Newport Team A - Gold for Open Champion Patrol Team Gold: Back; Rebecca Cappell, Phoebe Savage, Jemma Smith, Front; Luke Thornton, Sam Capell, Guyren Smith. This team also won a Silver in the Open Board Tube Rescue and Bronze in the Open Mixed Champion Patrol in the 2026 Champion Patrol On Beach. Photo: Newport SLSC
Club rivalry was on full display as thousands lined North Kirra Beach for the culmination of Aussies 2026. After nine days of racing, more than 7,500 competitors racing in more than 650+ events, it all came down to this.
Northcliffe has once again taken home Aussies Club pointscore, capping off their stellar campaign with the double win in the prestigious Taplin Relays, winning the Open Men’s and Women’s.
Newport SLSC Open Team won 4th place this year, with 174 points and 11 Gold, 11 Silver and 5 Bronze medals, which included taking out the all important Open Patrol Competition with both the President Rebecca Capell and Vice President Guyren Smith on the winning team. Guyren also won Silver in the Champion Lifesaver competition on the first day of competition.
Local clubs also took out Gold, Silver and Bronze in the vital First Aid competition with Newport 1st, Freshwater 2nd and North Steye rounding out the top three an Freshwater's B Team placing 5th overall as well.
Newport’s Jemma Smith was also crowned Competitor of the Carnival, having won two individual gold medals in the Open Champion Lifesaver and Open Surf Ski, as well as helping her Club take home gold in the Open Ski Relay and Board relay.
In the Open Ski final, Smith took the gold medal ahead of Avoca Beach paddling Olympian Ella Beere and kayaking team mate Natalia Drobot.
“It really means a lot. I have missed the two previous Australian ski finals and so I was just really happy to be back in there.
“To have the chance to put a good race forward and to execute it like that today, I couldn’t have asked for much more today.
“I was giving it everything I have to pull on that little runner, which is really tricky, and I knew that if I didn’t get down it, there was a good chance that the rest of the field was going to be coming right behind me.
“The depth of the woman’s ski field is so so strong at the moment so I really had to make the most of what mother nature threw my way,” Jemma said.
In what mimicked an Olympic final, the Open Male Ski saw Paris Olympic silver medallist Jackson Collins (Kurrawa) claim his fourth Australia title ahead Newport’s Mitchell Trim and fellow Paris Olympics K4 team mate Riley Fitzsimmons (Northcliffe).
In the U19 Female Surf Ski, Redhead’s Tully Elliott edged out Olivia Clues (Newport) and Britt Ackerley (Alexandra Headland).
Masters
Also taking Gold in the Masters Divisions and her signature event, the Female Single Ski, was Palm Beach SLSC's Fi Rae. Manly LSC's Jo-Anne Carmichael finished just outside the points tally in the 60-64 age division, while clubmate Rachel Crerar won Silver in the 35-39 yrs Female Single Ski.
Warriewood SLSC's runners again proved their prowess on the sand with Iain Archer, Ben Hargy, Adam Gee and Glen Bauder taking Gold again in the 200 yrs min Male Beach Relay. Adam Gee took Gold again this year in the 50-54 yrs Male Beach Sprint and Ben Hargy the 5th place while teammate Iain Archer secured Bronze in the 45-49 yrs Male Beach Sprint.
Warriewood wins again. Photo: Warriewood SLSC
Shannon Job, North Steyne, took Gold in the 30-39 yrs Male Beach Sprint while clubmate Deborah Foote won Silver in the 60+ Female Beach Sprint and Freshwater's Cheryl White secured the Bronze. Narrabeen's Luke Alcock won Silver in the 30-34 yrs Male Beach Sprint.
Andrew Stuart, North Curl Curl, won Gold in the Beach Runs 60-64 M and F, Sukie Southern of Queenscliff took Silver in the 65-69 yrs Female Beach Sprint with Queensie clubmate Linda Burrell collecting the Bronze.
The Grandfather of them all, Ted Smithies of Newport, took Gold again this year in the 75 yrs & Over Male Beach Sprint with Robert Tomblin of Collaroy winning the Bronze, backing that up with another Gold in the 75 yrs & Over Male Beach Flags while Robert Tomblin bettered his sprint final through securing Silver behind Ted.
In the Open March Past Gold and Silver went to the Collaroy Ladies and Collaroy Bears respectively. Freshwater's Team A ran 9th.
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Ted Smithies of Newport edges out Robert Tomblin in the 75+ years Flags. Photo: Shane Abrahamson
Open March Past Teams:
1st (Gold): Collaroy Ladies; Jacqueline de Kort, Susan Perry, Ann-Maree Donlan, Janine Fahey, Brooke Miller, Alison Ducker, Kerry Armstrong, Anne Bullivant, Debra Trim, Dominique Powis (Farrell), Anna Mickan, Nicole Bowyer.
