MEREWETHER BEACH, Newcastle, NSW, Australia (Saturday, June 7, 2025) – The stage has been set for Finals Day at the Burton Automotive Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 1 of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series (CS) after another amazing day of competition at Merewether Beach. Competitors in the men’s and women’s Round of 16 continued to put on amazing performances in the super clean, three-to-four foot waves to decide the event’s Quarterfinalists ahead of tomorrow’s Finals Day.
Mid-season Cut Surfers Find Redemption On Way to Finals Day
Matthew McGillvray (RSA) has continued his run of clutch performances, winning another heat in the dying seconds of his matchup with former World Junior Champion Jarvis Earle (AUS) to book a spot in the Quarterfinals. Earle looked to be in full control of the heat, leading for its entirety while McGillivray struggled to find two scores of consequence, that was until the last minute when he took off on a set and gouged two massive hacks to post a 7.00 and take the lead. Having only been knocked off the Championship Tour a week ago, McGillivray looks to have refocused here in Newcastle and will now take on Aussie youngster Winter Vincent (AUS) in the Quarterfinals tomorrow.
“I don’t mean to leave it to the last minute,” McGillivray said. “I would like to get a start and feel a little more relaxed in my heat. I was really nervous on my last wave, but I’m happy to have done the job done. After the cut, I was feeling a lack of motivation and was not sure if maybe I wanted to take a break or something, but it made sense to come here to Newcastle and then Ballito back in South Africa to see if I could get a result. After coming here, I just realised I’m here with a whole bunch of friends and I’m fired up again and super excited just to be surfing and challenging myself. That’s what it’s all about. I’m so happy it’s world pout like this and that after a few tough comps I can make a few heats and feel good again.”
Local hopeful Ryan Callinan (AUS) has given the Merewether crowds plenty to be excited about heading into Finals Day, taking a win in the Round of 16 over fellow CT cut victim Liam O’Brien (AUS). Callinan will be joined by a swag of Aussies in the Quarterfinals, including Xavier Huxtable (AUS), Jacob Willcox (AUS) and Winter Vincent (AUS), who all claimed victories in the Round of 16 today at Merewether.
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) looks destined for a massive finish here in Newcastle, posting an excellent 8.00 point ride on her first wave to take full control of her matchup with Sol Aguirre (PER). Fitzgibbons will take on fellow Australian Sophie McCulloch (AUS) in the first Quarterfinal tomorrow as she eyes her fourth title at Newcastle SURFEST.
Zebrowski and Crisanto Continue Charge Towards Finals Day
Peterson Crisanto (BRA) put on another head-turning performance today, coming from behind to beat Samuel Pupo (AUS) in the last heat of the Round of 16. Crisanto, who has been on fire all week, struggled to find a rhythm at the start of the heat, while Pupo got busy, even posting a 9.17 to hold a solid lead. Then, with only a few minutes left, Crisanto took off on a perfectly tapered wall and belted three huge turns to post an excellent ride and take the lead, eventually winning the heat with a two-wave total of 16.27 on his way to Finals Day.
“When Sammy dropped the nine, I knew I had a lot of work, but I had time,” Crisanto said. “He got a good wave early and then another one straight away, so I was chasing him for the whole heat, but I just believed in myself and in Jesus, and the waves came to me in the end. It’s situations like that one that I train for and prepare for, so I’m so happy to make it all work.”
French prodigy Tya Zebrowski (FRA) has earned herself a Quarterfinal spot at Merewether, overcoming Leilani McGonagle (CRC) in Heat 7 of the Round of 16. McGonagle opted to surf on the sandbank north of the event site while Zebrowski moved back to the ‘Rocks Break’, which paid off as she was able to find more opportunity and take a narrow win.
Californian Duo Book Spots in Quarterfinals at Merewether Ahead of CT Wildcards
Ventura surfer Dimitri Poulos (USA) has guaranteed his best result on the Challenger Series, putting on a super impressive performance to take down local hopeful and 2025 form surfer Morgan Cibilic (AUS) and book a spot in the Quarterfinals. Poulos looked super fast and sharp on rail on his way to posting a 15.67 two-wave total, which included an excellent 8.17 (out of a possible 10). It’s set to be a big week for Poulos, who will not only contest his first Finals Day at the Challenger Series level but has just found out he will compete as a wildcard in the upcoming Lexus Trestles Pro, Stop No. 8 of the 2025 Championship Tour which will run next week in Southern California.
“I just wanted to have a strong start as it was a bit slow out there,” Poulos said. “Every event I’ve done over the last three years, I’ve tried to learn a little bit from each. I never made a Finals Day last year, which stung a bit, so to start this year with a Finals Day is amazing. I’d heard rumours about the highest place American after this event getting the wildcard spot into Trestles, and then it got confirmed with me last night, which is crazy. I grew up competing at the wave more than anywhere, so I’m really excited for the opportunity. Straight from Finals Day here in Newcastle to a CT event is pretty wild.”
