Western Australia’s Ebony Schell has further cemented her place at the top of Australian women’s bodyboarding, securing a remarkable fifth consecutive Open Women’s crown at the 2026 Australian Bodyboard Titles in Newcastle.
The defending champion once again delivered on the national stage, overcoming small and challenging conditions to extend a title streak that now stands at five straight years. Fellow West Australian Barry Hammond also reached the national final, finishing fourth in the Over 45 Men’s division.
Read the full Surfing Australia media statement below.
New and Defending Champions Shine at the 2026 Australian Bodyboard Titles!
Australia’s best bodyboarders have been named following two days of high-performance competition at the 2026 Australian Bodyboard Titles in Newcastle, with national champions decided across Junior, Open, Masters and Dropknee divisions.
Held August 20–22, the championships brought together nearly 100 bodyboarders from across the country to compete for Australian Titles in some of the nation’s most prestigious bodyboarding divisions. The expanded event highlighted the continued growth of competitive bodyboarding, showcasing athletes from Under 14 Grommets through to Over 45 Kahunas.
Across the event, competitors were met with clean offshore conditions and surf within the 1-to-2-foot range. Despite the small swell on offer, athletes continued to showcase the progression and commitment that continues to define Australian bodyboarding.
In a standout performance, New South Wales’ Jimmy Leayr claimed the Open Men’s Australian Title, capping off an exceptional championship campaign in Newcastle.
Leayr’s Open Men’s victory came after he had already secured his fifth Open Drop Knee Australian Title earlier that day, making him a dual Australian Champion across two disciplines at this year’s event.
The result highlights Leayr’s versatility across both prone and dropknee, with the NSW competitor managing the demands of multiple divisions across the two-day national championships.
“I’ve just taken out the Open Men’s for nationals and I got the Drop Knee as well today, first place! Leayr said. “I’m pretty happy with that in these conditions. It’s pretty tough. This is my first Open title. It’s my fifth Drop Knee title, so I’m stoked to get another one. The conditions were pretty small for us, but I surfed my best and made the most of what we had.”
The Open Women’s Australian Title was once again claimed by Western Australia’s Ebony Schell, who secured her fifth consecutive national crown at the 2026 Australian Bodyboard Titles.
Schell’s latest victory extends an extraordinary run at the Australian Titles, further establishing her as one of the defining competitors in Australian women’s bodyboarding. Returning to Newcastle as the defending champion, Schell delivered when it mattered most to continue her reign at the top of the Open Women’s division.
“I’ve just won the women’s division for the 2026 National Bodyboard Titles! I’m so stoked, said Schell. “I’ve put so much effort into it, so it’s good to get a great result. This is number five, so I’ve made it a nice number. The conditions were looking pretty small, but we all made the most out of it and it was heaps of fun. It definitely means a lot, but most importantly, I just love to come down here and hang out with the other girls! I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me in getting here.”
Experienced competitors continued to showcase their class across the Masters Over 35 and Kahunas Over 45 divisions, with Queensland’s Liam O’Toole once again claiming the Over 35 Masters Australian Title.
O’Toole successfully defended his national crown in Newcastle, continuing his strong record in the division and reinforcing his status among Australia’s most accomplished Masters competitors.
“I’m super stoked to win, said O’Toole. “I’m the reigning champion coming off the wave pool event last year, so the pressure was on. The competition was fierce, and I’m super stoked to come away with the win again. So that’s number two — just wait for the trifecta! Everyone’s got to surf in the same type of waves, so you’ve just got to stay positive. I’m super stoked that everything came together and I could come away with the win.
“We are all like a big family in the bodyboarding community. Everyone stuck around all day. It was epic.”
Australia’s next generation of bodyboarders continued to make their mark in Newcastle, with Morrison Parker (NSW) emerging as one of the standout junior performers of the 2026 Australian Bodyboard Titles.
Parker claimed both the Under 14 Grommet and Under 16 Cadet Australian Titles, showcasing his ability to compete across age divisions and cementing himself as one of the event’s standout young performers.
In showcasing the ever-increasing level of bodyboarding talent in Australia, the event also reinforced Newcastle’s reputation as a premier destination for surfing events, with competitors travelling from every corner of Australia to experience the region’s world-class waves and vibrant coastal community.
Credits: Surfing Australia / Bosko Photos.
2026 Australian Bodyboard Titles Winners:
Open Men’s
Jimmy Leayr (NSW) — 14.40
Kai Sauge (QLD) — 9.83
Ned Johnstone (VIC) — 7.67
Ossian Mackenzie (NSW) — 6.17
Open Women’s
Ebony Schell (WA) — 13.43
Mariko Menzies (NSW) — 11.90
Lyndall Jucker (VIC) — 8.24
Milica Ivic (NSW) — 6.90
Under 18 Junior Men
Nate Chippendale (NSW) — 15.17
Hardy Fletcher (NSW) — 12.50
Benji Taviani (NSW) — 10.07
Ossian Mackenzie (NSW) — 9.87
Under 16 Cadet Open
Morrison Parker (NSW) — 12.67
Hardy Fletcher (NSW) — 12.20
Frank Nutter (NSW) — 7.83
Jake Milton (NSW) — 5.33
Under 14 Grommet Open
Morrison Parker (NSW) — 12.84
Frank Nutter (NSW) — 10.87
Van Taylor (QLD) — 10.00
Jarvis Martin (NSW) — 9.90
Over 35 Masters Men
Liam O’Toole (QLD) — 12.07
Wade Kelty (NSW) — 8.44
Ryan Jucker (VIC) — 8.03
Grant Nutter (NSW) — 7.20
Over 45 Men
Scott Arena (NSW) — 13.67
Nathian Davis (NSW) — 12.67
Kiowa O’Sullivan (QLD) — 10.57
Barry Hammond (WA) — 6.94
Drop Knee
Jimmy Leayr (NSW) — 11.07
Justin Kirkpatrick (QLD) — 8.24
Ryan Duck (NSW) — 7.67
Shannon Deane (QLD) — 4.26
State Champions: NSW
Thermos Wave of The Event Winner: Hardy Fletcher – 8.67 pts
206 Overall State Champion: New South Wales
About the 2026 Australian Bodyboard Titles
Entry to the Australian Bodyboard Titles is by state qualification or invitation as a wildcard.
Australia’s top bodyboarders and dropknee specialists continue to progression and innovation in a discipline that has pioneered some of the heaviest waves in the country and helped define Australia’s big-wave legacy.
With the sport surging and the level higher than ever, the Australian Bodyboard Titles continue to drive its evolution, helping to set the benchmark for high-performance bodyboarding nationwide.
For more information, please visit https://australianbodyboardtitles.com/
The 2026 Australian Bodyboard Titles are proudly supported by: Surfing Australia, Ford Australia, Fujifilm Photos, Thermos, Manta Bodyboards and Surfers For Climate.
Credits: Surfing Australia / Bosko Photos.
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