour during the championships.
WA added a second Australian Title through Paul Dupuy, who took out the Over 55 Men’s division, while Samantha Vanderford finished fourth in the Over 50 Women and Brad Cowan placed fourth in the Over 60 Men.
Team WA also produced a massive performance in the State Tag Team, finishing runner-up to Queensland by the narrowest of margins. The WA combination of Okie Fraser (Open Male), Belinda Adams (Open Female), Jesse Molloy (Over 40s) and Tony Farris (Over 50s) led for virtually the entire heat before Queensland found the score it needed in the final 30 seconds, snatching victory by just 0.06 points.
The results capped an impressive week for the WA contingent at Sandon Point, with Fraser’s historic Under 21 victory providing one of the standout moments of the championships, which brought together the country’s leading shortboarders across Masters, Under 21 and Open divisions.
FULL MEDIA RELEASE
The 2026 Australian Shortboard Titles concluded today at Sandon Point, with the final Australian Champions crowned following six days of competition in Wollongong.
The event delivered quality conditions throughout the week, with Sandon Point providing a high-performance canvas for competitors across the Masters, Under 21 and Open divisions. The newly introduced Under 21 divisions also showcased an impressive standard of emerging talent, highlighting the depth of Australia’s next generation of shortboarders.
Surfing Australia Contest Director Glen Elliott said the event had been an outstanding week of competition in Wollongong:
“The standard from the U21 Men and Women set a new benchmark for this age group with an amazing standard of surfing. It’s definitely filling a development pathway and a need for competitors that have finished their Junior careers and launching into a potential professional career.
“It’s been an amazing week down here in Wollongong it has simply been an unforgettable 2026 Australian Shortboard Titles and one for the record books.
“Many thanks to our events crew, Sandon Point Boardriders, Mayor Tania Brown for the ongoing support and the team at Destination Wollongong, and certainly not forgetting all of the locals for letting us surf their amazing point break wave.”
FINAL CHAMPIONS CROWNED
Across the weekend, the final champions were crowned in the Under 21 and Open divisions, bringing the 2026 Australian Shortboard Titles to a close.
In the Men’s Open Division, local surfer Jed Ashton (Sandon Point, NSW) went back-to-back, claiming his second consecutive Australian Title at his home break of Sandon Point. Drawing on a lifetime of experience surfing the wave, Ashton put his local knowledge to work to secure the win.
Reflecting on his second consecutive Australian Title, Ashton said the result was particularly special given his lifelong connection to Sandon Point.
“It’s pretty surreal, to be honest. I was a bit nervous, but I knew I could do it. It was tricky today and it all comes down to the waves, but I’ve surfed out here all my life, so I know it pretty well. I went back to my roots, did what I needed to do, and here we are.”
NEW UNDER 21 DIVISIONS CROWN FIRST-EVER CHAMPIONS
Making their debut at the Australian Shortboard Titles, the new Under 21 Men’s and Women’s divisions provided a dedicated competitive platform for the next generation of Australian shortboarders.
The inaugural divisions delivered a strong standard of surfing, with competitors making the most of the conditions at Sandon Point as they battled for their place in Australian Shortboard Titles history.
FIRST-EVER UNDER 21 WOMEN’S CHAMPION
The newly introduced Under 21 Women’s Division has crowned its first-ever Australian Champion, with Alice Hodgson (Kiama Downs, NSW) claiming the inaugural title with a 10.90-point total.
The new division provided an important opportunity for young female surfers to compete against their peers, alongside the established Open divisions.
Hodgson said she was grateful to be part of the inaugural division and excited to see the opportunity continue:
“It feels amazing. I’m so grateful that I got to compete in this age division. I think lots of people just see the Opens and the other divisions, so having another division for the girls is an incredible opportunity. I’m so stoked.”
FIRST-EVER UNDER 21 MEN’S CHAMPION
The newly introduced Under 21 Men’s Division has crowned its first-ever Australian Champion, with Okie Fraser (Gnarabup, WA) taking the inaugural title with an impressive 15.86-point total.
