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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Locals stoked with double Surfest shot as Anderson progresses on day one
Surfing a world-ranked event at your home break once a season is special enough. So, home-grown pair Jackson Baker and Ryan Callinan were clearly stoked at the announcement on Monday that Newcastle Surfest contests would bookend the World Surf League's (WSL) second-tier Challenger Series (CS). Baker, Callinan and fellow Merewether surfer Morgan Cibilic are attempting to requalify for the World Championship Tour through the seven-event CS, which began in Newcastle on Monday and returns as the last stop of the 2025-26 series next March. The CS previously comprised five events but the WSL announced on Monday, as Surfest was launched at Merewether, that events at Hawaii's Pipeline (January 28 to February 8, 2026) and in Newcastle (March 8-15, 2026) had been added for this season. The top-10 ranked male surfers and top-seven women, based on competitor's best-five results, earn a spot on the top-tier Championship Tour for 2026. "It's really exciting to finish here," Baker said on Monday. "Mentally, you're still preparing for a five-event series, so those extra two are a bonus. You kind of want to seal it up before Pipe and coming back here, but that's easier said than done. "But to finish here and be standing on the beach here in March and you've made the world tour at your local break would be a dream come true." The 28-year-old's name is etched into Surfest history as its first home-grown men's winner. Baker won the Newcastle title in 2022 when it was a third-tier Qualifying Series event. That year was his first year on the Championship Tour, a place he is determined to get back to. "It was a special day," Baker reflected of the 2022 victory. "Everyone has kind of been bringing it up in the last few weeks, but I'm just reminding myself that coming into this event it doesn't really mean anything now. "Refresh with the Challenger Series. The goal is still the same - to try to win it as a Challenger Series for the first time. "But that was a really special day. I got to share the final with Ryan, and we knew we had a 50 per cent chance that a local would finally win the thing. "It was a beautiful afternoon and the waves were really fun, really good Merewether, kind of similar today, really good conditions." Competition got underway with the men's round-of-80 surfers on Monday. Gold Coast surfer Julian Wilson, who now calls Newcastle home and won Surfest in 2020, won his opening-round heat on Monday. The 36-year-old, who is making a professional comeback after several years out of the competitive limelight, posted a two-wave score of 13.50 points to progress to the next round alongside second-placed Tenshi Iwami (11.27) from Japan. Baker, Cibilic and Callinan hit the water in the next round, likely to start on Wednesday or Thursday depending on conditions. Callinan comes back into the CS for the first time since 2022 after missing the CT's mid-season cut last week. The 33-year-old goofy-footer has had a mixed 2025, missing two of seven CT events, but recently celebrated the birth of his first child - four-week-old daughter Penelope. "It's a big adjustment but I'm loving every second of it. It's a new adventure," Callinan said on Monday. "It's been a bit of a bumpy year competitively for me, missing an event having an injury and then missing another event for the birth of Pene, which I wouldn't change for the world. "But just trying to find the flow and find my feet in the water and what better way to do it than here at home with waves that look so fun." Merewether's Philippa Anderson, who has her own named etched in history as the 2009 Surfest's women's winner, is an event wildcard and looked right at home as she progressed to the next round with a first-up heat win on Monday. The 33-year-old natural-footer took an early heat lead then sealed a winning score of 12.06 points with a 6.33-point ride in the final minutes. Peru's Arena Rodriguez was second (11.90) and also progressed. Newcastle-based South African Sarah Baum placed third (9.83) in the same heat and bowed out of the contest, along with fourth-placed Australian Oceania Rogers (8.36). "That was probably the least nervous I've ever been ... that felt really good. I guess just no pressure," Anderson said after her heat win on Monday afternoon. "For me, I was pretty devastated I didn't make the Challenger to represent our region this year but we had the trials yesterday and I said to a few of the local girls, 'Just how good is this opportunity. You have a one in 12 shot to make a Challenger'. "I kind of carried that into today, just how good is this opportunity. A bit of a different mindset for me this year." Destination NSW funding has helped secure Surfest events this year and next. Surfing a world-ranked event at your home break once a season is special enough. So, home-grown pair Jackson Baker and Ryan Callinan were clearly stoked at the announcement on Monday that Newcastle Surfest contests would bookend the World Surf League's (WSL) second-tier Challenger Series (CS). Baker, Callinan and fellow Merewether surfer Morgan Cibilic are attempting to requalify for the World Championship Tour through the seven-event CS, which began in Newcastle on Monday and returns as the last stop of the 2025-26 series next March. The CS previously comprised five events but the WSL announced on Monday, as Surfest was launched at Merewether, that events at Hawaii's Pipeline (January 28 to February 8, 2026) and in Newcastle (March 8-15, 2026) had been added for this season. The top-10 ranked male surfers and top-seven women, based on competitor's best-five results, earn a spot on the top-tier Championship Tour for 2026. "It's really exciting to finish here," Baker said on Monday. "Mentally, you're still preparing for a five-event series, so those extra two are a bonus. You kind of want to seal it up before Pipe and coming back here, but that's easier said than done. "But to finish here and be standing on the beach here in March and you've made the world tour at your local break would be a dream come true." The 28-year-old's name is etched into Surfest history as its first home-grown men's winner. Baker won the Newcastle title in 2022 when it was a third-tier Qualifying Series event. That year was his first year on the Championship Tour, a place he is determined to get back to. "It was a special day," Baker reflected of the 2022 victory. "Everyone has kind of been bringing it up in the last few weeks, but I'm just reminding myself that coming into this event it doesn't really mean anything now. "Refresh with the Challenger Series. The goal is still the same - to try to win it as a Challenger Series for the first time. "But that was a really special day. I got to share the final with Ryan, and we knew we had a 50 per cent chance that a local would finally win the thing. "It was a beautiful afternoon and the waves were really fun, really good Merewether, kind of similar today, really good conditions." Competition got underway with the men's round-of-80 surfers on Monday. Gold Coast surfer Julian Wilson, who now calls Newcastle home and won Surfest in 2020, won his opening-round heat on Monday. The 36-year-old, who is making a professional comeback after several years out of the competitive limelight, posted a two-wave score of 13.50 points to progress to the next round alongside second-placed Tenshi Iwami (11.27) from Japan. Baker, Cibilic and Callinan hit the water in the next round, likely to start on Wednesday or Thursday depending on conditions. Callinan comes back into the CS for the first time since 2022 after missing the CT's mid-season cut last week. The 33-year-old goofy-footer has had a mixed 2025, missing two of seven CT events, but recently celebrated the birth of his first child - four-week-old daughter Penelope. "It's a big adjustment but I'm loving every second of it. It's a new adventure," Callinan said on Monday. "It's been a bit of a bumpy year competitively for me, missing an event having an injury and then missing another event for the birth of Pene, which I wouldn't change for the world. "But just trying to find the flow and find my feet in the water and what better way to do it than here at home with waves that look so fun." Merewether's Philippa Anderson, who has her own named etched in history as the 2009 Surfest's women's winner, is an event wildcard and looked right at home as she progressed to the next round with a first-up heat win on Monday. The 33-year-old natural-footer took an early heat lead then sealed a winning score of 12.06 points with a 6.33-point ride in the final minutes. Peru's Arena Rodriguez was second (11.90) and also progressed. Newcastle-based South African Sarah Baum placed third (9.83) in the same heat and bowed out of the contest, along with fourth-placed Australian Oceania Rogers (8.36). "That was probably the least nervous I've ever been ... that felt really good. I guess just no pressure," Anderson said after her heat win on Monday afternoon. "For me, I was pretty devastated I didn't make the Challenger to represent our region this year but we had the trials yesterday and I said to a few of the local girls, 'Just how good is this opportunity. You have a one in 12 shot to make a Challenger'. "I kind of carried that into today, just how good is this opportunity. A bit of a different mindset for me