Billed as the ‘longest running event on the Australian surfing calendar’, the Thermos Australian Longboard Titles will return for a third consecutive year to Tweed Coast beaches 24-30 July.
Organisers say they expect up to 200 entrants and the comp is, ‘one of the few in the country where Under-18 juniors and over-70 masters compete under the same banner, in the same week, on the same stretch of coast’.
‘More than 200 athletes from all six surfing states will descend on the region, running a mobile format between Duranbah Beach and Hastings Point to chase the best conditions on offer. At stake in the Open Men’s and Women’s divisions is direct qualification for the Irukandjis, Australia’s national surfing team, and a place at the ISA World Longboard Championships.
‘For the Tweed/Northern Rivers, the event is also a showcase of local talent, with one of the strongest regional contingents in the country competing across junior, open and masters divisions.
‘Local athletes include Freya Abbott (2489), Mahli Abbott (2489), Emma Perrier (2473), Anne Duncan (2471), Judy Robson (2472), Amy Main (2478), Louise Tiernan (2478), Heidi Van Leest (2464), Suki Alford (2481), Nick Pearson (2481), Claire Perryn (2481), Archy Bemrose (2487), Ben Proudfoot (2488), Brett Sarandoglou (2488), Matthew Anderson (2488), Wendy Stevenson (2486), Jay Carter (2486), Scott Durrough (2486), Ron Timothy (2486), Mal Mckay (2489), Tony Rae (2489)
‘Last year’s finals went down to the wire. Emma Perrier (NSW) defeated Melanie Staunton (VIC) by just 0.30 points to claim her first Open Women’s title and secure her first Irukandji selection. She returns in 2026 looking to defend her national crown on home turf.
‘Defending Open Men’s champion Josh Constable (QLD) also returns, alongside a deep field of state representatives and rising juniors looking to make their mark.
‘The event remains unique in Australian surfing, bringing together three generations of competitors – from Under-18 juniors through to Over-70 legends – celebrating both the heritage and future of longboarding in one national championship’, say organisers.
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