YALLINGUP, WA, AUSTRALIA (Saturday, January 17, 2026) Yallingup’s picturesque coastline came alive for the second day of Taj’s Small Fries presented by Board Store, as Australia’s top junior surfers revelled in the powerful, consistent conditions.
As the first marquee competition of the 2026 Surfing Australia Junior Series, with 10,000 national rating points on the line, the intensity was high from the start as the Under-18 Boys took to the water.
“This is as good as it gets at Shallows!” said Taj Burrow, when he first laid eyes on the glassy two-to-three-foot lefts and rights on offer at the wave that has hosted more Small Fries action than any other over the 20 year history of the event
“I’m stoked they made the call to hold us off yesterday and run today,” said Caden Francis (Coolangatta, QLD), after posting a 13.60 (out of 20) two-wave total to claim a convincing win in the day’s opening heat. “There’s plenty of swell, it’s really clean and super fun!”
“I grew up watching all of Taj’s old videos,” the reigning Under-18 Boys national champion continued, “so it’s cool to come over to his hometown and compete in his event. Hopefully I can get inspired to do some of the surfing he used to! I’ve made a few Small Fries finals but never got a win, so I’m hungry to try and make it happen in my last year competing here.”
Three of the big names in the Under-18 Boys field squared off in the next heat, with Hunter Andersson (Palm Beach, QLD) and Cruz Uros (Dunsborough, WA) stormingpast last year’s Under-16 Boys champion Brody Mulik (Margaret River, WA), and Jett Blue (Thirroul, NSW) in fourth.
Leo Matchett (Kingscliff, NSW) ramped things up in Heat 5, a 7.33 and an 8.17 securing him a 15.50 heat total, the highest of the round until Jesse Ferguson (Sunshine Beach, QLD) took to the water and dropped an 8.93 and an 8.27 to lock in a huge 17.20 two-wave total in Heat 8.
“I’m so happy,” said Ferguson afterwards. “The 8.93 was my first score in a comp for 2026 so that’s a good start to the year! The last time I came here was in 2024 and I won the Under 16s. I love WA and I love the waves, so it’s great to be back!” Ferguson’s 8.93 saw him win the daily Creatures Of Leisure Cash Lock, with $50 awarded to the two highest scoring rides each day.
Strong performances in the Under-18 Boys also came from Oscar Jackson (Broulee, NSW), Ace Flynn (Cowaramup, WA), Rio Luther Barr (Sawtell, NSW) and Lachlan Arghyros (Kingscliff, NSW).
The Under-18 Girls continued to impress, picking up where the boys left off. Meika Locke (Palm Beach, QLD) won yesterday’s $50 Creatures Of Leisure Cash Lock prize and looked equally as comfortable claiming a heat win today, as she cruised through to the quarterfinals. “I’m so happy,” said Locke. “I was stoked to win the Creatures of Leisure Cash Lock yesterday, and it was pumping, but it’s even better today.”
In the next heat three local surfers fought out one of the closest matchups of the event so far, with Poppy Redman-Carr (Dunsborough, WA), Rosie Gillett (Dunsborough, WA) and Grace Cook (Cowaramup, WA) swapping the lead multiple times until the final hooter, with the two strong Dunsborough surfers advancing, as Cook and Poppy O’Reilly (Bronte, NSW) were eliminated.
In the third and final heat of the round, former Small Fries winners Olive Hardy (Margaret River, WA) and Leila Fraser (Margaret River, WA) continued to stack the quarterfinals with local talent and showed they’ll both take some beating at this year’s event.
Attention then turned to the Under-16 Boys, who delivered some of the most inspiring moments of the day, led by Kade Kelly (Newcastle, NSW) who stole the show with an incredible performance in Heat Three, heading to the less surfed northern peak, and going ballistic on the fast righthanders.
“I was watching closely before my heat and saw a few big rights with lots of wall on them, so thought I might go and have a look,” said Kelly. “I knew I had to go big to get a score, but it worked out well, I’m stoked.”
If Kelly made the crowd take notice with his 8.33, for a series of high speed, aggressive manoeuvres, he left jaws on the sand after a huge turn, pushed to its limits over a vicious section, was rewarded with a 9.17, the highest scoring wave of the event so far, and the day’s clear Creatures Cash Lock winner.
“I’ve never been to WA before,” said Kelly, “but there’s been a lot of waves so far, with more power than the east coast. Taj was one of my favourite surfers growing up too, he has a great style, does big turns, and this is a great event, so I’m really loving being here.
In Heat Four day one standout Lucas Deffenti (Miami, QLD) kept his momentum going with another strong performance, while Hugo Spierings (Bondi, NSW), Kai Coleman (Peregian, QLD), Jaxxon Sands (Palm Beach, QLD) and Luca Martin (Coolangatta, QLD) also lit up the biggest division in the draw. Special mention to Bobby Patch (Burleigh Heads, QLD), who fell out of the sky on one of the meanest waves of the day, broke his board into two pieces, and shook it all off with a grin. Good stuff.
Next up, despite the onshore wind arriving and conditions deteriorating, Miller-May Berg (Miami, QLD), Maddison Kenchington (Coolangatta, QLD) and Evie Wilson (Noosa, QLD) didn’t miss a beat,claiming comfortable wins and cruising into the Under-16 girls quarterfinals.
In the Under-14 Boys, Maverick Macgugan (Avalon, NSW) and Clement Piellard (Bondi, NSW) looked good while advancing to the quarterfinals, but once again Hayden Mee (Newcastle, NSW) stole the show, heading to the northern peak and lighting up the challenging righthanders. A 7.43, for a fluent string of manoeuvres, set the tone, but it was his 8.23 that put the field on notice. Mee’s path to a potential event win was made even smoother, when close rival Morrison Massey (Palm Beach, QLD) made a priority error in the dying minutes and was sadly eliminated.
To close out the day, the Under 14-Girls made the most of what was left of the conditions as they made their debut at this year’s event. Defending champion Estella Carbonelli (Torquay, VIC) compiled a 13.57 two-wave total on her way to victory in Heat One, before West Australian hopes Rosie Annesley (Margaret River, WA) and Summer Barkhuizen (Eglinton, WA) took out the second and third heats. In the last heat of the day, two-time winner of the Under-12 Girls division Ily Fraser (Margaret River, WA) showed that she’s determined to chase success in higher age brackets too. An 8.27 on her third wave not only laid the foundation for Fraser’s dazzling 16.10 two-wave total to close the day in style but also earned her the day’s final $50 Creatures Cash Lock prize.
As well as all the surfing action there has been plenty going down on dry land, with the annual Board Store Pong Off table tennis tournament won on Saturday night by local lad Flynn Eastaugh.
With the swell forecast to build significantly tomorrow, contest organisers will have eyes on the ocean early to determine where Day Three will be held. No matter where that is, the Under-12 Boys and Girls divisions will be hitting the lineup for the first time this year at 7:30am.
For daily results, imagery and media updates, follow Surfing WA’s social media channels or visit the event mini site at: www.surfingwa.com.au/events/smallfries/
About Taj’s Small Fries
Since 2006, Taj’s Small Fries has been Western Australia’s premier junior surfing event, providing a springboard for aspiring surfing stars. Hosted by Taj Burrow, the event has been pivotal in nurturing surfing talent, with past champions including Felicity Palmateer, Jack Robinson, Bronte Macaulay, and Jacob Willcox. This 21st edition celebrates more than two decades of surf culture, community, and grommet stoke along WA’s iconic Yallingup coastline.
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