Some of WA’s best surfers have been announced as finalists in the 2023 Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame.
Jacob Willcox has been named along with Ethan Ewing and Russell Bierke as a contender for Male Surfer of the Year, and is also a finalist for the Surf Clip of the Year – Surfer Award, with his clip ‘Into Dust’.
Dunsborough big wave charger, Ned Hart, is a finalist in three categories: the Mick Fanning Male Rising Star Award, the Heavy Water Award and the Surf Clip of the Year Award.
“To even get nominated in all three categories is massive, but to actually be a finalist in all three is huge, especially as the competition for these awards and the other finalists are insane!”, the 17-year-old said. “Thank you for everyone who has recognised me.
“I think there are a lot of positive changes for the big wave surfing industry right now, with people pushing harder than ever, so to be at the forefront of the Juniors is something I’m really stoked about.”
Rounding out the WA finalists are Lucy Small who is a finalist for the Greater Good Award and WA’s Creatures of Leisure is a front runner for the Innovation Award.
The Australian Surfing Awards will be held at the iconic Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Wednesday, 28th February.
Hosted by surf media icons, Vaughan Blakey and Jess Grimwood, the awards honour the best surfers over the past 12 months across 19 categories, adding to the excitement of our biggest gong, the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame.
Finalists for 2023 Australian Surfing Awards (in no particular order):
Male Surfer of the Year presented by AIS
Jacob Willcox
Ethan Ewing
Russell Bierke
Female Surfer of the Year presented by AIS
Molly Picklum
Tyler Wright
Steph Gilmore
Mick Fanning Male Rising Star Award presented by Griffith University
Ned Hart
Harley Walters
Landen Smales
Stephanie Gilmore Female Rising Star Award presented by Griffith University
Milla Brown
Sierra Kerr
Mia Waite
Male Para Surfer of the Year presented by AIS
Kirk Watson
Mark “Mono” Stewart
Joel Taylor
Female Para Surfer of the Year presented by AIS
Sam Bloom
Sarah Gibson
Emma Dieters
Jocelyn Neumueller
Heavy Water Award
Ned Hart
Russell Bierke
Laura Enever
Greater Good Award
Lucy Small
Sam Elsom – Sea Forest
Blake Johnston
Peter Troy Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Surfing World
Steve Foreman
Gail Austen
Sandra English
Coach of the Year Award
Michael O’Rafferty
Jay Thompson
Cahill Bell-Warren
Surf School of the Year Award
Cronulla Surfing Academy
Let’s Go Surfing
Coastrider Surf Academy – Clifton Beach
Innovation Award presented by ACCIONA
Creatures of Leisure
Flowstate
Usher Cup
Surf Culture Award presented by Jim Beam
Flotsam
Surf Witches Boardriders Club
Ain’t that Swell
Simon Anderson Boardrider Club Award presented by Curly Lewis
Byron Bay Boardriders
Northern Beaches Para Surfing Boardriders Club
Long Reef Boardriders
Indigenous Surfing – Community Celebration Award
Summer Simon
Landen Smales
Lungi Slabb
Otis Carey
Surf Film of the Year – Filmer Award
Mash – James Keats featuring surfer Noa Deane
Kamchatka – Spencer Frost and Guy Williment featuring surfers Letty Mortensen and Fraser Dovell
Calypte – Torren Martyn (filmmaker and surfer) and Aiyana Powell (surfer)
Surf Clip of the Year – Surfer Award (under 15 minutes)
Into Dust – Jacob Willcox
Shipstern Bluff – Ned Hart
Outer Edge of Leisure – Russell Bierke
Surf Photo of the Year presented by Tracks
Clementine Bourke “Parallel Universe”
Matt Dunbar “Blake Johnston”
Bill Morris “Max Miguigan”
Sam Venn – coastal landscape
Nick Green “Russell Bierke”
Ted Grambeau “Russell Bierke”
Joshua Tabone “Shaun Manners”
Ben Jackson “Darcy Piper”
Josh Bystrom “Summa Longbottom”
Simon “Swilly” Williams “Mitch Parkinson – Snapper Rocks”
Mathew Tildesley “Aquanova – Tasmania”
Andrew Shield “Korbin Hutchins”
Breakthrough Surf Brand of the Year Award
3Fingers surf zinc
Project Blank
Need Essentials
The Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame are proudly sponsored by Griffith University, ACCIONA, Jim Beam, Le Tan, Small Things Wine, Tracks, Surfing World, Curly Lewis and OnStone.
