MARGARET RIVER, WA/AUS (Monday 16 March 2026)- Margaret River turned on a classic three-day run of surf as Western Australia’s best junior surfers went to work at Surfers Point for Round 1 of the 2026 Club Med WA Junior Surfing Titles presented by Think Mental Health.
Over three days of competition, close to 100 junior surfers from across the state tackled Margaret River’s world-class waves, with consistent left-handers and offshore winds creating ideal conditions throughout the event window.
Day one saw the biggest surf of the event, with competitors taking on powerful 6–8 foot waves at Main Break. The high-performance conditions continued into the weekend, easing slightly to 4–6 foot on Saturday before a fun 2–4 foot lineup welcomed the younger divisions on Sunday.
The surf proved to be the standout feature of the opening stop of the series, providing plenty of opportunities for competitors to showcase their skills on one of Western Australia’s most iconic waves.
Among the highlights of the event was a perfect 10-point ride from Jake Scott on day three, while reigning WA Under-18 Girls Champion Olive Hardy delivered the highest heat total of the competition with an 18-point heat score, including a 9-point ride in the opening minute of her first heat.
State titles were decided across multiple divisions, with Ace Flynn (U18 Boys), Olive Hardy (U18 Girls), Cruz Macdonald (U16 Boys) and Lily Naylor (U16 Girls) claiming victory on day two. The final day of competition saw the younger divisions take centre stage, with Jordy Anderson (U12 Boys), Rosie Annesley (U14 Girls) and Nate Spooner (U14 Boys) securing the Round 1 titles.
The Under 14 Girls final delivered one of the most exciting moments of the event, with Rosie Annesley launching a powerful backhand attack on the buzzer to edge out Ily Fraser in a clutch performance.
Surfing Western Australia High Performance Pathway Coach Mia McCarthy said the event highlighted the depth of emerging talent coming through the state’s junior ranks. “There’s lots of incredible talent in Western Australia and it’s really exciting to see the level these young surfers are already performing at,” McCarthy said. “For these groms, competing at a wave like Surfers Point is an incredible rite of passage. It’s something they’ll remember forever.”
U18 Boys winner Ace Flynn said the challenging conditions made for an unforgettable experience.“Those waves were pretty solid – pretty scary at times,” Flynn said.“But I’ve got so many mates in this comp and we all just support each other and surf together. It’s a really good vibe.
”Surfing WA Regional Operations Manager and Contest Director Kim Clift said the event window delivered ideal conditions for the state’s best junior surfers. “The juniors were blessed with an amazing forecast, with pumping surf and offshore winds right across the event window,” Clift said. “To see them take on waves of that size and quality at Surfers Point and rise to the occasion was incredible. The future of WA surfing is looking very strong.
”The WA Junior Surfing Titles, presented by Think Mental Health, continue to act as a launchpad for elite talent in WA, with past champions including Taj Burrow, Jack Robinson, Claire Bevilacqua, Jacob Willcox and Bronte Macaulay, all claiming junior state titles before moving onto the World Championship Tour, paving the way for WA’s new generation of surfing stars to follow.
Round 1 of the WA Junior Surfing Titles forms part of Surfing WA’s three-event state series, with surfers now turning their attention to the next stop at Trigg Beach, June 12th -14th, as they continue their push toward state rankings and national qualification.
The 2026 Club Med WA Junior Surfing Titles presented by Think Mental Health are proudly supported by the CITS, Healthway, Road Safety Commission Westenr Australia, DPIRD, SafeStyle, Club Med, Melville Toyota, Rockingham Toyota, Creatures of Leisure, We Are Feel Good Inc., and Minuteman Press Perth.
State Junior Surfing Titles presented by Think Mental Health – Round 1 Results:
Under-12 Micro-Grom Boys – (combined 2x heat total)
1.Kyuss Rimmer (Trigg) – 19.03
2. Jordy Anderson (South Bunbury) – 13.54
3. Partick Wray (Yallingup) – 12.99
4. Vander McEwan (Marmion) – 10.17
Under-14 Grom Girls
1. Rosie Annesley (Margaret River) – 12.90
2. Ily Fraser (Margaret River) – 10.07
3. Amelie Wroth (Wannanup) – 9.80
4. Summer Barkhuizen (Eglington) – 4.93
Under-14 Grom Boys
1. Nate Spooner (Yallingup) – 13.27
2. Ollie Holmes (Dunsborough) – 12.66
3. Oscar Blackburn (Yallingup) – 7.93
4. Finn Sapwell (Dunsborough) – 3.93
Under-16 Cadet Girls
1. Lily Naylor (Cowaramup) – 12.73
2. Paige Hayward (Margaret River) – 12.07
3. Lulu Wilson (Dunsborough) – 9.07
4. Stella Annesley (Margaret River) – 6.60
Under-16 Cadet Boys
1. Cruz Macdonald (Geraldton) – 17.00
2. Zenn Hammond (Gracetown) – 12.83
3. Jack Bowdell (Cowaramup) – 10.26
4. Taylor Flynn (Cowaramup) – 8.00
Under-18 Junior Girls
1. Olive Hardy (Gnarabup) – 16.33
2. Leila Fraser (Margaret River) – 14.67
3. Grace Cook (Cowaramup) – 6.27
4. Poppy Redman Carr (Dunsborough) – 4.97
Under-18 Junior Boys
1. Ace Flynn (Cowaramup) – 16.50
2. Kade Martin (Dunsborough) – 14.97
3. Cruz Uros (Dunsborough) – 13.60
4. Jack Bulloch (Secret Harbour) – 10.34
2026 Club Med WA State Junior Surfing Titles presented by Think Mental Health
Round 1 – Margaret River
March 13th – 15th 2025
Round 2 – Trigg Beach
12th – 14th June 2025
Round 3 – Geraldton
24th – 26th July 2025
About Club Med:
Club Med is a global leader in premium all-inclusive holidays, offering travelers immersive experiences in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. With a strong focus on sport, wellness and adventure, Club Med resorts provide guests with the opportunity to explore the ocean, mountains and natural environments through activities led by expert instructors. Club Med is proud to support the development of surfing in Western Australia and the next generation of young athletes through its partnership with Surfing WA. Learn more at clubmed.com.au
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