this year." Destination NSW funding has helped secure Surfest events this year and next. Surfing a world-ranked event at your home break once a season is special enough. So, home-grown pair Jackson Baker and Ryan Callinan were clearly stoked at the announcement on Monday that Newcastle Surfest contests would bookend the World Surf League's (WSL) second-tier Challenger Series (CS). Baker, Callinan and fellow Merewether surfer Morgan Cibilic are attempting to requalify for the World Championship Tour through the seven-event CS, which began in Newcastle on Monday and returns as the last stop of the 2025-26 series next March. The CS previously comprised five events but the WSL announced on Monday, as Surfest was launched at Merewether, that events at Hawaii's Pipeline (January 28 to February 8, 2026) and in Newcastle (March 8-15, 2026) had been added for this season. The top-10 ranked male surfers and top-seven women, based on competitor's best-five results, earn a spot on the top-tier Championship Tour for 2026. "It's really exciting to finish here," Baker said on Monday. "Mentally, you're still preparing for a five-event series, so those extra two are a bonus. You kind of want to seal it up before Pipe and coming back here, but that's easier said than done. "But to finish here and be standing on the beach here in March and you've made the world tour at your local break would be a dream come true." The 28-year-old's name is etched into Surfest history as its first home-grown men's winner. Baker won the Newcastle title in 2022 when it was a third-tier Qualifying Series event. That year was his first year on the Championship Tour, a place he is determined to get back to. "It was a special day," Baker reflected of the 2022 victory. "Everyone has kind of been bringing it up in the last few weeks, but I'm just reminding myself that coming into this event it doesn't really mean anything now. "Refresh with the Challenger Series. The goal is still the same - to try to win it as a Challenger Series for the first time. "But that was a really special day. I got to share the final with Ryan, and we knew we had a 50 per cent chance that a local would finally win the thing. "It was a beautiful afternoon and the waves were really fun, really good Merewether, kind of similar today, really good conditions." Competition got underway with the men's round-of-80 surfers on Monday. Gold Coast surfer Julian Wilson, who now calls Newcastle home and won Surfest in 2020, won his opening-round heat on Monday. The 36-year-old, who is making a professional comeback after several years out of the competitive limelight, posted a two-wave score of 13.50 points to progress to the next round alongside second-placed Tenshi Iwami (11.27) from Japan. Baker, Cibilic and Callinan hit the water in the next round, likely to start on Wednesday or Thursday depending on conditions. Callinan comes back into the CS for the first time since 2022 after missing the CT's mid-season cut last week. The 33-year-old goofy-footer has had a mixed 2025, missing two of seven CT events, but recently celebrated the birth of his first child - four-week-old daughter Penelope. "It's a big adjustment but I'm loving every second of it. It's a new adventure," Callinan said on Monday. "It's been a bit of a bumpy year competitively for me, missing an event having an injury and then missing another event for the birth of Pene, which I wouldn't change for the world. "But just trying to find the flow and find my feet in the water and what better way to do it than here at home with waves that look so fun." Merewether's Philippa Anderson, who has her own named etched in history as the 2009 Surfest's women's winner, is an event wildcard and looked right at home as she progressed to the next round with a first-up heat win on Monday. The 33-year-old natural-footer took an early heat lead then sealed a winning score of 12.06 points with a 6.33-point ride in the final minutes. Peru's Arena Rodriguez was second (11.90) and also progressed. Newcastle-based South African Sarah Baum placed third (9.83) in the same heat and bowed out of the contest, along with fourth-placed Australian Oceania Rogers (8.36). "That was probably the least nervous I've ever been ... that felt really good. I guess just no pressure," Anderson said after her heat win on Monday afternoon. "For me, I was pretty devastated I didn't make the Challenger to represent our region this year but we had the trials yesterday and I said to a few of the local girls, 'Just how good is this opportunity. You have a one in 12 shot to make a Challenger'. "I kind of carried that into today, just how good is this opportunity. A bit of a different mindset for me this year." Destination NSW funding has helped secure Surfest events this year and next. Surfing a world-ranked event at your home break once a season is special enough. So, home-grown pair Jackson Baker and Ryan Callinan were clearly stoked at the announcement on Monday that Newcastle Surfest contests would bookend the World Surf League's (WSL) second-tier Challenger Series (CS). Baker, Callinan and fellow Merewether surfer Morgan Cibilic are attempting to requalify for the World Championship Tour through the seven-event CS, which began in Newcastle on Monday and returns as the last stop of the 2025-26 series next March. The CS previously comprised five events but the WSL announced on Monday, as Surfest was launched at Merewether, that events at Hawaii's Pipeline (January 28 to February 8, 2026) and in Newcastle (March 8-15, 2026) had been added for this season. The top-10 ranked male surfers and top-seven women, based on competitor's best-five results, earn a spot on the top-tier Championship Tour for 2026. "It's really exciting to finish here," Baker said on Monday. "Mentally, you're still preparing for a five-event series, so those extra two are a bonus. You kind of want to seal it up before Pipe and coming back here, but that's easier said than done. "But to finish here and be standing on the beach here in March and you've made the world tour at your local break would be a dream come true." The 28-year-old's name is etched into Surfest history as its first home-grown men's winner. Baker won the Newcastle title in 2022 when it was a third-tier Qualifying Series event. That year was his first year on the Championship Tour, a place he is determined to get back to. "It was a special day," Baker reflected of the 2022 victory. "Everyone has kind of been bringing it up in the last few weeks, but I'm just reminding myself that coming into this event it doesn't really mean anything now. "Refresh with the Challenger Series. The goal is still the same - to try to win it as a Challenger Series for the first time. "But that was a really special day. I got to share the final with Ryan, and we knew we had a 50 per cent chance that a local would finally win the thing. "It was a beautiful afternoon and the waves were really fun, really good Merewether, kind of similar today, really good conditions." Competition got underway with the men's round-of-80 surfers on Monday. Gold Coast surfer Julian Wilson, who now calls Newcastle home and won Surfest in 2020, won his opening-round heat on Monday. The 36-year-old, who is making a professional comeback after several years out of the competitive limelight, posted a two-wave score of 13.50 points to progress to the next round alongside second-placed Tenshi Iwami (11.27) from Japan. Baker, Cibilic and Callinan hit the water in the next round, likely to start on Wednesday or Thursday depending on conditions. Callinan comes back into the CS for the first time since 2022 after missing the CT's mid-season cut last week. The 33-year-old goofy-footer has had a mixed 2025, missing two of seven CT events, but recently celebrated the birth of his first child - four-week-old daughter Penelope. "It's a big adjustment but I'm loving every second of it. It's a new adventure," Callinan said on Monday. "It's been a bit of a bumpy year competitively for me, missing an event having an injury and then missing another event for the birth of Pene, which I wouldn't change for the world. "But just trying to find the flow and find my feet in the water and what better way to do it than here at home with waves that look so fun." Merewether's Philippa Anderson, who has her own named etched in history as the 2009 Surfest's women's winner, is an event wildcard and looked right at home as she progressed to the next round with a first-up heat win on Monday. The 33-year-old natural-footer took an early heat lead then sealed a winning score of 12.06 points with a 6.33-point ride in the final minutes. Peru's Arena Rodriguez was second (11.90) and also progressed. Newcastle-based South African Sarah Baum placed third (9.83) in the same heat and bowed out of the contest, along with fourth-placed Australian Oceania Rogers (8.36). "That was probably the least nervous I've ever been ... that felt really good. I guess just no pressure," Anderson said after her heat win on Monday afternoon. "For me, I was pretty devastated I didn't make the Challenger to represent our region this year but we had the trials yesterday and I said to a few of the local girls, 'Just how good is this opportunity. You have a one in 12 shot to make a Challenger'. "I kind of carried that into today, just how good is this opportunity. A bit of a different mindset for me this year." Destination NSW funding has helped secure Surfest events this year and next.