2nd (Silver): Collaroy Bears; David Macintosh, Martin Bowyer, Craig Williams, Barry Muncke, Ben Crabbe, William Marynissen, Luke Hochkins, Gregory Broome, Gregory MacMahon, Anthony Brown, Neil Armstrong, Robert Tomblin
Freshwater Team A: Kelly Marsh, Susan Walmsley, Anna Block, Ross Parry, Wendy Quail, Judith Bennett, Rachel Needham, David Torevell, William Inches, Jane Freakley, Wayne Freakley, Christopher Tyrrell
Masters Teams from local clubs represented the Branch and their surf clubs well, with the larger contingents showing in the results. Bondi took 1st place on the Leaderboard (324 points) followed by North Bondi (259 points) and Noosa Heads 3rd (22 points).
Local clubs placings overall were:
8th overall Manly LSC - 137 points from 5 gold 7 silver 10 bronze 5x4th 8x5th 1x6th
14th Freshwater - 93 points from 7gold 3silver 5 1 6 1
26th Queenscliff - 62 points from 1gold 6silver 4bronze - 5
29th Newport 55points from 3golds 6silver - 1 1 2
38th Palm Beach (NSW) - 43 points from 2golds 1silver 1bronze 4x4th 3x5th 4x6th
Surf Boats
Local clubs have again brought home a cache of medals and accolades in the surf boat Divisions. The resullts also show the family of boaties local athletes are, with members of some clubs enlisting with other clubs to continue representing their community, surf clubs and pursue their passion for this sport.
Surf Life Saving Australia confirmed that due to the predicted swell forecast for Wednesday 25 March, the program for Open, U19 and U17 Ocean events and Masters Surf Boats would be changed. The Masters Surf Boat competition was shifted from Tugun, with Bilinga being set up as the contingency beach.
2026 Aussies Surf Boat Results include:
160 F + 200 Female Surf Boat:
2 (Bronze) Avalon Beach LASS: Sarah Oaten Bow, Lyndsay Dowsett Second Bow, Alexandra Salier Second Stroke, Simone Polly Stroke, Nathan Wellings Sweep
180 yrs min Female Surf Boat:
2 (Silver) Queenscliff Ship faced: 1 Sophie Wade Bow, 2 Nicki Daley Second Bow, 3 Alexandra Walding Second Stroke, 4 Alexandra Tyrrell Stroke, 5 Matthew Sheridan Sweep
200 yrs min Male Surf Boat:
5 South Curl Curl Juice, South Curl Curl : 1 Jonathan Beavon Bow, 2 Craig Bowra Second Bow, 3 Michael Hopkins Second Stroke, 4 Elton Mckay Stroke, 5 Mark Spiteri Sweep
220 yrs min Male Surf Boat:
2 (Silver) White Pointers Newport: 1 Mark Ballesty Bow, 2 Todd Moore Second Bow, 3 William McLerie Second Stroke, 4 Darren Gore Stroke, 5 Michael Evans Sweep
3 (Bronze) Bilgola OG Bilgola Beach: 1 Garett Smith Bow, 2 Grant Jacobs Second Bow, 3 Mark Parsons Second Stroke, 4 Norman Pounder Stroke, 5 Neil Jones Sweep
240 yrs min Male Surf Boat:
1 (Gold) South Curl Curl White Bread South Curl Curl: 1 Trent Rogers Bow, 2 Peter Rogers Second Bow, 3 John Mark Campbell Second Stroke, 4 Robert Buckingham Stroke, 5 Christopher Flemming Sweep
5 North Narrabeen FOGs North Narrabeen: 1 Steve Barrett Bow, 2 Steven Maxwell Second Bow, 3 Heath Moore Second Stroke, 4 Mark Dimento Stroke, 5 Brenden Reedy Sweep
Reserve Female Surf Boat:
1 (Gold) Freshwater Freaks: Elizabeth (Ela) Cornwell Stroke, Mia Glasson Bow, Cheyenne Hayes Second Bow, Kelsey Crawford Second Stroke, Nathan Perry Sweep
2 (Silver) South Curl Curl Hoozya: Jacinta Kendall Second Bow, Ellie Clubb Bow, Willow Doyle Second Stroke, Malawi Warneford Stroke, Mark Spiteri Sweep
3 (Bronze) Queenscliff Ship faced: Alexandra Tyrrell Second Bow, Nicki Daley Sweep, Sophie Wade Bow, Alexandra Walding Second Stroke, Matthew Sheridan Stroke
Reserve Female and Male surf boat champions 2026 - all from here. Photos: Malcolm Trees
Reserve Grade Male Surf Boat:
1 (Gold) Freshwater Pigs: Tristan Kavanagh Second Stroke, Rory Bartle Stroke, Andrew McMinn Bow, Charlie Griffith Sweep, Nathan Perry Second Bow
Open Mixed Surf Boat Relay:
1 (Gold) Palm Beach (NSW) Palmy Green: Jackson Thomas, William Hirst, Marcus Greene, Thomas Whalan, Penitiketo Halangahu, Lucy Lake, Meg Conlon, Stephanie Spence, Ingrid Holtheuer, Stephen Cox, Rory Egan, Max Tancred, Oscar Petras, Stuart Wickens, Robert Giblin
Palm Beach SLSC's Open Mixed Surf Boat Relay Winners. Photo: Malcolm Trees
Open Female Surf Boat:
1 (Gold): Collaroy Giants: Jessica Layton Bow, Mark Anderson Sweep, Alysha Lerond Stroke, Rhiannon Lea Second Stroke, Kelly Trim Second Bow
5th: Collaroy Crusaders: Gavin Scott Sweep, Isabella Dunkin Stroke, Tara Bowyer Second Stroke, Claire Reading Second Bow, Jodie Trim Bow
