Western Australia is celebrating a standout performance at the 2025 Thermos Australian Longboard Titles, with Cowaramup’s John Haddow crowned national champion in the Over-70 Men’s division on the Tweed Coast, NSW.
Held from Wednesday, July 22 to Sunday, July 27, the prestigious event brought together the country’s best longboarders, from rising juniors to seasoned Masters. The week kicked off with three days of exceptional surfing from the Over-40s through to the Over-70s, setting the tone for a memorable championship.
Competing in his first national event, Haddow delivered an emotional and inspiring performance to claim victory in the Over-70 Men’s final, dedicating his win to his granddaughter, Mina, who recently passed away.
“I got a great wave within the first five minutes of my heat and scored an 8-point ride,” said Haddow. “I paddled back out, and almost immediately another near-perfect wave landed right in my lap. I rode it all the way down the beach, making it through multiple sections.
“It must’ve been the angel on my shoulder looking out for me. I’d like to dedicate this win to my granddaughter, Nina. To travel across the country from Western Australia, put it all on the line, and walk away with an Australian Championship after everything that’s happened recently, it’s just so special.”
Finals day at Cabarita Point delivered perfect conditions, including warm water, sunshine and clean waves, as WA surfers continued to impress across multiple divisions.
Cottesloe’s Mark Matisons held his own in the talent-packed Open Men’s final, finishing fourth in what was the tightest heat of the entire event. Cowaramup’s Jock Bahen was another standout, making the semi-finals in both the Open Men’s and Over-40 Men’s divisions, while fellow Cottesloe surfer Maddie Barrett battled through to the semi-finals in the Open Women’s draw.
WA’s next generation was also well represented, with Cowaramup’s Kai Flynn securing a semi-final finish in the U18 Junior Men’s division. Jamie Lovell (Carine) impressed in the Over-40 Women’s semi-finals, and Paul Burke (Dunsborough) made it through to the semis in the Over-50 Men’s division.
Surfing Australia Event Organiser, Rohan Fell, hailed the event a huge success.
“We’ve had a huge five days of competition, starting at Kingscliff and finishing at Cabarita Point with beautiful conditions for finals day,” he said. “It’s been fierce all week, with some big shake-ups in the Open Men’s and Women’s divisions.
“We’re stoked to bring everyone back to the Tweed Coast. The level of surfing across all divisions has been elite, we really couldn’t be happier with the standard of competition on display this week.”
Longboarding once again proved that it’s not only rich in tradition, but also thriving as a high-performance discipline, growing in popularity and pushing new boundaries, with this event setting the benchmark for longboard surfing in Australia.
2025 Australian Longboard Titles Final Results:
U18 Women
1. Luana Matthies (QLD) 10.93 pts
2. Poppy Wright (QLD) 7.30 pts
3. Heidi Van Leest (NSW) 6.33 pts
4. Mahli Abbott (NSW) 4.77 pts
Under 18 Men
1. Jimmy-James Tualima (NSW) 13.03 pts
2. Jive Constable (QLD) 9.27 pts
3. Hosea Matthies (QLD) 9.20 pts4. Kobi Chau (NSW) 8.80 pts
Open Women
1. Emma Perrier (NSW) 13.83 pts
2. Melanie Staunton (VIC) 13.53 pts
3. Emily Lethbridge (QLD) 12.70 pts
4. Mahli Abbott (NSW) 8.84 pts
Open Men
1. Josh Constable (QLD) 13.40 pts
2. Archy Bemrose (NSW) 13.36 pts
3. Clinton Guest (QLD) 13.07 pts
4. Mark Matisons (WA) 9.60 pts
O40 Men
1. Ben Proudfoot (NSW) 13.57 pts
2. Ben Williams (QLD) 11.13 pts
3. Michael Paxton (TAS) 7.13 pts
4. Tomaso Bellisai (VIC) 4.96 pts
O40 Women
1. Eglantine Balland (VIC) 9.27 pts
2. Carolina Bohnmark (QLD) 7.90 pts
3. Juliana Scopel (NSW) 7.30 pts
4. Claire Perryn (NSW) 4.77 pts
O50 Men
1. Jason Livingston (NSW) 14.74 pts
2. Alan Morrison (NSW) 11.66 pts
3. Chris Perwitt (QLD) 10.83 pts
4. Jy Pendergast (NSW) 5.53 pts
O50 Women
1. Jacquie Chambers (VIC) 12.84 pts
2. Kirsty Best (QLD) 8.07 pts
3. Anne Duncan (NSW) 4.83 pts
4. Allie Moysey (VIC) 4.33 pts
O55 Men
1. Jason Livingston (NSW) 12.63 pts
2. Greg Brown (VIC) 11.76 pts
3. David Witt (QLD) 8.66 pts
4. Owen Cavanagh (QLD) 8.20 pts
O60 Men
1. Greg Brown (VIC) 13.10 pts
2. Tony Rae (NSW) 11.93 pts
3. John Fraser (NSW) 8.80 pts
4. Jay Carter (NSW) 5.27 pts
O60 Women
1. Louise Tiernan (NSW) 12.10 pts
2. Peppie Simpson (QLD) 9.03 pts
3. Kate Dwyer (QLD) 6.70 pts
4. Julia Magliano (NSW) 5.97 pts
O65 Men
1. John Lane (VIC) 9.47 pts
2. Renne Kocis (NSW) 9.46 pts
3. Brian Kuit (VIC) 9.20 pts
4. Brian Thompson (VIC) 8.73 pts
O70 Men
1. John Haddow (WA) 10.50 pts
2. Jon Lavers (NSW) 9.90 pts
3. Albie Curtis (QLD) 7.53 pts
4. Neil Frederickson (NSW) 5.34 pts
Thermos Wave Of The Event: Clinton Guest (Bokarina, QLD) 9.17
Wayne Deane Spirit Of Longboarding Award – Peppie Simpson (Noosa ,QLD)
2025 Overall State Champion: NSW
For all the results, please visit LiveHeats.
About the 2025 Thermos Australian Surf Championships:
The longboard divisions of the 2025 Australian Surf Championships are held as a stand-alone event on Bundjalung Country, along the stunning Tweed Coast in northern New South Wales.
It is the longest-running event on the Australian surfing calendar, and has athletes representing all six surfing states. Entry to the Thermos Australian Longboard Titles is by state qualification or invitation as a wildcard.
Winners of the Open Men’s and Women’s divisions earn a spot in the Australian surfing team ‘The Irukandjis’ for next year’s International Surfing Association (ISA) World Longboard Championship.
For more information, please visit australiansurfchampionships.com/longboard.
The 2025 Thermos Australian Longboard Titles is proudly supported Jim Beam, Tasman Holiday Parks, Everything Fleet, Earth Beer Company, Surfers For Climate, and the Tweed Shire Council.
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