The Advertiser
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Everything you need to know about Surfest in 2025
Forty years after its inception, dreamed up as the uniquely Newcastle surf event that would help carry the city out of its industrial past, Surfest has returned in 2025, arguably bigger and better than ever after rising to the World Surf League's second-tier Challenger Series. "It's radically different," Andrew Stark, the WSL's Asia-Pacific president, said of the main contest's elevation from the third-tier Qualifying Series in November last year. With heightened status, the competition from June 2 to June 8 promises bigger names, better surf and more eyeballs on Newcastle's glorious coastline. Public transport is the best way to get to Surfest with buses running regularly to Merewether Beach, where most of the surf action is happening, the event has advised. The Newcastle light rail runs regularly from the Newcastle Interchange on Stewart Avenue to Newcastle Beach, connecting to regional train lines. Event goers using the light rail can connect with route 12 at Hunter Street at Florence Street - a short walk from Newcastle Interchange or connect with route 21 at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. The ferry operates between Stockton and Queens Wharf with services every 15 minutes during peak periods and 20 minutes throughout the day and weekends. Event goers can connect with the Route 21 service at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. Surfest events have been running since December, but the height of the action brings the show to a rollicking climax in Newcastle from Monday, June 2, to Sunday, June 8. Here is the full event schedule. If you cannot make it to the beach, the Surfest website will live stream events as they happen, including the June 1 to June 8 Challenger Series. You can watch the events here. Surfest 2025 is returning "home" to The Beach Hotel at Merewether from June 2 to 8. Not only is the hotel stepping up as an official event sponsor this year, it's also acting as a hub for Surfest entertainment and sponsoring Merewether's own Ryan Callinan, a world-class surfer and proud representative of the local Boardriders club and celebrating the rich surfing heritage of the region. The hotel is also hosting a string of Surfest events, including the Ain't That Swell live podcast with Vaughan Blakey and Jed Smith (June 1); the Go For Broke breakfast and panel with Morgan Cibilic, Andrew Stark, Mitchell Ross, Kate Wilcomes and Stace Galbraith (June 5); and the Surfest Closing Party with Tommy Trash (June 8). "We're stoked to partner with The Beach Hotel for this year's Burton Automotive Surfest Challenger Series," says World Surf League (WSL) Asia Pacific (APAC) president Andrew Stark. "It's an iconic venue with deep roots in the local surf scene - especially with the Merewether Boardriders and the local community. "With its epic location, great food, and surf history on the walls, it's the perfect spot for competitors and fans to kick back after a day in the water. We're pumped to see it all come to life." With Merewether being the original birthplace of Surfest, The Beach Hotel has long been woven into the fabric of Newcastle's surf culture. It's something owner Glenn Piper was adamant about preserving - and honouring - while renovating the building. "Surfing is in our veins here at The Beaches," he said. "Bringing Surfest back to its original home and supporting local legends like Ryan is about honouring our past while investing in the future of Newcastle's surf culture." Added Ryan: "The Beach Hotel has always been at the heart of Merewether's surf scene, whether it's boardriders swapping stories after a comp or locals celebrating a perfect run of swell. Having them back in the 2025 season is more than a sponsorship; it's a show of community strength and pride. Carrying the Beaches logo in the line-up reminds me I'm representing everyone who calls this place home." The 2025 Surfest will be the opening event of the World Surf League Challenger Series, drawing over 120 of the world's best surfers to Merewether Beach from June 2 to 8. It's the largest surfing festival in the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing Newcastle's vibrant coastal community to a global audience. To see the full Surfest program at The Beach Hotel, visit In coordination with the event, Sanbah Surf Shop - a major supporter of Surfest - is coordinating surf classes with professional coaching staff from Newcastle Surfest Surf School. Instructors are accredited with Surfing Australia and operate as a licensed Surfing Australia surf school, teaching surf lessons to children and adults from Nobby's Beach, Newcastle. Bookings and details are available here. Forty years after its inception, dreamed up as the uniquely Newcastle surf event that would help carry the city out of its industrial past, Surfest has returned in 2025, arguably bigger and better than ever after rising to the World Surf League's second-tier Challenger Series. "It's radically different," Andrew Stark, the WSL's Asia-Pacific president, said of the main contest's elevation from the third-tier Qualifying Series in November last year. With heightened status, the competition from June 2 to June 8 promises bigger names, better surf and more eyeballs on Newcastle's glorious coastline. Public transport is the best way to get to Surfest with buses running regularly to Merewether Beach, where most of the surf action is happening, the event has advised. The Newcastle light rail runs regularly from the Newcastle Interchange on Stewart Avenue to Newcastle Beach, connecting to regional train lines. Event goers using the light rail can connect with route 12 at Hunter Street at Florence Street - a short walk from Newcastle Interchange or connect with route 21 at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. The ferry operates between Stockton and Queens Wharf with services every 15 minutes during peak periods and 20 minutes throughout the day and weekends. Event goers can connect with the Route 21 service at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. Surfest events have been running since December, but the height of the action brings the show to a rollicking climax in Newcastle from Monday, June 2, to Sunday, June 8. Here is the full event schedule. If you cannot make it to the beach, the Surfest website will live stream events as they happen, including the June 1 to June 8 Challenger Series. You can watch the events here. Surfest 2025 is returning "home" to The Beach Hotel at Merewether from June 2 to 8. Not only is the hotel stepping up as an official event sponsor this year, it's also acting as a hub for Surfest entertainment and sponsoring Merewether's own Ryan Callinan, a world-class surfer and proud representative of the local Boardriders club and celebrating the rich surfing heritage of the region. The hotel is also hosting a string of Surfest events, including the Ain't That Swell live podcast with Vaughan Blakey and Jed Smith (June 1); the Go For Broke breakfast and panel with Morgan Cibilic, Andrew Stark, Mitchell Ross, Kate Wilcomes and Stace Galbraith (June 5); and the Surfest Closing Party with Tommy Trash (June 8). "We're stoked to partner with The Beach Hotel for this year's Burton Automotive Surfest Challenger Series," says World Surf League (WSL) Asia Pacific (APAC) president Andrew Stark. "It's an iconic venue with deep roots in the local surf scene - especially with the Merewether Boardriders and the local community. "With its epic location, great food, and surf history on the walls, it's the perfect spot for competitors and fans to kick back after a day in the water. We're pumped to see it all come to life." With Merewether being the original birthplace of Surfest, The Beach Hotel has long been woven into the fabric of Newcastle's surf culture. It's something owner Glenn Piper was adamant about preserving - and honouring - while renovating the building. "Surfing is in our veins here at The Beaches," he said. "Bringing Surfest back to its original home and supporting local legends like Ryan is about honouring our past while investing in the future of Newcastle's surf culture." Added Ryan: "The Beach Hotel has always been at the heart of Merewether's surf scene, whether it's boardriders swapping stories after a comp or locals celebrating a perfect run of swell. Having them back in the 2025 season is more than a sponsorship; it's a show of community strength and pride. Carrying the Beaches logo in the line-up reminds me I'm representing everyone who calls this place home." The 2025 Surfest will be the opening event of the World Surf League Challenger Series, drawing over 120 of the world's best surfers to Merewether Beach from June 2 to 8. It's the largest