6th: Palm Beach (NSW) Palm Beach Pirates: Ingrid Holtheuer Stroke, Lucy Lake Bow, Meg Conlon Second Bow, Stephanie Spence Second Stroke, Stephen Cox Sweep
Collaroy Giants - 2026 Open Female Boat Champions. Photos: Malcolm Trees
Open Male Surf Boat:
2 (Silver) Avalon Beach Pinkies: Nathan Wellings Sweep, Torin Calf Stroke, Thomas Curnow Bow, Jack Hook Second Stroke, Shaun Wolthers Second Bow
5 South Curl Curl : Jordan Thurlow Second Stroke, Samuel Lowery Bow, Michael Egan Second Bow, Zac Lowery Stroke, Rob Lowery Sweep
(in Final) Queenscliff A Rollers: Campbell Watts Stroke, Harvey Jones Second Stroke, Simon Gillespie Bow, James Molloy Second Bow, Damien Daley Sweep
Avalon Beach SLSC's Pinkies cooling off during the Finals. Photo: Malcolm Trees
U19 Female Surf Boat:
2 (Silver) Newport Nightmare: Michael King Sweep, Elise Shanahan Stroke, Macy Pickering Second Stroke, Ava Cran Second Bow, Milla Bonasera Bow
4 Mona Vale Mona Menace: Anabel Rulli Stroke, James Meadows Sweep, Abbey Pickering Second Stroke, Georgia Alden Second Bow, Jasmine Siddall Bow
5 South Curl Curl Runawayz: Naomie Humel Second Stroke, Nathan Wilson Sweep, Chanelle Humel Stroke, Abigail Wilson Bow, Zoe Burke Second Bow
Newport Nightmare, medallists 2026. Photo: Malcolm Trees
U19 Male Surf Boat:
1 (Gold) Queenscliff Porky Pigs: Zac de Hennin Bow, Preston Hadfield Second Stroke, Ashe Seipelt-Walker Second Bow, Damien Daley Sweep, Wyndham Bromiley Stroke
5 North Curl Curl Team OX: Toby Johnston Second Stroke, Jelle Spijker Stroke, Shaun Stacey Sweep, Luca Ferguson Second Bow, Alexander Conran Bow
6 Palm Beach (NSW) Palm Beach Prophets: William Hirst Second Bow, Max Tancred Second Stroke, Oscar Petras Stroke, Rory Egan Sweep, Jackson Thomas Bow
Palmy Army medallists. Photo: Malcolm Trees
Photo: Malcolm Trees
Youth-Nippers
The 2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships opened March 21 with the Nipper and Youth Championships.
For Freshwater’s U14 girls Piper Brenchley, Darcey Herd, Florence Warren and Sophie Yeates although finishing fifth in their semi, they were stoked to make it through to the final.
“It feels great to make the final, we are really shocked,” said Piper.
“We didn’t really expect to make the final, so it feels really good,” she said.
Manly LSC's Team A went on to win Bronze in the U14 Female Cameron Relay - congratulations to Tamzin Woolston Board paddler, Eve Seymour Runner, Addison Burrows Runner 2 and Lucy Whitehead Swimmer, while their U15 Female Board Relay team of Evie Davis, Isla Jordan and Zara Cleary won Silver in their Final.
North Curl Curl excelled in the 2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - U14-U19 - placing 3rd overall in the leaderboard, while South Curl Curl is listed at a respectable 4th.
On the final day of racing Surf Life Saving Australia announced the 2027 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships will be held Maroochydore, Alexandra Headland and Mooloolaba from 10-18 April 2027.
All Results available:
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - Champion Patrol Overall
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - Open Champion First Aid
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - Champion Lifesaver Open & Masters Overall
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - U14-U19 Champion Lifesaver On Beach
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - U14-U19 Champion Lifesaver Overall
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - Youth
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - Adaptive Surf Sports
2026 Pathways Interstate Championships
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - Masters On Beach
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - Masters
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - Surfboard Riding
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - RnR
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - Open North Area Surf Boats - heats results
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - Open South Area Surf Boats - heats results
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - Open Combined Area Surf Boats
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - Open
Just some of the huge contingent of volunteer referees and officials who make the Aussies happen. Photo: Malcolm Trees
A few more Aussies celebratory pictures run below with HUGE thanks as always to SLSA, Malcolm Trees (surf boats and officials) and Shane Abrahamson for the incredible photos.
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