Via World Surf League
Competition gets underway tomorrow morning at Merewether Beach as the Kim Burton Pro Junior opens the new season of the World Surf League (WSL) Australia/Oceania Junior Qualifying Series (JQS). Over 80 of the region’s top 20-and-under surfers will contest the event, chasing valuable rankings points toward qualification for the 2026 WSL World Junior Championships.
The Pro Junior represents the second WSL event to be staged as part of Newcastle Surfest’s 40th anniversary celebrations, following the Novotel Newcastle Women’s Pro and Frame Promotional Products Men’s Pro Qualifying Series (QS) event held late last year. The milestone program will culminate in March with the Bioglan Newcastle Surfest Presented by Bonsoy Challenger Series event, setting up an extended run of exciting pro surfing happenings throughout the Hunter region.
“The WSL is looking forward to returning to Newcastle for the Kim Burton Pro Junior as part of the incredible 40th year of Surfest,” said WSL APAC Tour Director Ty Sorati. “Following a dramatic finish to the QS event held in Merewether late last year, and now building towards the Challenger event here in just a few weeks time, Surfest always promises excitement for the entire area. I can’t wait to see the best junior surfers from throughout the region kickstart the action in 2026. A huge thanks to Kim Burton for his continued support for professional surfing.”
Some of the biggest up-and-coming names in surfing will be present this weekend, including Newcastle’s own 2025 ISA U/16 World Junior Champion Ocean Lancaster (AUS), along with defending event winner Hughie Vaughan (AUS), Milla Coco Brown (AUS), Willem Watson (AUS) and Natalie Fensom (AUS).
Event organiser Warren Smith said the success of Newcastle Surfest wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of Kim Burton, who has thrown his backing behind this weekend’s Pro Junior.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Kim Burton for the support he continues to give to not just Newcastle Surfest but the broader surfing community in the region,” said Newcastle Surfest event director, Warren Smith. “This weekend’s Kim Burton Pro Junior will be a great way to kickstart our community event schedule as we build up to the Bioglan Newcastle Surfest Presented by Bonsoy in March. To have our local reigning ISA U/16 World Junior Champion Ocean Lancaster and top seeds like Willem Watson and Milla Coco Brown is a testament to the heritage and importance of the Newcastle Surfest Pro Junior.”