surfing festival in the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing Newcastle's vibrant coastal community to a global audience. To see the full Surfest program at The Beach Hotel, visit In coordination with the event, Sanbah Surf Shop - a major supporter of Surfest - is coordinating surf classes with professional coaching staff from Newcastle Surfest Surf School. Instructors are accredited with Surfing Australia and operate as a licensed Surfing Australia surf school, teaching surf lessons to children and adults from Nobby's Beach, Newcastle. Bookings and details are available here. Forty years after its inception, dreamed up as the uniquely Newcastle surf event that would help carry the city out of its industrial past, Surfest has returned in 2025, arguably bigger and better than ever after rising to the World Surf League's second-tier Challenger Series. "It's radically different," Andrew Stark, the WSL's Asia-Pacific president, said of the main contest's elevation from the third-tier Qualifying Series in November last year. With heightened status, the competition from June 2 to June 8 promises bigger names, better surf and more eyeballs on Newcastle's glorious coastline. Public transport is the best way to get to Surfest with buses running regularly to Merewether Beach, where most of the surf action is happening, the event has advised. The Newcastle light rail runs regularly from the Newcastle Interchange on Stewart Avenue to Newcastle Beach, connecting to regional train lines. Event goers using the light rail can connect with route 12 at Hunter Street at Florence Street - a short walk from Newcastle Interchange or connect with route 21 at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. The ferry operates between Stockton and Queens Wharf with services every 15 minutes during peak periods and 20 minutes throughout the day and weekends. Event goers can connect with the Route 21 service at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. Surfest events have been running since December, but the height of the action brings the show to a rollicking climax in Newcastle from Monday, June 2, to Sunday, June 8. Here is the full event schedule. If you cannot make it to the beach, the Surfest website will live stream events as they happen, including the June 1 to June 8 Challenger Series. You can watch the events here. Surfest 2025 is returning "home" to The Beach Hotel at Merewether from June 2 to 8. Not only is the hotel stepping up as an official event sponsor this year, it's also acting as a hub for Surfest entertainment and sponsoring Merewether's own Ryan Callinan, a world-class surfer and proud representative of the local Boardriders club and celebrating the rich surfing heritage of the region. The hotel is also hosting a string of Surfest events, including the Ain't That Swell live podcast with Vaughan Blakey and Jed Smith (June 1); the Go For Broke breakfast and panel with Morgan Cibilic, Andrew Stark, Mitchell Ross, Kate Wilcomes and Stace Galbraith (June 5); and the Surfest Closing Party with Tommy Trash (June 8). "We're stoked to partner with The Beach Hotel for this year's Burton Automotive Surfest Challenger Series," says World Surf League (WSL) Asia Pacific (APAC) president Andrew Stark. "It's an iconic venue with deep roots in the local surf scene - especially with the Merewether Boardriders and the local community. "With its epic location, great food, and surf history on the walls, it's the perfect spot for competitors and fans to kick back after a day in the water. We're pumped to see it all come to life." With Merewether being the original birthplace of Surfest, The Beach Hotel has long been woven into the fabric of Newcastle's surf culture. It's something owner Glenn Piper was adamant about preserving - and honouring - while renovating the building. "Surfing is in our veins here at The Beaches," he said. "Bringing Surfest back to its original home and supporting local legends like Ryan is about honouring our past while investing in the future of Newcastle's surf culture." Added Ryan: "The Beach Hotel has always been at the heart of Merewether's surf scene, whether it's boardriders swapping stories after a comp or locals celebrating a perfect run of swell. Having them back in the 2025 season is more than a sponsorship; it's a show of community strength and pride. Carrying the Beaches logo in the line-up reminds me I'm representing everyone who calls this place home." The 2025 Surfest will be the opening event of the World Surf League Challenger Series, drawing over 120 of the world's best surfers to Merewether Beach from June 2 to 8. It's the largest surfing festival in the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing Newcastle's vibrant coastal community to a global audience. To see the full Surfest program at The Beach Hotel, visit In coordination with the event, Sanbah Surf Shop - a major supporter of Surfest - is coordinating surf classes with professional coaching staff from Newcastle Surfest Surf School. Instructors are accredited with Surfing Australia and operate as a licensed Surfing Australia surf school, teaching surf lessons to children and adults from Nobby's Beach, Newcastle. Bookings and details are available here. Forty years after its inception, dreamed up as the uniquely Newcastle surf event that would help carry the city out of its industrial past, Surfest has returned in 2025, arguably bigger and better than ever after rising to the World Surf League's second-tier Challenger Series. "It's radically different," Andrew Stark, the WSL's Asia-Pacific president, said of the main contest's elevation from the third-tier Qualifying Series in November last year. With heightened status, the competition from June 2 to June 8 promises bigger names, better surf and more eyeballs on Newcastle's glorious coastline. Public transport is the best way to get to Surfest with buses running regularly to Merewether Beach, where most of the surf action is happening, the event has advised. The Newcastle light rail runs regularly from the Newcastle Interchange on Stewart Avenue to Newcastle Beach, connecting to regional train lines. Event goers using the light rail can connect with route 12 at Hunter Street at Florence Street - a short walk from Newcastle Interchange or connect with route 21 at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. The ferry operates between Stockton and Queens Wharf with services every 15 minutes during peak periods and 20 minutes throughout the day and weekends. Event goers can connect with the Route 21 service at Customs House, Watt Street - a short walk from the Newcastle Beach stop. Surfest events have been running since December, but the height of the action brings the show to a rollicking climax in Newcastle from Monday, June 2, to Sunday, June 8. Here is the full event schedule. If you cannot make it to the beach, the Surfest website will live stream events as they happen, including the June 1 to June 8 Challenger Series. You can watch the events here. Surfest 2025 is returning "home" to The Beach Hotel at Merewether from June 2 to 8. Not only is the hotel stepping up as an official event sponsor this year, it's also acting as a hub for Surfest entertainment and sponsoring Merewether's own Ryan Callinan, a world-class surfer and proud representative of the local Boardriders club and celebrating the rich surfing heritage of the region. The hotel is also hosting a string of Surfest events, including the Ain't That Swell live podcast with Vaughan Blakey and Jed Smith (June 1); the Go For Broke breakfast and panel with Morgan Cibilic, Andrew Stark, Mitchell Ross, Kate Wilcomes and Stace Galbraith (June 5); and the Surfest Closing Party with Tommy Trash (June 8). "We're stoked to partner with The Beach Hotel for this year's Burton Automotive Surfest Challenger Series," says World Surf League (WSL) Asia Pacific (APAC) president Andrew Stark. "It's an iconic venue with deep roots in the local surf scene - especially with the Merewether Boardriders and the local community. "With its epic location, great food, and surf history on the walls, it's the perfect spot for competitors and fans to kick back after a day in the water. We're pumped to see it all come to life." With Merewether being the original birthplace of Surfest, The Beach Hotel has long been woven into the fabric of Newcastle's surf culture. It's something owner Glenn Piper was adamant about preserving - and honouring - while renovating the building. "Surfing is in our veins here at The Beaches," he said. "Bringing Surfest back to its original home and supporting local legends like Ryan is about honouring our past while investing in the future of Newcastle's surf culture." Added Ryan: "The Beach Hotel has always been at the heart of Merewether's surf scene, whether it's boardriders swapping stories after a comp or locals celebrating a perfect run of swell. Having them back in the 2025 season is more than a sponsorship; it's a show of community strength and pride. Carrying the Beaches logo in the line-up reminds me I'm representing everyone who calls this place home." The 2025 Surfest will be the opening event of the World Surf League Challenger Series, drawing over 120 of the world's best surfers to Merewether Beach from June 2 to 8. It's the largest surfing festival in the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing Newcastle's vibrant coastal community to a global audience. To see the full Surfest program at The Beach Hotel, visit In coordination with the event, Sanbah Surf Shop - a major supporter of Surfest - is coordinating surf classes with professional coaching staff from Newcastle Surfest Surf School. Instructors are accredited with Surfing Australia and operate as a licensed Surfing Australia surf school, teaching surf lessons to children and adults from Nobby's Beach, Newcastle. Bookings and details are available here.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
