Margaret River’s Willow Hardy delivered another standout international performance this week, charging her way into the semifinals of the Siargao International Surfing Cup in the Philippines and finishing third overall. Willow was in fine form throughout the event, convincingly taking down Japan’s Sumomo Sato in the Quarterfinals before meeting fellow Aussie Isla Huppatz in a high-quality semifinal.
In a special moment for the Hardy family, Willow came up against her younger sister Olive in Round 16. At just 15 years old, Olive showed maturity and confidence on the world stage, advancing through the opening rounds before her campaign was halted by her big sister.
WA was strongly represented across the event, with Maverick Wilson, Macklin Flynn, and Isi Campbell also gaining valuable international experience at the iconic reef break.
Read the full WSL media statement below.
Bronson Meydi and Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie Win 2025 Siargao International Surfing Cup QS 6000
CLOUD 9, Siargao Island, Philippines (Thursday, October 30, 2025) – Today, Bronson Meydi (INA) and Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie (AUS) won the 2025 Siargao International Surfing Cup World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 6000 event. The Philippines’ idyllic Cloud 9 continued its run of clean three-to-four-foot waves for the sixth straight day, offering ideal conditions for big performances from the top surfers across the Australia/Oceania and Asia regions.
The action was non-stop throughout the event, seeing many exciting performances and upset victories as juniors largely rose to the top. Meydi was the oldest of the four finalists at 21, and all were competing in their first head-to-head Final at the QS 6000 level. It was the first-ever QS Final for women’s winner Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie (AUS) and men’s runner-up Ben Lorentson (AUS).
Bronson Meydi’s (INA) already strong relationship with the Philippines strengthened even further today with his first QS win. Meydi placed in his first QS Semifinal at Cloud 9 in 2018 and earned his WSL World Junior Champion title in the island nation at the start of the year. Over the course of the event, the 21-year-old provided a highlight reel most would be happy to collect across a lifetime. On Finals Day alone, Meydi defeated event standouts Dane Henry (AUS) and Harley Walters (AUS) with alley-oops of extreme velocity earning a 9.67 and 9.87, respectively. The Indonesian’s defeat of Ben Lorentson (AUS) in the Final was largely thanks to an aggressive two-turn combo, however.
“Wow, I can’t believe it, that was a crazy Final,” Meydi said. “The waves went slow and just in my favor, so yeah, it’s lucky. After he dropped that 8, I was like, oh, I need to get one right now. So yeah, lucky that big one came and stoked to get an 8.8 on that one. Every time I win, it’s in the Philippines. It’s great, I love this place.”
Lorentson had put on a backhand clinic to push through to his first major Final. The 20-year-old relentlessly attacked the Cloud 9 lip to post excellent heat totals in both the Quarterfinals and Semifinals. The runner-up finish skyrocketed the Gold Coast surfer 10 places up the Australia/Oceania rankings to No. 4.
Competing in only the fifth QS event of her career, Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie (AUS) claimed an exciting victory over Isla Huppatz (AUS). The 2024 U/16 ISA World Junior Champion spent most of her life growing up in Bali before relocating to the Gold Coast. A prodigy from a young age in waves of consequence, and still just 17, Mackenzie has now successfully translated her junior success to the Qualifying Series, earning the significant jump to No. 4 in the rankings in the process.
“I came into this event trying to look at it in a fun way and just enjoy surfing Cloud 9 with no one else out and I’m so shocked and happy and stoked right now,” Mackenzie said. “Isla [Huppatz] is one of my best mates and she absolutely ripped so I knew I had to bring my best surfing. It was a bit shaky there at the start but I’m glad I ended up getting that little barrel, and yeah, going into the lead.”
As with the rest of her appearances in the event, Huppatz took a strong early lead with critical reentries connected with seamless rail work. Initially struggling with her wave selection, Mackenzie posted waves in the 4-point range to Huppatz’s in the 5’s. With five minutes remaining and needing a 7.00, Mackenzie knifed deep into a barrel before emerging to back it up with turns. The eruption from the crowd said it all as the 7.50 dropped, turning the heat and securing Mackenzie the win.
Having claimed the Australia/Oceania Junior Champion title in the days leading up to the event, Huppatz’s runner-up finish also moved her to the top of the region’s QS rankings. The 18-year-old now heads to Taiwan aiming to maintain her position as she pushes for a debut on the 2026 Challenger Series, before returning to compete in the WSL World Junior Championships in the Philippines in January.
The 2025 Siargao International Surfing Cup QS 6000 was held at Cloud 9 from October 24 to 31, 2025. For more information, results, and to watch the event live, visit www.WorldSurfLeague.com or download the free WSL app.
Events