Fraser held his nerve in a tightly fought final, finding the waves he needed to secure his place in Australian Shortboard Titles history and become the first-ever Under 21 Men’s Australian Champion.
The young West Australian said the inaugural title was a special achievement, particularly after a strong week of competition:
“It’s so good. Being the first-ever Under 21 National Champion is so special. The boys were all ripping, and it came down to the last second, so I’m so stoked.”
Fraser said the week had tested the competitors across a range of conditions, but he was pleased with how he performed throughout the event.
“I feel like I performed as well as I can. It was pumping early in the week, and today was a little bit trickier, but I found the waves I needed and I’m stoked.”
Fraser also dedicated his historic win to Mark Lane, saying the paddle out on Friday was a particularly special moment for the competitors.
“It was so cool having all the boys together for the paddle out. It was pretty special to all be together here at this break. I wanted to do it for Laney.”
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL SURFING TEAM DECIDED
Champions across the eligible Over 40s, Over 50s and Over 60s divisions have earned the opportunity to represent Australia as part of The Irukandjis, with the newly crowned champions securing their places on the national Masters team.
In the Ampd Bros Over 40 Men’s Division, Nic Squiers (NSW) claimed the Australian Championship and secured his place on The Irukandjis.
Squiers said the opportunity to represent Australia was a special part of the victory:
“Yeah, it’s awesome. I’m stoked. To do it again, it’s actually been out of my scope for a while, so to be able to come back and do it and potentially win another gold medal for Australia is pretty special. I actually feel like I’m surfing better than I have been. I’ve been a little bit rusty, but I’ve been training a lot over the last year and I’m set for anything that’s ahead.”
BALDWIN CLAIMS ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN TITLE
After claiming the Over 60 Men’s Australian Championship last year, Rod Baldwin (NSW) stepped up an age group this year and continued his strong run, taking out the Over 65 Men’s Australian Championship.
For Baldwin, returning to the Australian Shortboard Titles each year is about more than chasing another trophy. The competition provides an opportunity to stay active, challenge himself and catch up with the familiar faces he has shared the lineup with over the years.
“It’s very satisfying. It’s always great to win an Australian Title. I was in the Over 60s last year, so to get the win there and then move up into the Over 65s and win again this year is pretty special. You see the same faces every year, and it’s great that everyone keeps themselves busy and keeps competing. It gives you something to strive for.”
2026 Australian Shortboard Titles Winners:
Ford Open Men – Jed Ashton (Sandon Point, NSW)
Ford Open Women – Milla Brown (NSW)
Under 21 Men – Okie Fraser (Gnarabup, WA)
Under 21 Women – Alice Hodgson (NSW)
Thermos Over 30 Men – Dean Bowen (NSW)
Thermos Over 30 Women – Serena Brooke (QLD)
Ampd Bros Over 40 Men – Nic Squiers (NSW)
Ampd Bros Over 40 Women – Amee Donohoe (NSW)
Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort Over 50 Men – Dan Dignam (NSW)
Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort Over 50 Women – Belinda Koorey (NSW)
Over 55 Men – Paul Dupuy (WA)
Over 60 Men – John Schmidenberg (NSW)
Over 60 Women – Pam Burridge (NSW)
Over 65 Men – Rod Baldwin (NSW)
2026 Overall State Champion – NSW
About the 2026 Australian Shortboard Titles
The shortboard divisions of the 2026 Australian Surf Championships are being held as a stand-alone event on Dharawal Country, along the stunning South Coast Line in New South Wales.
Winners in the Men & Women Over 40’s, Over 50’s and Over 60’s will earn a spot in the Australian surfing team, the Irukandjis, for next year’s International Surfing Association (ISA) World Master Surfing Championships in 2027. For more information, please visit https://australianshortboardtitles.com/.
Entry to the Australian Shortboard Titles is by state qualification or invitation as a wildcard.
The 2026 Australian Shortboard Titles is proudly supported by Ford Australia, Fujifilm, Ampd Bros, Thermos, Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort, Surfers for Climate and Visit Wollongong.
Photo: Surfing Australia / Jay Macguire.
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