The Jackson drive: Baker cooking up a comeback story, starting at home
When COVID stopped professional surfing, Jackson Baker worked as a courier to make ends meet. The Merewether surfer had been inching towards the Championship Tour (CT) for several years, but when events were scrapped and travel was halted, so too was Baker's competitive progression. The time spent on the road making deliveries was the reality check Baker needed to throw everything at chasing his surfing dream. In early 2021, he made his CT debut as a one-off wildcard when Newcastle hosted the pandemic-impacted season, before landing a full-time spot for 2022 via his ranking in the second-tier Challenger Series (CS). But several years on, Baker is again chasing a spot in surfing's top tier. After falling off the CT in 2023, and failing to re-qualify via the Challenger Series in both that year and 2024, Baker approaches the opening contest of this year's CS, next week's Burton Automotive Newcastle Surfest, desperate to get back to where he feels he belongs. So in added motivation, the 28-year-old recently spent some time on the tools. He took a page out of the Melbourne Storm playbook, where new players at the NRL club spend a fortnight labouring full-time, around their training commitments, to get a better idea of what life is like without professional sport. "I've helped a few mates out labouring and things like that to stay busy. Surfing doesn't pay like it once was," Baker said. "So it's kind of been, not a fall from grace, but I've gone from the highs of the sport to the lows in a few years. "But I was in this position a few years ago before I made the tour. So I know that my surfing is there, I know my belief is there. I know I made it there before, and I was probably half of the competitor that I am now, and the experience that I've had. "Yeah it would have been lovely to stay on tour after those few years, but when I do get back at the end of this year, the highs and lows of life and competing that I've gone through this past year and a half, have been very character building. "Probably before in my career I was a bit lackadaisical ... but I think now, it's a bit more hard work, that discipline ... and helping a few mates out labouring, and working, I definitely don't want to be doing that. "That can be a later in life thing, I still have a lot to achieve in my career. "I'm 28. You say in sports you're getting a little older, and I joke about it, but I'm still pretty youthful. "I've got a lot of energy and I'm a pretty knockabout, happy bloke, which I think the tour is missing at the moment, so I'd love to get back there and fill that void." In 2023, Baker fell off the CT after missing the mid-season cut and then narrowly missed re-qualifying for the following year, finishing 13th in CS. He lost a heat in the last round of the CS by a matter of points. Had he won, the door opened to a top-10 spot and CT return. Last year, Baker was behind from the outset, missing the opening two rounds of CS due to a fractured foot. It was a frustrating period. When he returned, he struggled to make an impact, ultimately finishing 36th in the rankings, well outside the top-10 and zone required to earn a spot in the following year's CT. But a semi-final and third-placed finish at the season-ending CS event in Brazil was a positive note to conclude the year on. "I thought about pulling the pin," Baker admitted of last year's CS campaign. "I was really battling mentally, just with the highs and the lows of surfing, of being a professional athlete. "I had battled with falling off the [CT] the year before, and then just missing out on [re]-qualifying ... to come into last year and break my foot and have that disrupt the year, it was a struggle. "But it's how you come back from them. I got third in Brazil, that was great. I had an extra motivator. I was surfing for a family friend here at home who was battling breast cancer. That was really special. I just needed to find an extra motivator to stick at it last year." Baker, who lost his mum to breast cancer in 2016 and is regularly involved in awareness and fund-raising campaigns - often using pink surfboards - has watched from afar as fellow Novocastrian Ryan Callinan has continued on the CT over the past two years. In recent months, he has also watched Merewether clubmate Morgan Cibilic enjoy time back on the CT, the 25-year-old reaching the semi-finals at Bells Beach as a wildcard and quarter-finals on the Gold Coast as a late replacement for Callinan, who skipped the event for the birth of his first child. Adopted Novocastrian Julian Wilson, who is making a professional comeback after a few years away from surfing's top tier, also made the Gold Coast final as a wildcard. "I'm all fired up," Baker, a former Surfest winner, said. "I've seen Julian and Morgan get opportunities that I would have got last year without my injury, which is really firing me up. "I'm like, OK - I don't want to be back there part-time, I don't want a wildcard, I want to be back there full-time. I know I deserve to be there. "It's been interesting to watch those events and not be a part of it, and not be there. People are like 'Why don't you go watch it?'. But I'm like, I don't really care. I'd rather be there [competing]. "I'm just focusing on here in Newcastle and the whole year. " Callinan, who has been Newcastle's sole representative on the CT the past two years, missed last week's mid-season cut, where only the top-22 ranked surfers continue for the remainder of the CT season. After missing two of the opening seven contests, he was ranked 34th. The 33-year-old will now join Baker, Cibilic and Wilson in the CS and at the opening event in Newcastle. All four will vie for a spot in the top 10 at the end of the CS season, to earn a place in next year's CT. There is a very real chance all four could re-qualify for the CT together. It's a dream outcome which has Baker, who won Surfest's main event in 2022, excited ahead of next week's series opener. "As much as it's an individual sport, to be able to be a little four-pack that does a lot of damage here at home and finishes the year strong, would be pretty cool," Baker said. "We've had myself, Morgs and Ryan in a six-month period [on the CT], but that was after Julian went off [for a break]. "Hopefully that's the final four, the semis ... that'd be sick." When COVID stopped professional surfing, Jackson Baker worked as a courier to make ends meet. The Merewether surfer had been inching towards the Championship Tour (CT) for several years, but when events were scrapped and travel was halted, so too was Baker's competitive progression. The time spent on the road making deliveries was the reality check Baker needed to throw everything at chasing his surfing dream. In early 2021, he made his CT debut as a one-off wildcard when Newcastle hosted the pandemic-impacted season, before landing a full-time spot for 2022 via his ranking in the second-tier Challenger Series (CS). But several years on, Baker is again chasing a spot in surfing's top tier. After falling off the CT in 2023, and failing to re-qualify via the Challenger Series in both that year and 2024, Baker approaches the opening contest of this year's CS, next week's Burton Automotive Newcastle Surfest, desperate to get back to where he feels he belongs. So in added motivation, the 28-year-old recently spent some time on the tools. He took a page out of the Melbourne Storm playbook, where new players at the NRL club spend a fortnight labouring full-time, around their training commitments, to get a better idea of what life is like without professional sport. "I've