WA surfers delivered standout results across multiple divisions at the 2025 Australian Shortboard Titles presented by SafeStyle, showcasing the state’s depth of talent on the national stage at Sandon Point, Wollongong, NSW over the weekend. Their combined performances saw Western Australia finish an impressive third overall in the state standings, behind only New South Wales and Queensland.
Across six days of competition, more than 250 surfers from around the country battled for national honours, with WA athletes producing performances that highlighted both determination and competitive spirit.
Pictured: Open Women’s finalists at the 2025 Australian Shortboard Titles, with Margaret River’s Kaleisha Launders (second from left) finishing fourth nationally. Credit: Zach Bowden / Surfing Australia.
Launders Leads the Way
Among the highlights, Margaret River’s Kaleisha Launders impressed on the national stage, winning her opening and semi-final heats before finishing fourth in the Open Women’s final.
“It was really special to make the final and surf against such talented surfers, especially with a few of my friends out there too,” said Launders. “I think this result will help me build confidence in my surfing, and it means a lot to represent WA because I love where I live and I love our team. Looking ahead, I’d like to take on a few bigger comps and look to do some QS events next year as I take a gap year.”
Pictured: Busselton’s Belinda Adams placed fourth in the Over 40 Women’s final and made the semi-finals of the Over 30 Women’s division. Credit: Zach Bowden / Surfing Australia.
Masters Make Their Mark
WA’s masters surfers also enjoyed strong showings. Busselton’s Belinda Adams reached the semi-finals of the Over 30 Women’s before placing fourth in the Over 40 Women’s final. Samantha Vanderford from Green Head reached the Over 30 Women’s semi-finals and finished fifth in the Over 50 Women’s.
Team Captain Ian Macpherson (City Beach) narrowly missed out on the Over 50 Men’s final by just 0.19 of a point, securing fifth place overall. Albany’s Paul Dupuy placed fifth in the Over 55 Men’s and ninth in the Over 50s, while Brad Cowan (Margaret River), Brent Moss (Esperance), and Michael Whiteley (Mandurah) all secured top-ten finishes across the senior divisions.
Team Effort Recognised
Surfing WA Chief Operations Officer Matt Wilson praised the team’s efforts.
“The Australian Shortboard Titles is the pinnacle of amateur competition in this country,” said Wilson. “To see our West Aussie surfers step up on the national stage, make finals, and push some of the best in the country is a credit to their dedication and the strength of our surfing community back home.”
The event also decided the newest members of Australia’s national surfing team, The Irukandjis, who will represent the country at the 2026 ISA World Masters Surfing Championships.
Hosted on Dharawal Country along NSW’s South Coast, the Australian Shortboard Titles capped off a huge week of surfing, with Sandon Point turning on some of the best finals day conditions in recent memory with 4 to 5 foot, hollow walls under blue skies.
2025 Australian Shortboard Titles presented by SafeStyle Winners
Open Men – Jed Ashton (Bulli, NSW)
Open Women – Keira Buckpitt (Culburra Beach, NSW)
Thermos O30 Men- Dean Bowen (Gerroa, NSW)
Thermos O30 Women – Serena Brooke (Noosa Heads, QLD)
SafeStyle O40 Men – Christo Hall (Narrabeen, NSW)
SafeStyle O40 Women – Ellen Northy (Narrabeen, NSW)
SafeStyle O50 Men – Paul Parkes (Merewether, NSW)
SafeStyle O50 Women – Belinda Koorey (Manly Vale, NSW)
O55 Men – Christian Lock (Port Noarlunga, SA)
O60 Men – Rod Baldwin (Copacabana, NSW)
O60 Women – Susan Levett (Manly, NSW)
O65 Men – Mark Gobbe (Mona Vale, NSW)
2025 Overall State Standings
1. New South Wales – Champion State
2. Queensland
3. Western Australia
4. Victoria
5. South Australia
6. Tasmania
About the 2025 Australian Surf Championships
The shortboard divisions of the 2025 Australian Surf Championships are held as a stand-alone event on Dharawal Country, along the stunning South Coast Line in New South Wales.
Winners in the Men & Women Over 40’s, Over 50’s and Over 60’s will earn a spot in the Australian surfing team, the Irukandjis, for next year’s International Surfing Association (ISA) World Master Surfing Championships in 2026.
For more information, please visit https://australiansurfchampionships.com/shortboard/.
Entry to the Australian Shortboard Titles presented by SafeStyle is by state qualification or invitation as a wildcard.
The 2025 Australian Shortboard Titles presented by SafeStyle are supported Jim Beam, Thermos, Everything Fleet, Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort, Surfers For Climate, and Destination Wollongong.
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