Byron Bay Hinterland bodyboarder Bodi Hugin has received the Australian leg of the IBC Junior World Tour Rising Sequence at Duranbah Seashore.
The 18-year-old claimed the Metropolis of Gold Coast Future Professional’s title after ending third in the identical competitors final yr. Introduced by Inverted Bodyboarding and Dan Leyshon, the occasion was held on 11 and 12 July 2026.
Younger riders from throughout Australia joined worldwide rivals from Hawaii for 2 days of competitors close to the New South Wales and Queensland border. They competed for Junior World Tour factors and qualification in the direction of the Junior Males Grand Ultimate in Spain.
Hugin secured the title after defeating Port Macquarie bodyboarder Chase Thompson in a tense closing. His win adopted robust performances from each riders all through the opening rounds and semi-finals.
The Future Professional’s provides younger Australian bodyboarders the possibility to compete in a global collection with out travelling abroad. It additionally connects native rivals with the broader Junior World Tour and its main qualification occasions.
Gold Coast Bodyboard Membership President and occasion organiser Silas Ganciar stated the competitors confirmed the depth of younger Australian expertise.
“Over the previous two days we’ve seen precisely why Australia continues to supply among the world’s finest younger bodyboarders,” Mr Ganciar stated.
“The extent of expertise, dedication and sportsmanship on show has been distinctive, and Bodi totally earned his victory after performing beneath strain all through the occasion. The Junior Males’s closing was one of many closest we’ve seen and was a implausible promotion for the way forward for the game.”
The occasion additionally supported youthful rivals by way of the Cadets, Grommets and Tremendous Grommets divisions. This gave creating riders an opportunity to compete beneath the identical occasion program because the Junior Males.
Internet hosting the Future Professional’s at Duranbah introduced main junior riders, households and supporters to the southern Gold Coast space. It additionally gave native rivals the possibility to check their abilities towards robust Australian and worldwide opposition.
The Gold Coast Bodyboard Membership has now hosted the occasion for 2 consecutive years. Ganciar stated the competitors had develop into an vital a part of supporting younger riders.
“Internet hosting the Future Professional’s competitors for a second consecutive yr has been extremely rewarding. It’s a implausible alternative for our native riders to compete towards world-class worldwide expertise whereas chasing {qualifications} for the Junior World Ultimate in Spain.
“Occasions like this are important for creating the subsequent technology of Australian bodyboarders, and we’re proud to proceed offering a pathway for younger athletes to compete on the worldwide stage.”
Ganciar additionally thanked the sponsors, companions and volunteers who helped run the occasion. Their assist allowed the competitors to return whereas giving younger riders one other international-level alternative.
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Round 50 younger bodyboarders competed at Duranbah, together with main Australian riders and rivals from Hawaii.
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Hugin defeated Thompson by solely 0.36 factors after his closing scoring wave modified the end result.
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Ossian Mackenzie recorded a 9.67, the very best single-wave rating in the course of the opening day.
Clear, chest-high waves created robust situations in the course of the opening day, permitting rivals to point out their full vary of abilities. Chase Thompson, defending champion Ossian Mackenzie, Archie Williams and Hugin led the sector as 4 rounds decreased the variety of remaining riders.
Thompson, who completed second in 2025, posted the very best warmth complete throughout Spherical 3. Mackenzie, the son of bodyboarding nice Steve ‘Bullet’ Mackenzie, produced the day’s finest single-wave rating.
Archie Williams additionally stood out after profitable each warmth he entered. The New South Wales Mid North Coast rider thrilled spectators with an Air Rollo Spin earlier than reaching the semi-finals.
The surf turned barely smaller on the ultimate day, however the shut competitors continued. Thompson edged Williams within the opening semi-final, whereas Hugin produced one other robust efficiency to remove Mackenzie.
Hugin and Thompson then traded scores all through the championship closing, with neither rider in a position to construct a transparent lead. The end result modified when Hugin caught among the best waves of the day and accomplished a right-hand roll.
Judges awarded the experience seven factors, which gave Hugin the lead and the title. Thompson completed second, whereas Mackenzie and Williams shared third place.
The youthful divisions additionally produced three new champions. Hardy Fletcher received the Cadets title, Levi Taaffe claimed the Grommets division and Morrison Parker received the Tremendous Grommets competitors.
The Australian Future Professional’s was the third cease on the IBC Junior World Tour Rising Sequence. The collection will proceed with Junior Future Professional’s occasions in Peru and Morocco throughout August 2026.
The season will end on the IBC Junior Males Grand Ultimate at Gran Canaria’s Frontón King in October. Riders competing throughout the remaining occasions will proceed chasing factors and qualification for the ultimate.
Inverted Bodyboarding, Dan Leyshon, Solar Zapper and Pleasure Bodyboards sponsored the Duranbah competitors.
Occasion supporters included Division 14 Councillor Gail O’Neill, Amazon Energy Acai and Rydges Gold Coast Airport. Laura Gerber MP, Medpods Telehealth, Vansite and Le’Petit Gourmand additionally supported the occasion.
Brullen Machines, Boogwax and Tim Oliver Images accomplished the checklist of supporters concerned within the 2026 competitors.
The Junior World Tour Rising Sequence will transfer to Peru and Morocco in August, giving riders additional probabilities to earn qualification factors. The main rivals will then put together for the Junior Males Grand Ultimate in Gran Canaria throughout October.
Ganciar expects the Future Professional’s to develop once more when it returns in 2027. Continued assist from sponsors, companions and volunteers may assist convey a bigger discipline again to Duranbah.
