WA Junior Surf Titles return to Margaret River this weekend

The WA junior surfing titles start for the year this weekend, coming back to Margaret River’s Main Break for the first time since 2022.

An almost 100-strong field of the State’s best male and female junior talent will take each other and Surfers Point on starting from today, February 14.

Grommets aged from eight to 17 years will compete in the first of three WA events, vying for a chance to represent the State at November’s Australian junior surfing titles in South Australia.

Surfing WA events manager Justin Majeks said the weekend’s potential four-day competition would see the latest superstars in action.

“It’s shaping up to be an epic event and it’s so great that our newest surfing champions get their chance to compete at a World Championship Tour location,” he said.

“I’m sure they all dream of following in the footsteps of Jack Robinson, who claimed victory at the Margaret River Pro in 2024.

“This is just the beginning of that journey for many of them.”

Among the South West surfers set to capitalise on the home break advantage, Margaret River’s Okie Fraser would lead the charge in the blue-ribbon under-18 boys division, off the back of his recent victory at the 20th Taj’s Small Fries in Yallingup.

Local Olive Hardy comes into the event as the top ranked under-18 girl, continuing her family’s strong surfing pedigree.

High-performance surf coaches and veterans Mike McAuliffe, Mia McCarthy and Bronte Macaulay would also be on hand throughout the event, guiding their young charges in what was also an invaluable training exercise.

Majeks said the coaches would help the surfers refine their heat strategies, wave selection, and maximising their performance on one of the most demanding waves in the world.

Margaret River Surf Academy coach Mark Meyer said his award-winning Margaret River Senior High School squad members were keen to compete at home this year.

“The Margaret River surfers in the event are really happy with the change to Main Break this year,” the teacher said.

“Conditions look fun. Not big, but it should be very contestable.”

As well as endorsing Hardy and Fraser for their divisions, Mr Meyer said he was excited to see how up-and-coming surfers Jack Bowdell and Ily Fraser fared.

“Both surfers are still in the under-14s this year and coming into their prime for their age division,” he said.

“The under-16 boys’ division I feel will be hotly contested.

“It is a very stacked division and I’m looking forward to seeing how those finals play out.”