History - history of surfest

History of Surfest

Newcastle Surfest originated in 1985 when Newcastle’s movers and shakers were desperately trying to rid the city of its industrial image and showcase the beauty of Newcastle’s beaches and surf breaks to people from outside of the region.  Yes, that’s right – Surfest began as the richest professional surfing competition on the planet. In more than three decades since those pioneering days, Surfest has become Australia’s largest surfing festival.

Until 2006, Surfest set up its HQ at Newcastle Beach, but moved permanently to the loved, iconic and revered Merewether beach in 2007.  The fabled right-handers that peel down the rock and sand bottom off Merewether beach attract both competitors and spectators. It’s at Merewether that the competition’s patron Mark Richards honed the dance that would see him win four world titles – more than any other male competitor in the world, except for the ‘Floridian freak’ and 11-time world champion Kelly Slater (who, incidentally, claimed a Surfest crown in 2004). Mark Richards was named at Surfing Australia’s 50th anniversary as the most influential Australian surfer from 1963-2013.

In 2009, Merewether was crowned as one of Australia’s national surfing reserves. On final’s day in 2006, due to massive southerly swells smashing into the eastern seaboard, the event shifted to Merewether. More than 10,000 people rocked up to check out the action during the finals dished up on Super Surfest Sunday. It was pure magic –the natural elements fired and the planets aligned and it was then that organisers decided to relocate the event’s HQ permanently.

The list of Surfest champions reads like a who’s who of world surfing. Mick Fanning is a three-time world and Surfest champion, Occy has won twice (with a 12-year gap between trophies), as has Tom Carroll. Women champs include Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons, while Rebecca Woods and Pam Burridge match Fanning’s effort with three trophies each.

Surfest has the ability to pack up and go mobile, as it did when it became the first pro-surfing event in the world to run competition inside a harbour. When a massive low-pressure system saw much of the east coast breaking out-of-control, reigning world champ Joel Parkinson showed his class by dropping into two-metre barrels inside the entrance to Newcastle Harbour. 

The 39th Surfest (no event in 1991 due to the reorganisation of the professional surfing tour nor in 2021 due to COVID-19) in 2025 will host nine different surfing events attracting male and female surfers from across the Asia-Pacific region.

History - history of surfest
Pic by: richardbartlett.com

Burton Automotive Newcastle Surfest, presented by Bonsoy, features nine events, including the Mutual Bank High School Challenge, Sanbah Cadet Cup, Newcastle Pro Junior, Surfest Indigenous Classic, Evolution Charity Cup, Burton Automotive Super Sunday, and the Burton Automotive Newcastle Surfest Challenger Series, presented by Bonsoy.

History - history of surfest

Surfest organisers think that the event is more than a great surf competition – it is a celebration of a city and its people and their special relationship with Australian beach culture.

Most of all Surfest organisers are thrilled that they can provide the people of Newcastle and the rest of the world – through an event webcast – with the opportunity to see how this former engine room for steel production has reinvented itself to host surfers to non-stop surfing action in one of Australia’s most beautiful cities.

Burton Automotive Newcastle Surfest, presented by Bonsoy, is made possible thanks to the support of our partners, including Burton Automotive, the NSW Government and Destination NSW, City of Newcastle, Port of Newcastle, Reflections Holidays, Newcastle Airport, and many more. Newcastle Surfest 2025 will feature World Surf League (WSL) professional and amateur surfing contests including the opening event of the 2025 Challenger Series.

Surfest Champions

YEARMALE WINNERFEMALE WINNER
2024Joel Vaughan (AUS)Ellie Harrison (AUS)
2023Joel Vaughan (AUS)Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
2022Jackson Baker (AUS)Macy Callaghan (AUS)
2021Men's - event did not runWomen's - event did not run
2020Julian Wilson (AUS)Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
2019Alex Ribeiro (BRA)Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
2018Mikey Wright (AUS)Coco Ho (HAW
2017Yago Dora (BRA)Johanne Defay (FRA)
2016Matt Wilkinson (AUS)Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
2015Alejo Muniz (BRA)Ellie Brooks (AUS)
2014Matt Banting (AUS)Malia Manuel (HAW)
2013Joel Parkinson (AUS)Dimity Stoyle (AUS)
2012Willian Cardosa (BRA)Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
2011Dion Atkinson (AUS)Coco Ho (HAW)
2010Glenn Hall (IRE)Kirby Wright (AUS)
2009Travis Logie (ZAF)Phillipa Anderson (AUS)
2008Adriano De Souza (BRA)Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2007Jay Thomson (AUS) Silvana Lima (BRA)
2006Neco Padaratz (BRA)Rebecca Woods (AUS)
2005Mick Fanning (AUS)Lynette McKenzie (AUS)
2004Kelly Slater (USA)Rebecca Woods (AUS)
2003Dayyan Neve (AUS)Rebecca Woods (AUS)
2002Mick Fanning (AUS)Event not held
2001Mick Campbell (AUS)Event not held
2000Mick Fanning (AUS)Event not held
1999Taylor Knox (USA)Event not held
1998Mark Occhilupo (AUS)Hayley Tasker (AUS)
1997Shane Bevan (AUS)Kylie Webb (AUS)
1996Guilherme Herdy (BRA)Neridah Falconer (AUS)
1995Michael Rommelse (AUS)Neridah Falconer (AUS)
1994Shane Powell (AUS)Pam Burridge (AUS)
1993Barton Lynch (AUS)Pam Burridge (AUS)
1992Damien Hardman (AUS)Vanessa Osbourne (AUS)
1991Event rescheduled due to 2 tierEvent rescheduled due to 2 tier
1990Mike Parsons (USA)Michelle Donoghue (AUS)
1989Tom Carroll (AUS)Pauline Menzcer (AUS)
1988Damien Hardman (AUS)Pam Burridge (AUS)
1987Tom Carroll (AUS)Jodie Cooper (AUS)
1986Mark Occhilupo (AUS)Freida Zamba (USA)
1985Tom Curren (USA)Wendy Botha (ZAF)