helped a few mates out labouring and things like that to stay busy. Surfing doesn't pay like it once was," Baker said. "So it's kind of been, not a fall from grace, but I've gone from the highs of the sport to the lows in a few years. "But I was in this position a few years ago before I made the tour. So I know that my surfing is there, I know my belief is there. I know I made it there before, and I was probably half of the competitor that I am now, and the experience that I've had. "Yeah it would have been lovely to stay on tour after those few years, but when I do get back at the end of this year, the highs and lows of life and competing that I've gone through this past year and a half, have been very character building. "Probably before in my career I was a bit lackadaisical ... but I think now, it's a bit more hard work, that discipline ... and helping a few mates out labouring, and working, I definitely don't want to be doing that. "That can be a later in life thing, I still have a lot to achieve in my career. "I'm 28. You say in sports you're getting a little older, and I joke about it, but I'm still pretty youthful. "I've got a lot of energy and I'm a pretty knockabout, happy bloke, which I think the tour is missing at the moment, so I'd love to get back there and fill that void." In 2023, Baker fell off the CT after missing the mid-season cut and then narrowly missed re-qualifying for the following year, finishing 13th in CS. He lost a heat in the last round of the CS by a matter of points. Had he won, the door opened to a top-10 spot and CT return. Last year, Baker was behind from the outset, missing the opening two rounds of CS due to a fractured foot. It was a frustrating period. When he returned, he struggled to make an impact, ultimately finishing 36th in the rankings, well outside the top-10 and zone required to earn a spot in the following year's CT. But a semi-final and third-placed finish at the season-ending CS event in Brazil was a positive note to conclude the year on. "I thought about pulling the pin," Baker admitted of last year's CS campaign. "I was really battling mentally, just with the highs and the lows of surfing, of being a professional athlete. "I had battled with falling off the [CT] the year before, and then just missing out on [re]-qualifying ... to come into last year and break my foot and have that disrupt the year, it was a struggle. "But it's how you come back from them. I got third in Brazil, that was great. I had an extra motivator. I was surfing for a family friend here at home who was battling breast cancer. That was really special. I just needed to find an extra motivator to stick at it last year." Baker, who lost his mum to breast cancer in 2016 and is regularly involved in awareness and fund-raising campaigns - often using pink surfboards - has watched from afar as fellow Novocastrian Ryan Callinan has continued on the CT over the past two years. In recent months, he has also watched Merewether clubmate Morgan Cibilic enjoy time back on the CT, the 25-year-old reaching the semi-finals at Bells Beach as a wildcard and quarter-finals on the Gold Coast as a late replacement for Callinan, who skipped the event for the birth of his first child. Adopted Novocastrian Julian Wilson, who is making a professional comeback after a few years away from surfing's top tier, also made the Gold Coast final as a wildcard. "I'm all fired up," Baker, a former Surfest winner, said. "I've seen Julian and Morgan get opportunities that I would have got last year without my injury, which is really firing me up. "I'm like, OK - I don't want to be back there part-time, I don't want a wildcard, I want to be back there full-time. I know I deserve to be there. "It's been interesting to watch those events and not be a part of it, and not be there. People are like 'Why don't you go watch it?'. But I'm like, I don't really care. I'd rather be there [competing]. "I'm just focusing on here in Newcastle and the whole year. " Callinan, who has been Newcastle's sole representative on the CT the past two years, missed last week's mid-season cut, where only the top-22 ranked surfers continue for the remainder of the CT season. After missing two of the opening seven contests, he was ranked 34th. The 33-year-old will now join Baker, Cibilic and Wilson in the CS and at the opening event in Newcastle. All four will vie for a spot in the top 10 at the end of the CS season, to earn a place in next year's CT. There is a very real chance all four could re-qualify for the CT together. It's a dream outcome which has Baker, who won Surfest's main event in 2022, excited ahead of next week's series opener. "As much as it's an individual sport, to be able to be a little four-pack that does a lot of damage here at home and finishes the year strong, would be pretty cool," Baker said. "We've had myself, Morgs and Ryan in a six-month period [on the CT], but that was after Julian went off [for a break]. "Hopefully that's the final four, the semis ... that'd be sick." When COVID stopped professional surfing, Jackson Baker worked as a courier to make ends meet. The Merewether surfer had been inching towards the Championship Tour (CT) for several years, but when events were scrapped and travel was halted, so too was Baker's competitive progression. The time spent on the road making deliveries was the reality check Baker needed to throw everything at chasing his surfing dream. In early 2021, he made his CT debut as a one-off wildcard when Newcastle hosted the pandemic-impacted season, before landing a full-time spot for 2022 via his ranking in the second-tier Challenger Series (CS). But several years on, Baker is again chasing a spot in surfing's top tier. After falling off the CT in 2023, and failing to re-qualify via the Challenger Series in both that year and 2024, Baker approaches the opening contest of this year's CS, next week's Burton Automotive Newcastle Surfest, desperate to get back to where he feels he belongs. So in added motivation, the 28-year-old recently spent some time on the tools. He took a page out of the Melbourne Storm playbook, where new players at the NRL club spend a fortnight labouring full-time, around their training commitments, to get a better idea of what life is like without professional sport. "I've helped a few mates out labouring and things like that to stay busy. Surfing doesn't pay like it once was," Baker said. "So it's kind of been, not a fall from grace, but I've gone from the highs of the sport to the lows in a few years. "But I was in this position a few years ago before I made the tour. So I know that my surfing is there, I know my belief is there. I know I made it there before, and I was probably half of the competitor that I am now, and the experience that I've had. "Yeah it would have been lovely to stay on tour after those few years, but when I do get back at the end of this year, the highs and lows of life and competing that I've gone through this past year and a half, have been very character building. "Probably before in my career I was a bit lackadaisical ... but I think now, it's a bit more hard work, that discipline ... and helping a few mates out labouring, and working, I definitely don't want to be doing that. "That can be a later in life thing, I still have a lot to achieve in my career. "I'm 28. You say in sports you're getting a little older, and I joke about it, but I'm still pretty youthful. "I've got a lot of energy and I'm a pretty knockabout, happy bloke, which I think the tour is missing at the moment, so I'd love to get back there and fill that void." In 2023, Baker fell off the CT after missing the mid-season cut and then narrowly missed re-qualifying for the following year, finishing 13th in CS. He lost a heat in the last round of the CS by a matter of points. Had he won, the door opened to a top-10 spot and CT return. Last year, Baker was behind from the outset, missing the opening two rounds of CS due to a fractured foot. It was a frustrating period. When he returned, he struggled to make an impact, ultimately finishing 36th in the rankings, well outside the top-10 and zone required to earn a spot in the following year's CT. But a semi-final and third-placed finish at the season-ending CS event in Brazil was a positive note to conclude the year on. "I thought about pulling the pin," Baker admitted of last year's CS campaign. "I was really battling mentally, just with the highs and the lows of surfing, of being a professional athlete. "I had battled with falling off the [CT] the year before, and then just missing out on [re]-qualifying ... to come into last year and break my foot and have that disrupt the year, it was a struggle. "But it's how you come back from them. I got third in Brazil, that was great. I had an extra motivator. I was