Heat 5 of the women’s Round of 16 saw San Clemente locals Kirra Pinkerton (USA) and Eden Walla (USA) go head-to-head for a spot on Finals Day. 15-year-old Walla held the advantage until the last few seconds, when the former WSL World Junior Champion Pinkerton found a left-hander and smashed a few solid turns to get the score and progress into the Quarterfinals. The heat win has left Pinkerton as the highest-ranked North American surfer and will see her also take a wildcard spot in the Trestles CT event next week.
“Eden Walla reminds me a lot of myself at her age,” Pinkerton said. “She is super assertive in the heat and quite smart and technical. She brings amazing surfing to the table, so I was super nervous before that heat. We are from the same town, so I know all about how good she is. I’m very happy to be onto Finals Day, especially in the first event. It’s good to settle the nerves.”
Quarterfinalists Decided on Fourth Day of Competition
Olympic Gold Medalist Kauli Vaast (FRA) has guaranteed his equal best result at the Challenger Series level, overcoming Mateus Herdy (BRA) to lock in a spot on Finals Day. Vaast was looking in good touch with the waves at Merewether as he looks to book in a full-time spot on the CT by year’s end. Vaast’s fellow Olympic medalist in the event, Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN), also earned a spot in the Quarterfinals with another impressive performance at Merewether Beach.
Aussie Sophie McCulloch (AUS) also booked herself a spot on Finals Day, along with Portuguese trio Francisca Vaselko (POR) and Teresa Bonvalot (POR) and Yolanda Hopkins (POR).
Merewether Icons Takeover the Lineup for Bonsoy Legneds Heat
The last heat of the day saw a group of Merewether’s finest hit the water for the Bonsoy Legends Heat, much to the delight of the massive Saturday afternoon crowds. 1997 Bells winner Matt Hoy (AUS) was joined by Mitchell Ross (AUS) along with former SURFEST winners Philippa Anderson (AUS) and Jackson Baker (AUS), as well as former CT star Julian Wilson (AUS), who put on a show to close out an amazing day of competition. All surfers were ripping, especially Hoy, who pulled out a couple of his famous laybacks that stole the show and got the biggest cheers from the fans who lined the shore until sunset.
Burton Automotive Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Xavier Huxtable (AUS) 14.40 DEF. Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.67
HEAT 2: Jacob Willcox (AUS) 14.70 DEF. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 13.67
HEAT 3: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 12.00 DEF. Jarvis Earle (AUS) 11.77
HEAT 4: Winter Vincent (AUS) 13.00 DEF. Jordan Lawler (AUS) 10.23
HEAT 5: Dimitri Poulos (USA) 15.67 DEF. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 7.17
HEAT 6: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.33 DEF. Liam O’Brien (AUS) 10.53
HEAT 7: Kauli Vaast (FRA) 11.83 DEF. Mateus Herdy (BRA) 11.10
HEAT 8: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 16.27 DEF. Samuel Pupo (BRA) 14.34
Burton Automotive Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 11.93 DEF. Sol Aguirre (PER) 5.87
HEAT 2: Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 12.07 DEF. Laura Raupp (BRA) 10.37
HEAT 3: Teresa Bonvalot (POR) 8.67 DEF. Eweleiula Wong (HAW) 7.53
HEAT 4: Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) 14.06 DEF. Noah Klapp (DEU) 9.24
HEAT 5: Kirra Pinkerton (USA) 11.24 DEF. Eden Walla (USA) 11.10
HEAT 6: Francisca Veselko (POR) 8.87 DEF. Arena Rodriguez (PER) 8.50
HEAT 7: Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 11.40 DEF. Leilani McGonagle (CRC) 10.06
HEAT 8: Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 14.66 DEF. Ellie Harrison (AUS) 14.53
Burton Automotive Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Sophie McCulloch (AUS)
HEAT 2: Teresa Bonvalot (POR) vs. Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN)
HEAT 3: Kirra Pinkerton (USA) vs. Francisca Veselko (POR)
HEAT 4: Tya Zebrowski (FRA) vs. Yolanda Hopkins (POR)
Burton Automotive Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Xavier Huxtable (AUS) vs. Jacob Willcox (AUS)
HEAT 2: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) vs. Winter Vincent (AUS)
HEAT 3: Dimitri Poulos (USA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
HEAT 4: Kauli Vaast (FRA) vs. Peterson Crisanto (BRA)
Watch LIVE
The Burton Automotive Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy opens on June 2 and closes on June 8, 2025. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
The Burton Automotive Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy is proudly supported by Burton Automotive, Bonsoy, City of Newcastle, Destination New South Wales, Port of Newcastle, GWM, Bioglan, Stone & Wood, Boost Mobile, Bond University, Oakberry, Fatboy Bikes, Vaikobi, The Mutual Bank, Newcastle Airport, The Beach Hotel, Hit 106.9, Newcastle Herald, Red Bull, Apple Watch, and Channel 7.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com
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