Junior Champions

YEARMALE WINNERFEMALE WINNER
2025Hugh VaughanStella Green
2024Jarvis EarleSierra Kerr
2023Saxon ReberJahly Stokes
2022Marlon HarrisonEllie Harrison
2021Called off, COVIDCalled off, COVID
2020Called off, bad weatherCalled off, bad weather
2019Caleb TancredMolly Picklum
2018Callum RobsonAlyssa Lock
2017Liam O’BrienZahli Kelly
2016Ethan EwingMacy Callaghan
2015Deivid SilvaMacy Callaghan
2014Cooper ChapmanBronte Macaulay
2013Jake SylvesterElle-Jean Coffey
2012Jesse MendesBianca Buitendag
2011Jake SylvesterNikki Van Diijk
2010Mitch CrewsAirini Mason
2009Larson GrangerLaura Enever
2008Owen WrightLaura Enever
2007Drew MacphersonLaura Enever
2006Dion AtkinsonSally Fitzgibbons
2005Dion AguisNicola Atherton
2004Blake ThorntonAmanda Clegg
2003Klint KimminsSheridan Shields
2002Travis LynchRebecca Woods
2001Shaun CansdellRebecca Woods
2000Zahn FoxtonRebecca Woods
1999Tom WhittakerStacey Lancaster
1998Darren O’RaffertyEvent not held
1997Trent MunroEvent not held
1996Chris DavidsonEvent not held
1995Mitch DawkinsEvent not held

CADET CUP champions

YEARBOYS UNDER 16BOYS UNDER 14BOYS UNDER 12GIRLS UNDER 16GIRLS UNDER 14GIRLS UNDER 12
2025Rio Luther BarrJacques CallebautHayden MeeMali AdamAlanni MorrisSage Fleming
2024Ben Zanatta CreaghKade KellyMaverick MacguganPoppy O'ReillyMali AdamCoco Woolley
2023Ocean LancasterHunter SutcliffeNot heldPoppy O'ReillyOlivia ShannonNot held
2022Sol GruendlingOcean LancasterNot heldMilla BrownNot heldNot held
2021Not heldNot heldNot heldNot heldNot heldNot held
2020Hugh VaughanChez BosNot heldMilli AllportNot heldNot held
2019Jordan LiackmanDom ThomasNot heldCharli HurstNot heldNot held
2018Jamie ThomsonByron ThomsonNot heldMolly PicklumNot heldNot held
2017Jamie ThomsonAxel Rose CurottaNot heldSasha BakerNot heldNot held
2016Ryan DonohoeJamie ThomsonNot heldAlyssa LockNot heldNot held
2015Kael WalshJackson RobertsNot heldMacy CallaghanNot heldNot held
2014Luke WriceDexter MuskensNot heldMacy CallaghanNot heldNot held
2013Jacob WilcoxSandon WhittakerNot heldParis WhittakerNot heldNot held
2012Teague RobinsonQuinn BriceNot heldNot heldNot heldNot held
2011Jackson BakerKalani BallNot heldNot heldNot heldNot held
2010Cooper ChapmanJosh SzeleNot heldNot heldNot heldNot held
2009Matt BantingMichael WrightNot heldNot heldNot heldNot held

High school champions

YEARBOYS HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSGIRLS HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS
2025St Francis Xavier's College, HamiltonCronulla High
2024Newcastle GrammarSwansea High
2023Newcastle GrammarCronulla High
2022NBSC Freshwater Senior CampusTLSC Tumbi Umbi Campus
2021Event not heldEvent not held
2020North Narrabeen HighNorth Narrabeen High
2019Narrabeen Sports HighSt Peter's Catholic College
2018Swansea HighTLSC Tumbi Umbi Campus
2017Illawarra Sports HighTLSC Tumbi Umbi Campus
2016TLSC Tumbi Umbi CampusNarrabeen Sports High
2015Narrabeen Sports HighNorthern Beaches Secondary College
2014St Francis Xavier's CollegeNorthern Beaches Secondary College
2013Barranjoey HighNorthern Beaches Secondary College
2012Barranjoey HighNorthern Beaches Secondary College
2011St Augustine's College SydneyNorthern Beaches Secondary College
2010Lake Munmorah HighGreat Lakes College
2009Lake Munmorah HighSt Joseph's Port Macquarie
2008St Francis Xavier's CollegeSt Joseph's Catholic College
2007St Francis Xavier's CollegeMoruya High
2006Swansea HighMoruya High
2005Newcastle HighMoruya High
2004Kincumber HighNot held
2003Kincumber HighNot held