surfing for a family friend here at home who was battling breast cancer. That was really special. I just needed to find an extra motivator to stick at it last year." Baker, who lost his mum to breast cancer in 2016 and is regularly involved in awareness and fund-raising campaigns - often using pink surfboards - has watched from afar as fellow Novocastrian Ryan Callinan has continued on the CT over the past two years. In recent months, he has also watched Merewether clubmate Morgan Cibilic enjoy time back on the CT, the 25-year-old reaching the semi-finals at Bells Beach as a wildcard and quarter-finals on the Gold Coast as a late replacement for Callinan, who skipped the event for the birth of his first child. Adopted Novocastrian Julian Wilson, who is making a professional comeback after a few years away from surfing's top tier, also made the Gold Coast final as a wildcard. "I'm all fired up," Baker, a former Surfest winner, said. "I've seen Julian and Morgan get opportunities that I would have got last year without my injury, which is really firing me up. "I'm like, OK - I don't want to be back there part-time, I don't want a wildcard, I want to be back there full-time. I know I deserve to be there. "It's been interesting to watch those events and not be a part of it, and not be there. People are like 'Why don't you go watch it?'. But I'm like, I don't really care. I'd rather be there [competing]. "I'm just focusing on here in Newcastle and the whole year. " Callinan, who has been Newcastle's sole representative on the CT the past two years, missed last week's mid-season cut, where only the top-22 ranked surfers continue for the remainder of the CT season. After missing two of the opening seven contests, he was ranked 34th. The 33-year-old will now join Baker, Cibilic and Wilson in the CS and at the opening event in Newcastle. All four will vie for a spot in the top 10 at the end of the CS season, to earn a place in next year's CT. There is a very real chance all four could re-qualify for the CT together. It's a dream outcome which has Baker, who won Surfest's main event in 2022, excited ahead of next week's series opener. "As much as it's an individual sport, to be able to be a little four-pack that does a lot of damage here at home and finishes the year strong, would be pretty cool," Baker said. "We've had myself, Morgs and Ryan in a six-month period [on the CT], but that was after Julian went off [for a break]. "Hopefully that's the final four, the semis ... that'd be sick." When COVID stopped professional surfing, Jackson Baker worked as a courier to make ends meet. The Merewether surfer had been inching towards the Championship Tour (CT) for several years, but when events were scrapped and travel was halted, so too was Baker's competitive progression. The time spent on the road making deliveries was the reality check Baker needed to throw everything at chasing his surfing dream. In early 2021, he made his CT debut as a one-off wildcard when Newcastle hosted the pandemic-impacted season, before landing a full-time spot for 2022 via his ranking in the second-tier Challenger Series (CS). But several years on, Baker is again chasing a spot in surfing's top tier. After falling off the CT in 2023, and failing to re-qualify via the Challenger Series in both that year and 2024, Baker approaches the opening contest of this year's CS, next week's Burton Automotive Newcastle Surfest, desperate to get back to where he feels he belongs. So in added motivation, the 28-year-old recently spent some time on the tools. He took a page out of the Melbourne Storm playbook, where new players at the NRL club spend a fortnight labouring full-time, around their training commitments, to get a better idea of what life is like without professional sport. "I've helped a few mates out labouring and things like that to stay busy. Surfing doesn't pay like it once was," Baker said. "So it's kind of been, not a fall from grace, but I've gone from the highs of the sport to the lows in a few years. "But I was in this position a few years ago before I made the tour. So I know that my surfing is there, I know my belief is there. I know I made it there before, and I was probably half of the competitor that I am now, and the experience that I've had. "Yeah it would have been lovely to stay on tour after those few years, but when I do get back at the end of this year, the highs and lows of life and competing that I've gone through this past year and a half, have been very character building. "Probably before in my career I was a bit lackadaisical ... but I think now, it's a bit more hard work, that discipline ... and helping a few mates out labouring, and working, I definitely don't want to be doing that. "That can be a later in life thing, I still have a lot to achieve in my career. "I'm 28. You say in sports you're getting a little older, and I joke about it, but I'm still pretty youthful. "I've got a lot of energy and I'm a pretty knockabout, happy bloke, which I think the tour is missing at the moment, so I'd love to get back there and fill that void." In 2023, Baker fell off the CT after missing the mid-season cut and then narrowly missed re-qualifying for the following year, finishing 13th in CS. He lost a heat in the last round of the CS by a matter of points. Had he won, the door opened to a top-10 spot and CT return. Last year, Baker was behind from the outset, missing the opening two rounds of CS due to a fractured foot. It was a frustrating period. When he returned, he struggled to make an impact, ultimately finishing 36th in the rankings, well outside the top-10 and zone required to earn a spot in the following year's CT. But a semi-final and third-placed finish at the season-ending CS event in Brazil was a positive note to conclude the year on. "I thought about pulling the pin," Baker admitted of last year's CS campaign. "I was really battling mentally, just with the highs and the lows of surfing, of being a professional athlete. "I had battled with falling off the [CT] the year before, and then just missing out on [re]-qualifying ... to come into last year and break my foot and have that disrupt the year, it was a struggle. "But it's how you come back from them. I got third in Brazil, that was great. I had an extra motivator. I was surfing for a family friend here at home who was battling breast cancer. That was really special. I just needed to find an extra motivator to stick at it last year." Baker, who lost his mum to breast cancer in 2016 and is regularly involved in awareness and fund-raising campaigns - often using pink surfboards - has watched from afar as fellow Novocastrian Ryan Callinan has continued on the CT over the past two years. In recent months, he has also watched Merewether clubmate Morgan Cibilic enjoy time back on the CT, the 25-year-old reaching the semi-finals at Bells Beach as a wildcard and quarter-finals on the Gold Coast as a late replacement for Callinan, who skipped the event for the birth of his first child. Adopted Novocastrian Julian Wilson, who is making a professional comeback after a few years away from surfing's top tier, also made the Gold Coast final as a wildcard. "I'm all fired up," Baker, a former Surfest winner, said. "I've seen Julian and Morgan get opportunities that I would have got last year without my injury, which is really firing me up. "I'm like, OK - I don't want to be back there part-time, I don't want a wildcard, I want to be back there full-time. I know I deserve to be there. "It's been interesting to watch those events and not be a part of it, and not be there. People are like 'Why don't you go watch it?'. But I'm like, I don't really care. I'd rather be there [competing]. "I'm just focusing on here in Newcastle and the whole year. " Callinan, who has been Newcastle's sole representative on the CT the past two years, missed last week's mid-season cut, where only the top-22 ranked surfers continue for the remainder of the CT season. After missing two of the opening seven contests, he was ranked 34th. The 33-year-old will now join Baker, Cibilic and Wilson in the CS and at the opening event in Newcastle. All four will vie for a spot in the top 10 at the end of the CS season, to earn a place in next year's CT. There is a very real chance all four could re-qualify for the CT together. It's a dream outcome which has Baker, who won Surfest's main event in 2022, excited ahead of next week's series opener. "As much as it's an individual sport, to be able to be a little four-pack that does a lot of damage here at home and finishes the year strong, would be pretty cool," Baker said. "We've had myself, Morgs and Ryan in a six-month period [on the CT], but that was after Julian went off [for a break]. "Hopefully that's the final four, the semis ... that'd be sick."
