THE Coffs Coast has played host to more than 200 of Australia’s best young surfers, as they took part in the 2026 Rip Curl GromSearch Oz Cup.
The young surfers vied for titles at North Diggers Beach and Park Beach, with the surf delivering everything from playful runners to powerful east coast walls that tested every part of a surfer’s skill set.
Coffs Harbour Boardriders Club member Benji Lowen won the Under 18 Boys title, combining an 8.83 and a 9.27 in the final to secure victory on his home break.
Sawtell Boardriders Club member Rio Luther Barr finished third in the same event.
Former Coffs Harbour Boardriders Club member Luca Martin won the Under 16 Boys title.
He had the highest heat total of the event with rides of 9.50 and 9.40 and an 18.90 total.
2026 Rip Curl GromSearch Oz Cup Finalists
The top four surfers in the Under 12 to Under 16 divisions secured their place at October’s National Final.
Under 12 Girls
1st: Myra Brown
2nd: Chloe Grainger
3rd: Callie Hull
4th: Chloe Bar
Under 12 Boys
1st: Levi Lowe
2nd: Saxon King
3rd: Ollie Sharpe
4th: Tasman Mellis
Under 14 Girls
1st: Sage Fleming
2nd: Stevie O’Day
3rd: Mila Grainger
4th: Josefa Melus
Under 14 Boys
1st: Tully Crompton
2nd: Noah Kornek
3rd: Reko Moltzen
4th: Flynn Swierczewski
Under 16 Girls
1st: Malia Simon
2nd: Malia Watson
3rd: Pearl Eaton
4th: Rubylee Neill
Under 16 Boys
1st: Luca Martin
2nd: Lennox Lindsay
3rd: Andy Blanchfield
4th: Bobby Patch
Under 18 Girls
1st: Madora Barton
2nd: Olivia Louise Shannon
3rd: Avalon Vowels
4th: Dune Pruvot
Under 18 Boys
1st: Benji Lowen
2nd: Jake Lanyon
3rd: Rio Luther Barr
4th: Joey Silk
By Aiden BURGESS
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