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Willcox ‘boxes on' to Margs quarterfinals
Just surfing in competition at iconic Margaret River slab wave 'The Box' was a dream come true for local charger Jacob Willcox. Adding an 8.17 barrel ride en-route to another upset heat win was the bonus. Willcox, the local trials qualifier who has already taken out world No.1 Italo Ferreira, added another Brazilian to his victory list on Wednesday, beating Joao Chianca in deep 6-8ft barrel conditions. 'I've dreamt of that moment for a long time,' Willcox said after winning their Margaret River Pro round-of-16 heat with a two-wave score of 12.50 to Chianca's 4.07. 'When I heard they were pretty keen to go to The Box, I was so fired up. It's probably not the best Box ever but just being able to compete out there was so special. 'Getting to watch the comp out there a few times but not be involved in it, I was just wishing to get a go.' The Box, a right-hand slabbing barrel about 700m north of Main Break, is the only wave of its type on the World Surf League championship tour circuit, but hasn't been used in competition since 2019. Willcox said he had surfed it a lot growing up and felt at home inside the tubes. 'On the backhand, I'm just looking for something that's going to let me in because as soon as you disconnect on you backside it's so hard to get traction again through the barrel,' he said. 'My first surf ever out there, I went one of these south ones and ate s..., broke my toes and ripped my wet-suit. 'Since then I've been building up the relationship a bit. 'That was a pretty fun heat, I don't think I did as good as I could have done out there. 'It was kind of hard trying to balance getting the best wave and then trying to compete as well. 'Joao is such a hard competitor, especially for a wave like that. He got one at the start that if he had made this could have been a different story. I guess I had a bit of local luck on my side.' Willcox had already knocked out the world No.1 on Tuesday Credit: World Surf League Making the quarterfinals is already Willcox's equal-best CT result and he said he wanted to ride the momentum into this year's Challenger Series in the hope of re-qualifying surfing's elite tour. The 27-year-old was a rookie on tour in 2024 after years of qualification near-misses but was cut after only a few months following his early exit from last year's Margaret River Pro. 'I feel like it (my career) has had some ups and downs but it is so character building,' he said. 'I feel like I've almost fallen in love with that side of it. It makes you resilient and makes you want to keep pushing. I'm super-motivated for this year. I've had six months off competing and getting to come back now and compete back home, it's the perfect warm-up for the year to come.' Willcox will face young American Crosby Colapinto in the quarterfinals. Colapinto secured his place on tour just beat beating Hawaiian Jackson Bunch in a win-or-miss-the-cut heat. Griffin Colapinto of the United States surfs in Heat 1. Credit: Cait Miers / World Surf League Earlier, Colapinto's older brother Griffin rode one of the waves of the day, a deep barrel that saw him emerge from from the foam and raise his arms in amazement before scoring a 9.00 on his way to beating Australian wild-card Mikey McDonagh. 'I feel like that is one of the best heats of my life,' he said. 'Getting barrelled in the jersey is the dream. 'That 9.00, I was kind of baffled myself. I got the the bottom and thought I could stand tall and cruise and next thing the wave was so fast the foam ball just lifted me up and you can kind of see my fin come out and I was almost going 180 degrees backwards and I thought I blew it . . . but then it shot me back out.' Leonardo Fioravanti of Italy, Connor O'Leary of Japan/Australia and Barron Mamiya of Hawaii also advanced to the quarterfinals before organisers made the call to move competition back to Main Break. Watch the WSL Margaret River Pro live and free on 7PLUS MEN'S ROUND-OF-16 RESULTS HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto USA 16.00 (9.00, 7.00) def. Mikey McDonough AUS 2.43 (1.50, 0.93) HEAT 2: Leonardo Fioravanti ITA 12.16 (6.83, 5.33) def. Miguel Pupo BRA 7.04 (5.17, 1.87) HEAT 3: Connor O'Leary JPN 8.50 (5.67, 2.83) def. Kanoa Igarashi JPN 2.50 (1.50, 1.00) HEAT 4: Barron Mamiya HAW 15.17 (8.00, 7.17) def. Jake Marshall USA 5.73 (3.33, 2.50) HEAT 5: Jacob Willcox AUS 12.50 (8.17, 4.33) def. Joao Chianca BRA 4.07 (3.70, 2.17) HEAT 6: Crosby Colapinto USA 6.53 (4.50, 2.03) def. Jackson Bunch HAW 3.34 (2.17, 1.17) HEAT 7: Jordy Smith RSA v Marco Mignot FRA HEAT 8: Alan Cleland MEX v Imaikalani deVault HAW
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Dream come true as Margaret River local Jacob Willcox ‘boxes on' to World Surf League quarterfinals
Just surfing in competition at iconic Margaret River slab wave 'The Box' was a dream come true for local charger Jacob Willcox. Adding an 8.17 barrel ride en-route to another upset heat win was the bonus. Willcox, the local trials qualifier who has already taken out world No.1 Italo Ferreira, added another Brazilian to his victory list on Wednesday, beating Joao Chianca in deep 6-8ft barrel conditions. 'I've dreamt of that moment for a long time,' Willcox said after winning their Margaret River Pro round-of-16 heat with a two-wave score of 12.50 to Chianca's 4.07. 'When I heard they were pretty keen to go to The Box, I was so fired up. It's probably not the best Box ever but just being able to compete out there was so special. 'Getting to watch the comp out there a few times but not be involved in it, I was just wishing to get a go.' The Box, a right-hand slabbing barrel about 700m north of Main Break, is the only wave of its type on the World Surf League championship tour circuit, but hasn't been used in competition since 2019. Willcox said he had surfed it a lot growing up and felt at home inside the tubes. 'On the backhand, I'm just looking for something that's going to let me in because as soon as you disconnect on you backside it's so hard to get traction again through the barrel,' he said. 'My first surf ever out there, I went one of these south ones and ate s..., broke my toes and ripped my wet-suit. 'Since then I've been building up the relationship a bit. 'That was a pretty fun heat, I don't think I did as good as I could have done out there. 'It was kind of hard trying to balance getting the best wave and then trying to compete as well. 'Joao is such a hard competitor, especially for a wave like that. He got one at the start that if he had made this could have been a different story. I guess I had a bit of local luck on my side.' Making the quarterfinals is already Willcox's equal-best CT result and he said he wanted to ride the momentum into this year's Challenger Series in the hope of re-qualifying surfing's elite tour. The 27-year-old was a rookie on tour in 2024 after years of qualification near-misses but was cut after only a few months following his early exit from last year's Margaret River Pro. 'I feel like it (my career) has had some ups and downs but it is so character building,' he said. 'I feel like I've almost fallen in love with that side of it. It makes you resilient and makes you want to keep pushing. I'm super-motivated for this year. I've had six months off competing and getting to come back now and compete back home, it's the perfect warm-up for the year to come.' Willcox will face young American Crosby Colapinto in the quarterfinals. Colapinto secured his place on tour just beat beating Hawaiian Jackson Bunch in a win-or-miss-the-cut heat. Earlier, Colapinto's older brother Griffin rode one of the waves of the day, a deep barrel that saw him emerge from from the foam and raise his arms in amazement before scoring a 9.00 on his way to beating Australian wild-card Mikey McDonagh. 'I feel like that is one of the best heats of my life,' he said. 'Getting barrelled in the jersey is the dream. 'That 9.00, I was kind of baffled myself. I got the the bottom and thought I could stand tall and cruise and next thing the wave was so fast the foam ball just lifted me up and you can kind of see my fin come out and I was almost going 180 degrees backwards and I thought I blew it . . . but then it shot me back out.' Leonardo Fioravanti of Italy, Connor O'Leary of Japan/Australia and Barron Mamiya of Hawaii also advanced to the quarterfinals before organisers made the call to move competition back to Main Break. Watch the WSL Margaret River Pro live and free on 7PLUS MEN'S ROUND-OF-16 RESULTS HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto USA 16.00 (9.00, 7.00) def. Mikey McDonough AUS 2.43 (1.50, 0.93) HEAT 2 : Leonardo Fioravanti ITA 12.16 (6.83, 5.33) def. Miguel Pupo BRA 7.04 (5.17, 1.87) HEAT 3: Connor O'Leary JPN 8.50 (5.67, 2.83) def. Kanoa Igarashi JPN 2.50 (1.50, 1.00) HEAT 4: Barron Mamiya HAW 15.17 (8.00, 7.17) def. Jake Marshall USA 5.73 (3.33, 2.50) HEAT 5: Jacob Willcox AUS 12.50 (8.17, 4.33) def. Joao Chianca BRA 4.07 (3.70, 2.17) HEAT 6: Crosby Colapinto USA 6.53 (4.50, 2.03) def. Jackson Bunch HAW 3.34 (2.17, 1.17) HEAT 7: Jordy Smith RSA v Marco Mignot FRA HEAT 8: Alan Cleland MEX v Imaikalani deVault HAW
